Managing Director, Federal Affairs for Research Universities

McAllister & Quinn; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Healthcare

Dental

Life insurance

Long-term disability

Dependent care FSA

Transit benefits

Bonus after first year

Flexible vacation

Job summary

McAllister & Quinn, LLC, a federal government relations and research development firm in Washington, DC, seeks a Managing Director to lead engagements with universities and federal stakeholders. The role focuses on shaping policy strategies and securing funding opportunities for clients across Congress and agencies.

Responsibilities include advising university leadership, coordinating strategic initiatives, and guiding testimony and reports. Hybrid leadership with occasional travel is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree with a policy-oriented field preferred.
• 6–10+ years of federal legislative experience, and direct appropriations experience.
• Strong working knowledge of Congress, federal appropriations, and the legislative process.
• Strong working knowledge of higher education and research policy and legislative issues.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams.
• Self-starter who can manage time with light supervision.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Adobe, with focus on Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Lead client engagements and serve as a strategic advisor to university leadership, staff, faculty, and government relations teams.
• Design and implement federal engagement strategies to position clients for success with federal stakeholders.
• Track policy, legislation, and appropriations actions to inform client strategies.
• Prepare clients for meetings on Capitol Hill and with federal stakeholders across agencies.
• Organize large-scale client fly-ins and campus visits for effective engagement.

Skills

Federal legislative experience

Policy analysis

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Self-motivation

Microsoft Office

Adobe

Outlook

PowerPoint

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

McAllister & Quinn, LLC, a federal government relations and research development firm in Washington, DC, seeks a Managing Director to lead engagements with universities and federal stakeholders. The role focuses on shaping policy strategies and securing funding opportunities for clients across Congress and agencies.

Responsibilities include advising university leadership, coordinating strategic initiatives, and guiding testimony and reports. Hybrid leadership with occasional travel is expected.