Vice President, Federal Relations

Ladders; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 290,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Ladders seeks a Vice President, Federal Relations to lead our federal strategy in Washington, DC. This senior role advises executive leadership on evolving political and funding dynamics and represents the organization with federal stakeholders.

You will build bipartisan relationships, advance higher education and research priorities, and coordinate advocacy with academic and research goals. This is a high-visibility role requiring sound judgment and the ability to convene diverse policymakers

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required and at least 10 years in federal relations or government affairs.
• Minimum 5 years in a management or leadership role overseeing teams.
• Proven ability to cultivate bipartisan relationships with federal stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of federal legislative and agency processes.
• Exceptional communication skills for sensitive policy matters.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the organization's federal agenda in partnership with senior leadership.
• Advise executive leadership on federal political dynamics and funding environments.
• Represent the organization and build lasting relationships with key federal stakeholders.
• Advance priorities related to higher education and research initiatives.
• Coordinate federal advocacy efforts with academic and research priorities.
• Facilitate connections between organizational leaders and policymakers.
• Provide timely federal intelligence and updates to senior leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Policy analysis

Bipartisan relations

Project management

Strategic planning

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Vice President, Federal Relations to join the team of a leader in the Education, Government & Non-Profit space.

This role will lead the organization’s federal relations strategy and serve as a senior advisor to executive leadership on the evolving political and funding landscape in Washington, DC. The Vice President will build trusted relationships with federal stakeholders, advance institutional priorities, and help align advocacy efforts with higher education and research objectives. This is a highly visible position that requires strong judgment, bipartisan credibility, and the ability to represent the organization effectively in complex policy discussions.

Location: Washington, DC - US based candidates only, no visa sponsorship available

Compensation: $290,000 – $320,000 annually

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the organization's federal agenda in partnership with senior leadership
• Advise executive leadership on federal political dynamics and funding environments
• Represent the organization and build lasting relationships with key federal stakeholders
• Advance priorities related to higher education and research initiatives
• Coordinate federal advocacy efforts with academic and research priorities
• Facilitate connections between organizational leaders and policymakers
• Provide timely federal intelligence and updates to senior leadership

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• 10+ years of experience in federal relations or government affairs, including 5 years in a management role
• Extensive knowledge of federal legislative and agency processes
• Proven ability to cultivate bipartisan relationships with government stakeholders
• Strong leadership and project management skills for complex initiatives
• Exceptional communication skills to navigate sensitive political matters
• Established network in Washington, DC, with the ability to convene stakeholders

Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage for employees and dependents
• Retirement savings options with employer matching
• Professional development and education support programs

Our client is an equal opportunity employer.