Vice President, National Security & Government Affairs

GOP Public Affairs Firm; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

GOP Public Affairs Firm in Washington, DC, seeks a Vice President for National Security & Government Affairs to lead government relations for defense, national security, and emerging technology clients. The role interfaces with founders, CEOs, senior executives, and investors, shaping executable strategies across policy, funding, and procurement.

The ideal candidate brings deep congressional and executive-branch experience, a track record advising leaders, and strong ties to Capitol Hill.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in Congress, the Department of War, the Executive Branch, government affairs, or a combination thereof.
• Demonstrated principal-level experience and judgment, with a track record of working directly with senior government officials, Members of Congress, CEOs, founders, investors, or other organizational leaders.
• Significant experience in defense and national security policy.
• Strong working knowledge of the NDAA, appropriations, and congressional committee processes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a principal-level advisor to founders, CEOs, senior executives, and the investors backing companies across the defense and national security ecosystem.
• Own and execute government affairs strategies for defense, national security, and emerging technology clients.
• Represent clients directly with Members of Congress, senior congressional staff, Department leadership, and other senior government officials.
• Navigate the NDAA, defense appropriations, authorization, and federal budget processes, including relevant committees and subcommittees.
• Understand and engage the Department of War budget, procurement, and programmatic processes, including the connection between congressional action and Department execution.
• Develop strategies around programmatic funding, report language, legislative provisions, plus-ups, reprogramming, and other congressional and Departmental pathways.
• Work comfortably with key defense budget and program documents, including the President’s Budget Request, justification books/J-books, P-1 and R-1 exhibits, and related budget materials.
• Work directly with venture capital, private equity, and other investment partners where government strategy intersects with portfolio company growth, market access, procurement, or policy.
• Maintain and expand senior-level relationships across Capitol Hill, the Department, the Administration, and the broader national security community.
• Anticipate opportunities and risks and translate them into clear, actionable recommendations, rather than simply reporting developments.
• Contribute to the continued growth and development of the firm’s national security practice.

Skills

Congress experience

Policy analysis

Stakeholder management

Budget knowledge

Job description

Vice President, National Security & Government Affairs

Washington, D.C.

One of Washington’s fastest-growing GOP government affairs firms is seeking a Vice President, National Security & Government Affairs to join its team. The firm is a right-of-center platform representing leading companies and innovators across defense technology, national security, artificial intelligence, cyber, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technology.

This is a principal-level, client-facing role for someone with an inside understanding of how Washington works and the judgment to advise senior decision-makers. Our team works directly with the founders, CEOs, senior leadership, and investors behind our clients, including leading venture capital and private investment firms. This individual will be expected to operate comfortably and credibly at that level.

The ideal candidate can walk into a CEO’s office, a meeting with the fund backing the company, a congressional office, or a senior Department meeting and add value in each. We are looking for someone who understands the intersection of policy, politics, funding, procurement, and relationships, and can turn that understanding into an executable strategy.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a principal-level advisor to founders, CEOs, senior executives, and the investors backing companies across the defense and national security ecosystem.
• Own and execute government affairs strategies for defense, national security, and emerging technology clients.
• Represent clients directly with Members of Congress, senior congressional staff, Department leadership, and other senior government officials.
• Navigate the NDAA, defense appropriations, authorization, and federal budget processes, including relevant committees and subcommittees.
• Understand and engage the Department of War budget, acquisition, procurement, requirements, and programmatic processes, including the connection between congressional action and Department execution.
• Develop strategies around programmatic funding, report language, legislative provisions, plus-ups, reprogramming, and other congressional and Departmental pathways.
• Work comfortably with key defense budget and program documents, including the President’s Budget Request, justification books/J-books, P-1 and R-1 exhibits, and related budget materials.
• Work directly with venture capital, private equity, and other investment partners where government strategy intersects with portfolio company growth, market access, procurement, or policy.
• Maintain and expand senior-level relationships across Capitol Hill, the Department, the Administration, and the broader national security community.
• Anticipate opportunities and risks and translate them into clear, actionable recommendations, rather than simply reporting developments.
• Contribute to the continued growth and development of the firm’s national security practice.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in Congress, the Department of War, the Executive Branch, government affairs, or a combination thereof.
• Demonstrated principal-level experience and judgment, with a track record of working directly with senior government officials, Members of Congress, CEOs, founders, investors, or other organizational leaders.
• Significant experience in defense and national security policy.
• Strong working knowledge of the NDAA, appropriations, and congressional committee processes.