Associate Director, Strategic Engagement

Bipartisan Policy Center; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

403(b) employer contributions

Paid time off

Education assistance

Professional development

Flexible spending accounts

EAP

Job summary

The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) in Washington, DC, seeks an Associate Director, Strategic Engagement to lead stakeholder engagement and coalition-building for Social Security solvency and retirement security initiatives.

You will coordinate with BPC Action, engage diverse policy actors, and support cross-sector dialogue on tax and fiscal policy, with a hybrid work schedule and strong emphasis on bipartisan outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public policy or related field.
• 5–8 years of coalition-building or stakeholder engagement experience.
• Ability to build relationships across diverse viewpoints including congressional offices and advocacy groups.
• Strong political acumen to navigate policy and stakeholder environments.
• Excellent organizational skills for convenings and multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication to translate policy concepts.
• Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.
• Commitment to evidence-informed analysis and bipartisan policymaking.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute stakeholder engagement and coalition-building strategy.
• Build and expand relationships with policy organizations, employers, officials.
• Coordinate with BPC Action and external policy groups on messaging.
• Plan and manage expanded stakeholder convenings.
• Support ASE C Partner Summits to advance cross-sector dialogue.
• Partner with tax and fiscal policy teams on engagement around federal policy.
• Identify opportunities to connect stakeholders across policy communities.
• Track relationships and engagement across coalitions with momentum.

Skills

Relationship building

Policy knowledge

Communication skills

Project management

Diplomacy

Bipartisan policymaking

Stakeholder engagement

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Associate Director, Strategic Engagement

Full Time Washington, DC, US

The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a Washington, DC-based think tank that brings together leaders from across the political spectrum to develop and advance practical, bipartisan solutions to the challenges facing Americans. Through policy development and advocacy, BPC and its advocacy affiliate, BPC Action, work to turn ideas into meaningful results in Washington and beyond.

Our work spans some of the nation’s most consequential domestic policy issues, with a focus on lowering the everyday cost of living for families, expanding opportunity, strengthening the American economy, and improving the effectiveness of government.

What if your ability to bring people together could help shape the future of Social Security, retirement security, and America's economic stability?

We are seeking an Associate Director, Strategic Engagement to help build the partnerships and bipartisan coalitions needed to advance meaningful economic policy solutions. Working within BPC's Economic Policy Program (EPP), this individual will play a key role in stakeholder engagement and coalition-building, with an initial focus on Social Security solvency and retirement savings, while also supporting efforts related to federal tax and fiscal policy.

With Social Security facing significant long-term financing challenges and millions of Americans lacking access to employer-sponsored retirement plans, the need for thoughtful, bipartisan solutions has never been more important. This role offers an opportunity to engage influential stakeholders, broaden support for evidence-based policy recommendations, and help translate shared priorities into meaningful legislative progress.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of a stakeholder engagement and coalition-building strategy across EPP, with a primary focus on Social Security solvency and retirement security and additional engagement on tax and fiscal policy
• Build, maintain, and expand relationships with policy organizations, advocacy groups, employers, business and labor representatives, state and local officials, academics, industry leaders, and other stakeholders whose perspectives can inform and advance EPP’s policy work
• Coordinate with BPC Action and external policy organizations to support the development of aligned messages to policymakers
• Plan and manage expanded stakeholder convenings that bring employers, state and local officials, labor and business representatives, and advocates from adjacent policy areas into a coordinated conversation about responsible reform
• Support the American Savings Education Council (ASEC), including its Partner Summits, to advance cross-sector dialogue among government, industry, advocacy, and academic leaders
• Partner with BPC’s tax and fiscal policy teams to develop and execute stakeholder engagement strategies around federal tax policy, the federal budget and debt, and other fiscal policy priorities
• Identify opportunities to connect stakeholders across traditionally separate policy communities—including retirement, Social Security, tax, and fiscal policy—to strengthen BPC’s ability to build broader constituencies for bipartisan economic policy solutions
• Track relationships and engagement across coalitions, ensuring sustained momentum between convenings and clear follow-through on commitments

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public policy, political science, government, economics, public administration, communications, or a related field
• 5-8 years of relevant professional experience in coalition-building or stakeholder engagement or advocacy or government relations or public affairs
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships among stakeholders with differing viewpoints, including congressional offices, advocacy organizations, and private-sector representatives
• Strong political acumen and the ability to navigate complex policy and stakeholder environments diplomatically
• Excellent organizational skills, with experience managing convenings, working groups, or multi-stakeholder initiatives
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate policy concepts for congressional and external audiences
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage competing priorities effectively
• Strong commitment to objective, evidence-informed analysis, and bipartisan policymaking

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Familiarity with one or more areas of economic policy, particularly Social Security, private-sector retirement savings, federal tax policy, or federal fiscal policy
• Experience working on Capitol Hill, within a federal agency, think tank, trade association, or advocacy organization
• Experience supporting fundraising, donor engagement, or grant reporting

Compensation

BPC offers a highly competitive salary and provides generous benefits.

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $110,000 to $130,000. BPC considers a variety of factors when making compensation decisions, including relevant experience, skills, education, training, knowledge, internal equity, and organizational and business needs.

What We Offer

BPC offers medical coverage through CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield with a choice of three plans, one of which is HSA eligible with an annual BPC contribution. All medical plans cover in-network preventive care at 100% and include prescription drugs. Dental and Vision coverage through MetLife includes no-cost options for you and your family.

Additional benefits include:

• Retirement Savings: 403(b) employer matching contributions of up to 7% of salary, plus an additional 2% non-elective employer contribution (both available after 90 days of employment)
• Generous Paid Time Off: 15 vacation days, 2 personal days, 15 sick days, 11 paid holidays, and a paid end-of-year break
• Education Assistance: Up to $5,250 annually after one year of employment
• Professional Development: Up to $2,000 after six months of employment
• Employer-Paid Insurance: Life, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), and disability insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs):Health care, dependent care, and parking
• Mental Health & Wellness Support: Access to Spring Health and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Working at BPC

BPC prioritizes work-life balance and operates works on a hybrid schedule, with staff in the office three days a week, Tuesday through Thursday, and the option to work from home on Monday and Friday.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. BPC does not sponsor employment visas.

More About BPC and BPC Action

Founded in 2007, the Bipartisan Policy Center and its advocacy affiliate, BPC Action, are unique in their approach to solving the nation’s most pressing issues. BPC brings together diverse perspectives from across the political spectrum to develop practical policy solutions, while BPC Action works directly with legislators and policymakers to help turn those solutions into results.

What sets BPC apart is our ability to operate at the intersection of policy development and political advocacy. We build consensus across the aisle and work with leaders from both parties to advance meaningful reforms.

Ideas

BPC brings together respected policy experts, former congressional and administration officials, private-sector leaders, current and former policymakers, and other experts to develop solutions to America’s most pressing challenges.

Action

Policy development is only the beginning. BPC Action advances bipartisan solutions by providing political and technical assistance, identifying and supporting legislative champions, and leveraging relationships with policymakers to help move ideas through Congress.

Results

In 2025, BPC and BPC Action helped support the introduction of more than 120 bills in the House and Senate and helped advance more than 40 bills beyond committee. We engaged with more than half of all congressional offices, expanding our reach across both parties.

BPC is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.