Associate Legislative Director – Health

NACo EDGE; Page (AZ); On-site; USD 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) with match

Employer pension contribution 10% of a

Job summary

NACo seeks an Associate Legislative Director for Health to advance federal health policy priorities and lead advocacy strategies aligned with the American County Platform. The role interfaces with Capitol Hill and federal agencies, developing high-impact materials and guiding staff.

The position requires strong policy analysis, exceptional communication, and the ability to work in a bipartisan environment, with travel and conference leadership responsibilities throughout the year.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree or equivalent professional experience in policy/advocacy.
• Substantive experience in federal health policy.
• Strong written and verbal communication to distill complex policy.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of advocacy and legislative strategies for county health priorities.
• Engage with Congress and federal agencies to influence policy outcomes.
• Prepare testimony, policy briefs, and legislative analyses.
• Supervise and mentor legislative staff for quality work.

Skills

Legislative policy

Advocacy

Health policy

Capitol Hill engagement

Written communication

Public speaking

Leadership

Education

Advanced degree in policy

Bachelor's degree

Job description

About The Position

The Associate Legislative Director for Health leads the advancement of NACo’s advocacy priorities by designing and executing federal policy strategies for NACo’s work in public health and healthy communities, including disease and injury prevention and health promotion, health disparities reduction, mental and behavioral health services, and financing delivering health care. This role drives NACo’s agenda by developing and implementing legislative and regulatory initiatives, engaging directly with Capitol Hill and the Administration, analyzing policy proposals, and preparing high-impact materials for members and stakeholders. This position reports for NACo’s Chief Government Affairs Officer.

In addition, the Associate Legislative Director leads committee meetings, educational sessions, and workshops held during NACo conferences, while providing oversight and guidance to legislative assistants or associates.

Key Responsibilities

• Leads the development and execution of comprehensive advocacy and legislative strategies in support of county health priorities, aligning priorities with the American County Platform and NACo’s strategic policy agenda
• Demonstrates a deep understanding of the federal legislative and regulatory landscape, including budget, appropriations, and administrative processes, to shape and influence outcomes on behalf of counties
• Serves as NACo’s chief advocate on issues related to health, driving federal outreach and direct engagement with Congress and federal agencies to advance county priorities and influence legislative and regulatory decisions
• Advises county officials and senior NACo leadership on emerging policy trends, strategic positioning and the implications of federal actions.
• Prepares testimony, comment letters, policy briefs, legislative analysis and other high-impact advocacy materials
• Leads member engagement for the HealthSteering Committee, elevating county-led initiatives at the federal level and strengthening intergovernmental partnerships between counties, Congress and the Administration to advance shared priorities.
• Leads the planning, content development and execution of policy briefings, Steering Committee meetings, Capitol Hill events and workshops at NACo conferences and other events throughout the year, ensuring strategic alignment and strong member and stakeholder participation
• Engages in external speaking roles and represents NACo in coalition meetings, convenings and public forums to elevate county perspectives, build partnerships and garner support for NACo’s advocacy priorities
• Supervises, mentors, and develops one to two legislative assistants or associates, ensuring work products reflect strategic alignment, high-quality analysis, and excellent member service
• Collaborates across NACo’s policy teams to integrate advocacy strategies, unify messaging, and identify cross-portfolio opportunities that strengthen NACo’s overall legislative impact
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• An advanced degree with a minimum of three years of professional experience in legislative or regulatory policy and advocacy or a bachelor’s degree with at least five years of such experience
• Substantive experience in the federal health policy landscape
• Strong understanding of the federal legislative process and administrative rulemaking, including the federal budget and appropriations
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with the ability to distill complex policy or legal information into clear and accessible content
• Proactive, detail-oriented self-starter with the ability to anticipate needs, manage competing priorities, and communicate clearly and effectively across all levels of an organization
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, bipartisan environment

Preferred Attributes

• Experience working on Capitol Hill, in a federal agency, national member facing association
• Proven ability to build coalitions and engage effectively in government relations or policy advocacy
• Familiarity with county structures, local governance and intergovernmental relations
• Experience developing and managing a program or departmental budget

Location and Travel

• This position is based in Washington, D.C. with opportunities to travel for conferences, meetings and stakeholder engagements
• Expected travel: approximately 25 percent of total workdays

Salary

Annual $90,000 commensurate with experience and available resources

• Opportunity to lead impactful, mission-oriented public affairs efforts at a national level.
• Work alongside a dedicated team committed to helping county government officials in the pursuit of excellence in public service, ultimately helping people and places to thrive.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

NACo's Vision, Mission & Norms

At NACo, we invest in our teammates with benefits that go beyond the basics, supporting you at work and in life.

Health & Wellness

• Medical, dental and vision coverage with NACo contributing a significant share of premiums
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee assistance program with 24/7 confidential support

Financial & Retirement

• 401(k) with potential employer match and automatic enroll
• Employer funded pension contribution of 10 percent of salary
• Life insurance and fully paid short- and long-term disability coverage

Time off and Flexibility

• Generous paid leave starting at 20 days annually, increasing with tenure
• Eleven paid holidays each year
• Pre-tax commuter benefits and transportation subsidy

Professional Development

• Tuition reimbursement to support continued education and career growth

Benefits may vary based on position and eligibility