Overview
The Federal Affairs Director is responsible for managing all government affairs operations for a portfolio of issues, including serving as the primary policy and political point of contact on those issues, cultivating stakeholder relationships, coordinating assets, and executing and managing the sales process.
The ideal candidate has eight or more years of relevant experience with deep knowledge of the federal policymaking processes (legislative and executive) and working on Capitol Hill. Being a self-starter is key to this role, as the best candidate will develop and execute strategies for a multiple-issue portfolio. This role requires frequent Capitol Hill visits and daily engagement with Congressional staff as well as registering as a federal lobbyist. Given that, this person will need to live in the Washington, DC area but will work from home. The Federal Affairs Director will report to FGA’s Senior Director of Federal Affairs.
Culture and Fit
Success at FGA depends not only on a person’s skills, but also on their ability to fit the culture of FGA. We describe our culture with five Core Values:
- Candid to Solve—being willing to have tough conversations in order to solve issues or build trust.
- Grow or Die—we don’t have a neutral gear; we must consistently challenge ourselves and each other to grow in our talents and skills.
- Politically Savvy—policy doesn’t change in a vacuum, but in a political reality that we must understand and account for.
- Partnership-Oriented—internal and external relationships are not transactional. That starts with our team members and the perspective that we need the rest of the team to succeed in order to win personally.
- Bought in to Win—we’re at FGA because we want to change policy. No one is counting hours or widgets, we are here to get results, and sometimes that will require going the extra mile or doing a job that isn’t technically ours.
It might help to think about the following list of questions. If you answer “yes” to all of them, you may be a fit for the team if your skill sets match the requirements below. The vast majority of those who don’t get hired or don’t last at FGA are due to a lack of fit with these values. Be prepared to have very candid conversations about them in our interview process.
- Do you wholeheartedly agree with the policies that we advocate (see thefga.org for a full description) and the underlying principles that people’s lives are made better through work, not government welfare, and that a free market creates greater freedom and equality than any command-and-control government system?
- Do you agree that embracing the realities of politics is necessary to have success in changing public policy?
- Do you tend to be the one who initiates conversations with colleagues, rather than waiting for them to come to you?
- Are you comfortable creating your own structure for work, such as setting work hours, your own priorities, and creating clarity and a workplan from a broad goal?
- Does it motivate you to think about working with a team of world-class professionals who are held to a very high standard of achieving results?
- Do you seize opportunities to try new things or improve a skill that’s relevant to your company or role?
- Are you able to build meaningful relationships (creating trust) with people you only see face to face a few times a year?
- Do you tend to lead teams by creating clarity about goals and progress, rather than proscribing the steps they need to take?
- Are you aware of your strengths and weaknesses, and do you have a practice of getting help from others to mitigate your weaknesses?
Roles and Responsibilities
The Federal Affairs Director will have three primary roles. These roles break down into several responsibilities. Some of the key responsibilities are:
Serve as the internal and external point of contact for the Federal Government Affairs team on a portfolio of issues
- Liaise with policymakers, staff, and third-party coalition members
- Liaise with internal stakeholders on the State Affairs, Development, Policy & Research, and Communications teams
- Manage collateral needs
Cultivate and maintain federal relationships
- Work with Members of Congress, House and Senate staff, executive, agency, and allied third-party organization stakeholders to get FGA reforms enacted into federal statute/regulation
Develop, execute, and manage the sales strategy for a portfolio of issues
- Evaluate the political environment and policy needs and alignment with stakeholders
- Shepherd initiatives through the legislative or executive process from start to finish
Work with other Outreach team members
- Identify opportunities to leverage federal and state relationships to maximize FGA reform efforts
Requirements
- Minimum of eight years’ experience in working on or with Capitol Hill and/or an executive agency
- Live in the Washington, D.C. metro area and be willing to do frequent in-person meetings with staff and policymakers
- Strong interpersonal skills, able to relate and connect with all types of people
- A self-starter who can manage projects and initiatives from start to finish
- Humility and a disposition that is focused on mission and outcome, not personal recognition
- Match FGA’s Core Values (described above)
Timing, Location and Compensation
FGA is seeking to fill this position as soon as possible. The Federal Affairs Director must reside in the Washington, D.C. metro area. While FGA’s headquarters are in Naples, FL, nearly all of FGA’s staff work remotely. FGA offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including a retirement program, a health benefit, and a generous paid leave plan.
How to Apply
Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials as PDFs:
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- Resume
- Cover Letter detailing your interest in the position, the mission of FGA and your salary requirements
Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.
There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.
Questions can be directed to Katy Gambella, Director of Network Engagement at Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: [email protected]
While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.
Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide free consulting and recruiting services to free-market think tanks, policy organizations, research centers, and capacity-building institutions dedicated to advancing the principles of limited government and free enterprise.
