Vice President, Advocacy

Aristotle; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 175,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401k plan

Stock options

Casual dress code

Non-corporate atmosphere

Job summary

Aristotle is seeking a Vice President, Advocacy to lead federal government affairs engagements with deep policy expertise and broad relationships. This executive will anchor lobbying within a broader advocacy strategy, coordinating across policy, coalitions, digital activism, and client advisory services to win legislative and regulatory battles.

From day one, you will strengthen our federal practice, guide complex engagements, and grow Aristotle’s value for clients through trusted advocacy

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Communications, Public Affairs, or related field.
• Minimum 12 years in advocacy, public affairs, or government relations.
• Proven experience building federal and state advocacy programs for organizations.
• Direct federal lobbying experience with congressional and agency engagement.
• Established relationships with policymakers and federal policy stakeholders.
• Experience leading a government affairs team and scalable service models.
• Strong understanding of the federal legislative process and policy impact on clients.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with executive presence.

Responsibilities

• Shape federal and state advocacy strategies with leadership and account teams.
• Build a government affairs capability integrating lobbying, policy intelligence, coalitions, grassroots and digital engagement.
• Advise clients on translating policy objectives into campaigns and messages.
• Leverage relationships across agencies, committees, trade associations, and the policy community.
• Lead or support federal lobbying efforts, including Hill and agency outreach.
• Monitor developments and turn them into timely recommendations and outreach plans.
• Oversee client-facing advocacy materials, briefs, and events.
• Mentor staff and help establish a scalable service model.
• Identify ways to deepen client relationships through Aristotle’s capabilities.

Skills

Lobbying

Executive presence

Writing

Communication

Leadership

Coalition building

Policy strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree in Political Science or related field

Tools

Digital advocacy tools

Job description

Aristotle is looking for a Vice President, Advocacy to build and lead serious government affairs engagements. This is not a role for someone who tracks policy and writes memos. We need someone who knows federal policy inside and out, understands how decisionsactually getmade, and has the relationships and judgment to move the needle.

Federal lobbying is central to this role, but we want someone who seesthe big picture. The right candidate can anchor lobbying work within a broader advocacy strategy, drawing on policy, stakeholder engagement, coalition building, grassroots andgrasstopsinfluence, and digital advocacy to win legislative and regulatory battles.

This person should be credible with policymakers and their staff, comfortable in front of clients, and able to translate policy goals into organized campaigns that produce results. From day one, they will strengthen our federal practice, help us take on more complex engagements, and bring the experience and relationships that make Aristotle more valuable to every client we serve.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a senior member of Aristotle’s Advocacy team, working with existing leadership and account teams to shape federal and state advocacy strategies.
• Help build and manage a government affairs capability that integrates lobbying strategy, policy intelligence, coalitions, grassroots andgrasstopsactivation, digital engagement, and client advisory services.
• Advise clients on translating policyobjectivesinto advocacy programs, messages, stakeholder plans, and measurable campaigns.
• Leverage relationships across the administration, federal agencies, congressional offices, committees, trade associations, coalitions, and the broader policy community to inform strategy and create access.
• Lead or support federal lobbying efforts, including Hill and agency outreach strategy, client preparation, lobbying day planning, coalition engagement, and policymaker meetings.
• Monitorlegislative, regulatory, and political developments and turn them intotimelyrecommendations, advocacy content, position statements, and outreach plans.
• Oversee client-facing advocacy materials and events, including briefs, presentations, talking points, leave-behinds, action alerts, fly-ins, lobby days, coalition meetings, and stakeholder briefings.
• Coordinate with product, data, creative, digital, and client service teams while mentoring staff and helpingestablisha scalable service model.
• Identifyways to deepen client relationships by connecting client needs with Aristotle’s advocacy, data, digital, technology, and strategic communications capabilities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Communications, Public Affairs, Public Policy, a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 12 years of experience in advocacy, public affairs, government relations, lobbying, policy, campaigns, or a related field.
• Proven experience building and executing federal and state advocacy programs for corporations, associations, coalitions, PACs, or public affairs clients.
• Direct federal lobbying experience, including congressional engagement, agency engagement, lobbying strategy, client preparation, and familiarity with lobbying compliance expectations.
• Existing relationships with administration officials, agency staff, congressional offices, committee staff, trade associations, coalition leaders, or other influential federal policy stakeholders.
• Experience helping build or manage a government affairs office, advocacy service model, client program, coalition, or policy-focused team.
• Strong understanding of the federal legislative and regulatory process and the ability to connect policy developments to client strategy and execution.
• Excellent executive presence, writing, and communication skills, with the ability to brief clients, senior leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders clearly and persuasively.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with experience guiding staff, working across teams, andestablishingrepeatable processes.

Preferred Skills

• Prior senior role in a federal agency, administration, congressional office, committee, trade association, corporation, public affairs firm, or advocacy organization.
• Registered federal lobbying experience or direct management of federal lobbying programs.
• Experience building coalitions on complex policy issues.
• Experience with digital advocacy tools, grassroots activation, PAC or association advocacy, social listening, and paid media coordination.

This role requires a practical mix of access, judgment, leadership, and execution. The right candidate will strengthen client programs, help build a durable government affairs capability, and expand Aristotle’s role as a trusted advocacy partner.

Salary Range: $175k - $225k Base + Bonus

All positions are Full-Time, with competitive compensation, medical benefits, paid vacation, 401k plan and stock options. Casual dress code and a non-corporate atmosphere make this a fun place to work and learn in a team environment.