Manager, Government Affairs

American Forest & Paper Association; United States; Hybrid; USD 94,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation and sick leave

Holidays and parental leave

401(k) retirement plan

Office fitness center

Job summary

American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) is seeking an experienced policy advocate to advance the industry’s federal legislative goals in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

You will develop strategies, analyze proposals, and build relationships with Congress and staff while coordinating with AF&PA departments and coalitions. The role requires expert communication and strong project management, with a focus on ethics and compliance. Hybrid DC area work is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required, preferably in social or agricultural sciences.
• Five+ years in Capitol Hill, government affairs, or policy environments.
• Working knowledge of the federal legislative process.
• Excellent writing, editing and public presentation skills.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities.
• Analytical and research capabilities to evaluate data.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive issues with discretion.
• Strong interpersonal skills for cross-functional collaboration.
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Understanding of environment, energy, forest product industry, or manufacturing is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advocacy strategies to win industry policy positions.
• Analyze and respond to legislative and regulatory initiatives.
• Build and maintain relationships with congressional members and staff.
• Coordinate AF&PAs goals with other departments and coalition groups.
• Represent AF&PA to external audiences and at events.
• Coordinate with coalitions on federal goals, leading when needed.
• Create educational opportunities for legislators and staff.
• Draft letters, testimony and member communications.
• Manage policy committees, budgets, meetings and stakeholder input.
• Participate in internal issue teams and plan meetings on topics.
• Ensure compliance and ethical standards as a registered lobbyist.

Skills

Policy analysis

Communication

Project management

Strategic thinking

Research skills

Discretion & integrity

Interpersonal skills

MS Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

This is a great opportunity to do substantive advocacy work and advance an industry that supports economic growth and job creation and makes essential paper and wood products that Americans use every day As part of a collaborative team youll use strategic and critical thinking skills to advocate for member interests and move the industry forward Youll have an opportunity to build upon existing federal legislative experience develop new expertise manage a portfolio and be in the thick of high profile issues ie energy environment and manufacturing The below description provides more detail on American Forest & Paper Association AF&PA this important role and how you will impact the industry

Essential job functions

• Develop coordinate and implement advocacy strategies to achieve industry policy positions
• Analyze report on and respond to assigned legislative and regulatory initiatives
• Build and maintain relationships with key congressional members and staff
• Ensure AF&PA legislative goals are coordinated with other AF&PA departments and related industry groups including coalition engagement
• Represent AF&PA to outside audiences organizations and strategic alliances through meetings and attending political events
• Maintain relationships and coordinate with outside interest groups in coalitions on shared federal legislative goals leading where appropriate
• Develop educational opportunities for federal legislators and their staff that serve to highlight the industry accomplishments
• Write letters testimony and various association member communications
• Manage policy committees for the industry and monitorengage on issues facing the industry This includes developing and implementing budgets running meetings coordinating member input on key issues and developing advocacy strategies
• Serve on internal issue teams; manage plan and run meetings on relevant issue topics affecting the association
• As a registered federal lobbyist ensure all actions demonstrate the highest level of compliance and ethical standards

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree required preferably in one of the social or agricultural sciences
• Five or more years of experience in one or more of the following environments Capitol Hill legislative staff government affairs office for a trade association lobbying firm policy staffpolitical campaigns
• Working knowledge of the federal legislative process required
• Excellent communication skills in writing editing and public presentation
• Strong organizational and project management skills to effectively balance competing priorities in a fast paced environment
• Strong critical thinking analytical and research skills
• Ability to produce high quality work within tight deadlines
• Ability to analyze evaluate and present statistical data
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion with integrity initiative and limited supervision
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion in sensitive AF&PA matters and on policy and market issues
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to maintain positive rapport with co workers in a collaborative diverse environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word Excel and PowerPoint
• Understanding of environment energy forest product industry or other manufacturing sector is a plus

Compensation and Benefits

• The salary for this position is expected to be between 94000 110000
• This is a good faith estimate based on market data for comparable positions and the current budgeted amount for this role Factors to be considered when determining the salary of the selected candidate include relevant skills experience and knowledge and the alignment of these qualities with those of existing staff
• We offer a generous benefits package that currently includes Paid Vacation Personal and Sick leave totaling 27 42 days per year based on relevant experience plus holidays and paid Parental Leave94 80 paid CareFirst medical plans for employees and their familiesGenerous 401k retirement plan with up to 9 employer contribution after waiting periodFree fitness center and pickleball courts at the DC office locationPlus dental vision life insurance Flexible Spending Accounts Health Savings Account

Location

We are located on 13th Street NW between F and G directly above Metro Center Station Our office is hybrid which includes up to two days of remote work; however due to the nature of the work in federal government affairs we suspect the person hired may frequently spend more than three days a week on the Hill and in the DC office

Working at AF&PA

The American Forest & Paper Association AF&PA values diverse backgrounds and capabilities and invites all talented individuals to be part of our team and support our culture and mission We encourage the exchange of knowledge innovative ideas and different perspectives to reach our goals and we support worklife balance

About AF&PA

AF&PA serves to advance public policies that foster economic growth job creation and global competitiveness for a vital sector that makes the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day The US forest products industry employs more than 925000 people largely in rural America and isamong the top 10 manufacturing sector employersin 44 states Our industry accounts for approximately 47 of the total US manufacturing GDP manufacturing more than 435 billion in products annually AF&PA member companies are significant producers and users of renewable biomass energy and are committed to making sustainable products for a sustainable future through the industrys decades long initiative Better Practices Better Planet 2030 Visit AF&PA online at afandpaorg or follow us on X ForestandPaper

Equal Employment Opportunity

AF&PA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and welcomes all talented individuals regardless of race color national origin religion age sex disability veteran status or other category protected by law

Your Rights Applicants have rights under federal employment laws Information may be found on the Department of Labors website httpswwwdolgov as well as through these available notices Know Your Rights; Fair Labor Standards Act FLSA; Family and Medical Leave Act FMLA; and Employee Polygraph Protection Act EPPA