Director, Government Relations

Socket.dev; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits package

Hybrid work in DC

Job summary

InterAction in Washington, DC seeks a senior policy and government relations leader to direct our foreign assistance budget and appropriations advocacy, and to build bipartisan coalitions. You will provide regular budget analysis and shape advocacy strategies for InterAction members.

This role leads our Public Policy Committee Steering Committee and Budget and Appropriations Subcommittee, coordinates educational briefings, manages external consultants, and represents InterAction to key agencies

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a relevant field or commensurate work experience.
• 8+ years of work experience on Capitol Hill, in the Administration, or foreign affairs advocacy toward the Federal government.
• Experience tracking and analyzing legislation.
• Facilitation and coalition-building across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong understanding of federal budget and appropriations processes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior member of the policy and government relations team and contribute to advocacy planning and direction.
• Develop and execute collective advocacy strategies and coordinate outreach to policymakers.
• Create and disseminate budget analyses and track historical data supporting humanitarian and development accounts.
• Lead the PPC Steering Committee and Budget and Appropriations Subcommittee and provide strategic guidance.
• Manage annual budget publications and other policy documents related to foreign assistance accounts.
• Educate and train staff and members on federal budgeting and appropriations.

Skills

Advocacy

Coalition-building

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Budget/Appropriations

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master’s preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About InterAction

InterAction is the largest U.S.-based alliance of international non-government organizations (NGOs) and partners. We mobilize our Members to think and act collectively to serve the world’s poor and vulnerable, with a shared belief that we can make the world a more peaceful, just and prosperous place – together. Using our collective voice and convening power, we seek to shape important policy decisions and actions across a wide range of issues – including foreign assistance, humanitarian relief, development, economic equity, food security, and climate change.

Our Members are premier international global development, humanitarian, and sector-supporting organizations that work in almost every country and manage more than $15.4 billion in programs annually. InterAction’s revenue comes from dues, government, private foundation and corporate grants, and fee-for-service programs. Additional information can be found at www.interaction.org.

Position Description

InterAction seeks a dynamic, experienced senior professional to join as a leader on our policy and government relations team, leading our foreign assistance budget and appropriations portfolio, among other priorities. We are looking for someone who believes in the power of advocacy to shape a more peaceful and prosperous world and who knows how to build and maintain bipartisan coalitions. This position plays a leadership role in the InterAction community by providing regular analysis to the coalition, developing and executing advocacy strategies, and fostering learning on appropriations and congressional advocacy among InterAction members.

The prospective candidate will be expected to lead InterAction’s Public Policy Committee Steering Committee and Budget and Appropriations Subcommittee, provide written and oral budget analysis, manage InterAction’s government relations strategy, facilitate information sharing, and represent the interests of InterAction to key agencies within the Administration and relevant Congressional staff and committees. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of how U.S. development and humanitarian foreign assistance budgets are created and why they matter to the American people, as well as experience in developing and executing strategies to achieve policy objectives.

Position Type

Full-time

This is a full-time position based in Washington D.C. InterAction maintains a hybrid work environment and employees are eligible to telework three days a week and required to work in the office two days a week. There is an expectation that employees will be based in the Washington D.C. region.

Essential Functions

• Serve as a senior member of InterAction’s policy and government relations team and contribute to overall advocacy planning and direction
• Develop and execute collective advocacy strategies, organize relevant educational briefings and advocacy meetings, coordinate sign-on letters and outreach to key policymakers
• Create and disseminate InterAction budget analysis to InterAction’s Public Policy Committee System (PPCS). Budget analysis functions include: tracking historic data for the accounts and subaccounts that support humanitarian and development work, reviewing and providing context on the President’s Budget Request, providing updates on the appropriations process, etc.
• Lead and Facilitate the PPC Steering Committee and Budget and Appropriations Subcommittee, and provide strategic guidance to InterAction’s broader membership
• Manage the development, execution, and roll out of InterAction’s annual budget publications and other policy documents, including documents related to key foreign assistance accounts or sectors
• Identify gaps in community understanding of US foreign assistance funding and the federal budget process and develop education materials, training and/or workshops
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with relevant federal agencies and departments, including the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of State, and the National Security Council
• Build and maintain relationships with key Congressional committee staff and strategic external partners
• Coordinate among team members to drive government relations and policy objectives and ensure organizational and InterAction Member priorities are met
• Manage external consultants
• Represent InterAction in public events
• Administrative and other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and/or work experience commensurate in relevant field
• At least 8 years of work experience, which should include direct experience on Capitol Hill, in the Administration, or conducting foreign affairs advocacy toward the Federal government
• Experience tracking and analyzing legislation
• Facilitation and coalition-building experience, including building and maintaining networks, synthesizing and navigating multiple points of view, and uniting a diverse group of members around common goals
• Demonstrated experience with federal budget and appropriations processes, including strong understanding of the State and Foreign Operations/NSRP funding bill
• Demonstrated experience with project management, including: developing workplans; managing and executing multiple concurrent efforts; and effectively managing data, communication, and work products across multiple platforms
• Acute attention to detail, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with InterAction members, partners, and other external stakeholders
• Ability to work well and contribute effectively under pressure, and in response to rapidly changing needs
• Excellent organizational skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
• Commitment to, and genuine interest in, InterAction’s core values and mission

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree and/or work experience commensurate in relevant field
• At least 10 years of relevant work experience
• At least 3 years of management experience
• Multiple years of direct experience with federal budget and appropriations processes, specifically with development and humanitarian foreign assistance related accounts; prior experience working with or on an appropriations committee or federal budget office preferred
• Experience leading working groups of coalitions
• Experience working with or for international non-governmental organizations
• Experience working directly on global development related issues, with a preference for candidates with expertise in Global Health

Supervisory Responsibilitie s

The position does not currently supervise other employees but may have supervisory responsibilities in the future.

Compensation

Salary range $125,000 - $150,000 per year, commensurate with skills and experience. InterAction additionally offers an excellent benefits package.

Expected Start Date

As soon as possible

Reports to

Vice President, Policy and Government Relations

Travel

Minimal

In addition

InterAction is an equal opportunity employer that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. InterAction does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, and individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws.

There are no extraordinary physical requirements for the performance of the essential functions of this position. InterAction will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

All applicants must be able to provide documentation that they are legally eligible to work in the United States for an extended period.

InterAction does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of InterAction and InterAction will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.