U.S. Congressional Liaison Officer

ironcladdefenseworks; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Ironclad Defense Works in Washington, D.C. seeks a U.S. Congressional Liaison Officer to support NATO ACT on Capitol Hill, monitoring U.S.

legislative developments and building relationships with Members of Congress and congressional staff. The role requires a professional who can synthesize defense policy and international security issues into actionable advice. The candidate must understand the congressional authorization and appropriations process, engage senior policymakers, and coordinate

Qualifications

• At least two years of experience working with or within the U.S. Congress, particularly on defense, appropriations, or foreign-policy issues.
• Demonstrated success in a government-relations role, including management of a legislative portfolio and navigation of the congressional process.
• Strong knowledge of the U.S. congressional authorization and appropriations cycles.
• Strong expertise in defense policy, international security, and political-military affairs.
• Ability to monitor and interpret complex political, legislative, and budgetary developments and convert them into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with elected officials, policymakers, congressional staff, federal officials, and senior leaders.
• Experience representing organizational policy positions to Congress, the Executive Branch, think tanks, or comparable external stakeholders.
• Ability to develop and execute short- and long-term engagement plans supporting organizational priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain professional relationships across congressional and federal agencies.
• Ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced environment while contributing effectively within a broader team.
• U.S. citizenship and English proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze the U.S. defense budget process and identify implications for NATO.
• Track congressional defense reforms and assess their potential impact on NATO transformation.
• Monitor congressional debates and decisions concerning Ukraine and broader Euro-Atlantic security.
• Analyze issues related to U.S. force posture in Europe and burden-sharing.
• Assess political dynamics surrounding defense legislation, including key congressional influencers, priorities, and agendas.
• Monitor hearings, committee activity, legislation, and other congressional developments relevant to NATO.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with Members of Congress and congressional staff.
• Provide tailored briefings on NATO ACT priorities to legislators, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
• Plan and conduct informal congressional engagements, meetings, and other relationship-building activities.
• Coordinate messaging and engagement with U.S. executive agencies, NATO missions, Allied embassies, and other stakeholders.
• Produce regular reports for SACT and the Political Advisor on congressional trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Support ACT delegations, SACT visits, Flag Officer engagements, and congressional interactions.
• Support NATO engagement with Washington-area think tanks, academia, and policy communities.
• Facilitate ACT participation in hearings, conferences, policy events, and professional networks.
• Support NATO political-military engagement as directed by the POLAD.

Skills

Congressional affairs

Government relations

Defense policy

International security

Stakeholder engagement

Policy analysis

Education

Master's degree or higher in Political Science / International Relations / Economics / Law

Undergraduate degree with substantial congressional staff experience

Job description

U.S. Congressional Liaison Officer

Location: Washington, D.C.

Work Arrangement: Full-time, on-site

Clearance: ACTIVE SECRET CLEARANCE FROM U.S. OR NATO MEMBER NATION REQUIRED

Travel: Up to 30 days annually

The Opportunity

Ironclad Defense Works is seeking a U.S. Congressional Liaison Officer to support NATO Allied Command Transformation in Washington, D.C. This position will serve as ACT’s forward presence on Capitol Hill, helping NATO monitor U.S. legislative developments, build and maintain relationships with Members of Congress and congressional staff, and anticipate political, strategic, and budgetary developments that could affect NATO transformation priorities.

This role requires a professional who will combine congressional affairs, government relations, defense policy, and international security expertise with the ability to independently represent NATO ACT across the U.S. legislative and policy community. The candidate must understand the congressional authorization and appropriations process, synthesize complex defense and foreign-policy developments into actionable advice, and establish trusted relationships with senior policymakers and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze the U.S. defense budget process and identify implications for NATO.
• Track congressional defense reforms and assess their potential impact on NATO transformation.
• Monitor congressional debates and decisions concerning Ukraine and broader Euro-Atlantic security.
• Analyze issues related to U.S. force posture in Europe and burden-sharing.
• Assess political dynamics surrounding defense legislation, including key congressional influencers, priorities, and agendas.
• Monitor hearings, committee activity, legislation, and other congressional developments relevant to NATO.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with Members of Congress and congressional staff.
• Provide tailored briefings on NATO ACT priorities to legislators, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
• Plan and conduct informal congressional engagements, meetings, and other relationship-building activities.
• Coordinate messaging and engagement with U.S. executive agencies, NATO missions, Allied embassies, and other stakeholders.
• Produce regular reports for SACT and the Political Advisor on congressional trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Support ACT delegations, SACT visits, Flag Officer engagements, and congressional interactions.
• Support NATO engagement with Washington-area think tanks, academia, and policy communities.
• Facilitate ACT participation in hearings, conferences, policy events, and professional networks.
• Support NATO political-military engagement as directed by the POLAD.

Required Qualifications

• At least two years of experience working with or within the U.S. Congress, particularly on defense, appropriations, or foreign-policy issues.
• Demonstrated success in a government-relations role, including management of a legislative portfolio and navigation of the congressional process.
• Strong knowledge of the U.S. congressional authorization and appropriations cycles.
• Strong expertise in defense policy, international security, and political-military affairs.
• Demonstrated ability to monitor and interpret complex political, legislative, and budgetary developments and convert them into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with elected officials, policymakers, congressional staff, federal officials, and senior leaders.
• Experience representing organizational policy positions to Congress, the Executive Branch, think tanks, or comparable external stakeholders.
• Ability to develop and execute short- and long-term engagement plans supporting organizational priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain professional relationships across congressional and federal agencies.
• Ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced environment while contributing effectively within a broader team.
• U.S. citizenship and English proficiency.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Political Science, International Relations, Economics, Law, or a related discipline.
• Undergraduate degree combined with substantial congressional staff experience.
• Familiarity with NATO structures, priorities, capability development, and the Alliance transformation agenda.
• Previous congressional liaison, legislative affairs, advisory, or diplomatic experience.
• Previous experience with the U.S. Department of Defense or Department of State.
• Experience supporting congressional defense committees or appropriations committees.
• Knowledge of the National Defense Authorization Act, defense appropriations process, and related congressional oversight mechanisms.
• Existing professional relationships within the congressional defense and foreign-policy community.
• Experience supporting senior military or diplomatic leaders during congressional engagements.

Clearance

This position requires an active National SECRET (or higher) security clearance from the U.S. or a NATO member nation. Applicants who do not possess the clearance specified above cannot be considered at this time.

Compensation

Compensation for this position ranges from $150,000 - $170,000 annually. Final salary will be based on factors such as experience, education, skills, qualifications, location, contract requirements, and overall affordability. Eligible full-time employees may also receive a comprehensive benefits package, including medical and dental insurance, retirement benefits, paid leave, and professional development opportunities.

Ironclad Defense Works is an Equal Opportunity Employer.