About Kalkomey

Kalkomey Enterprises is the trusted guide to outdoor success. Every year, millions of people rely on our platform to gain the knowledge and confidence needed to safely explore the outdoors.

Since 1995, Kalkomey has partnered with government agencies across North America to deliver the education that powers responsible outdoor recreation. Our courses and technology platforms support certification programs used by wildlife, parks, and boating agencies while helping outdoor enthusiasts develop the skills needed to safely enjoy activities like hunting, fishing, boating, and snowmobiling.

Today, Kalkomey offers more than 360 online learning experiences supported by integrated web and mobile applications. Together, these solutions help make outdoor recreation more accessible, responsible, and safe for generations to come.

We believe education builds confidence, and confidence opens the door to the outdoors.

About this opportunity

We’ve built a strong foundation in government relations, association partnerships, and public affairs, and now we’re ready to bring it all together under one experienced leader who can take it further. This is a chance to shape the strategy, elevate the execution, and build a high-performing function that positions us as the recognized authority in outdoor recreation safety and compliance. 

On the strategy side, you’ll define the annual policy plan, determine which jurisdictions, associations, and coalitions deserve deeper investment, and set the thought leadership agenda that amplifies our voice across the sector. 

On the operations side, you’ll bring cohesion to existing lobbyist relationships, association memberships, and government contacts. Unifying them under a single strategic function with clear performance management and a structured pipeline to sales. 

You’ll also elevate our PR presence, as media and events have the power to unlock public awareness, drive engagement, and influence attitudes about education and confidence outdoors. 

Why This Role Matters

Outdoor recreation safety and education are growing in visibility and investment across the US and Canada. Government agencies are expanding their commitment to programs that keep people safe and confident outdoors, and we’re positioned to be the partner they turn to. This role is the catalyst that turns that positioning into lasting impact.

If you’re the kind of person who gets fired up about shaping policy, building coalitions, and putting outdoor recreation safety on the public radar, and you’re ready to lead a function with real momentum and executive backing, we want to hear from you!

You must reside in one of these US states: AZ, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, NC, NV, OR, PA, RI, TX, VA, VT, WI, or one of these provinces in Canada: Ontario

What you'll own:

Government Relations & Pipeline 

• Lead and grow lobbyist relationships across US states and Canadian provinces, setting strategic direction and managing performance against clear objectives 

• Own the annual policy plan: a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction strategy connecting legislative sessions, budget cycles, and regulatory timelines to revenue opportunities 

• Deepen relationships with state and provincial agency leaders, legislative staff, and budget officials who shape purchasing decisions for outdoor recreation and safety education 

• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments to identify opportunities early and keep the organization ahead of the curve 

• Strengthen the lead handoff process between government relations and sales to ensure opportunities translate into commercial outcomes 

Associations & Coalitions 

• Evolve our association strategy with a tiered engagement model, prioritizing where we pursue board or committee influence versus active membership 

• Build and lead coalitions with aligned organizations to advance shared policy priorities that grow demand for outdoor recreation and safety education 

• Represent the organization as a thought leader at association conferences, working groups, and regulatory proceedings 

Public Affairs & PR 

• Expand and formalize our PR capability—building media relationships, launching signature events, and creating campaigns that generate earned media and public attention 

• Develop co-branded PR campaigns with government partners: joint planning, coordinated execution, and shared success metrics 

• Serve as the organization’s voice on policy issues and lead crisis communications when needed 

Thought Leadership & Research 

• Define and drive the thought leadership agenda: key messages, policy positions, publications, and speaking engagements that build credibility and open doors 

• Commission research that produces actionable data to support advocacy, PR, and sales goals 

• Publish white papers, policy briefs, and an annual flagship report on outdoor recreation safety 

Team & Function Development 

• Grow and lead a high-performing team, establishing the operating processes, KPIs, and technology infrastructure to support the function’s next chapter 

• Foster strong collaboration with sales, marketing, and product teams, this function thrives on partnership, not isolation 

• Own the function’s budget across lobbyist spend, memberships, events, and research 

What We’re Looking For:

Must-Haves 

• 10+ years in government relations, public affairs, or government-facing business development, with 5+ years at a VP level 

• Experience managing lobbyist networks across multiple US states or Canadian provinces 

• Track record of building or significantly expanding a government affairs function—not just maintaining one 

• Experience with trade associations, regulatory bodies, and cross-sector coalitions to influence policy outcomes 

• Proven ability to connect policy engagement to commercial results: pipeline, revenue, or market access 

• Hands-on experience with PR, media relations, or public-facing communications 

• Cross-border awareness of both US state and Canadian provincial government structures 

• Strong executive communication skills—comfortable briefing C-suite and board audiences 

• Data-driven mindset: uses research and analytics to support positions and measure performance 

• Builder mentality—energized by standing up new processes, teams, and systems 

Strong Differentiators 

• Background in outdoor recreation, natural resources, public safety, or environmental sectors 

• Experience working within or selling to state/provincial government agencies 

• Has co-developed a campaign or program with a government partner 

• Familiarity with education, training, or compliance program procurement by government entities 

• Experience building coalition strategies that delivered measurable policy or market outcomes 

What we offer:

In addition to a competitive salary and annual bonus, we offer these great benefits:

• We are a fully distributed company – unless specifically indicated in the job description, this is a work from home position 
• Employer matched 401(k)   
• Medical/Dental/Vision insurance with generous employer contributions (including HSA)   
• Maternity and Paternity leave and benefits   
• Three weeks of paid vacation, 12 paid holidays, a paid community service day, and a flexible work schedule   
• Annual wellness allowance, as well as a paid mental health day once a year for when you need it   
• Automatic WFH contribution to each paycheck   
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)   

Kalkomey is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or any other legally protected characteristics, Kalkomey is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities who need assistance during the hiring process. To request a reasonable accommodation, please email pops@kalkomey.com