Vice President, Political Affairs

U.S. Travel Association; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 235,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare package

Generous paid leave

Wellness initiatives

Job summary

U.S. Travel Association seeks a senior advocacy leader to oversee PAC fundraising, grassroots programs, and champion development.

The role drives engagement with Congress, federal agencies, and key industry stakeholders in Washington, D.C., ensuring alignment with policy priorities and compliance standards. The incumbent supervises a Senior Manager, Political Affairs and leads strategic campaigns across PAC, grassroots and champion initiatives, including events, communications, and stakeholder

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of advocacy, campaign, PAC or grassroots work experience.
• Association PAC experience preferred; travel industry experience is a plus.
• Strong understanding of the legislative process and political instincts.

Responsibilities

• Lead TravelPAC fundraising events and engagement with core constituencies.
• Develop and implement PAC fundraising campaigns and prior approvals.
• Plan and execute grassroots advocacy, including fly-ins and education content.
• Draft communications to mobilize industry advocates and grow social outreach.
• Design and manage a congressional champion development program.
• Coordinate PAC contributions with CEOs, lobbyists and stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with FEC rules and internal policies.

Skills

Advocacy

Campaign management

Public policy

Grassroots organizing

Education

Undergraduate degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Summary:

This position is responsible for three primary areas of U.S. Travel Association advocacy: PAC, Grassroots and Champion Development. Responsibilities include managing and executing strategies to enhance U.S. Travel's profile and presence with Congress and federal agencies, advance pro-travel policies, and strengthen the voice of America's travel industry in Washington, D.C. For PAC, this position is responsible for creating and implementing fundraising strategies for various membership constituencies. For grassroots, the incumbent is responsible for maintaining and improving U.S. Travel's grassroots program to increase political education and involvement of U.S. Travel members and the broader travel industry in the legislative process. For champion development, the incumbent is responsible for leveraging assets such as PAC investments, in-district roundtables, D.C.-based fundraisers and high‑profile industry events to build travel industry champions in Congress and the Executive Branch.

Supervisory responsibilities:

this position is a direct supervisor for a Senior Manager, Political Affairs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

PAC

• Lead TravelPAC fundraising events throughout the year during CEO Roundtables, board meetings, the summer auction and other industry events.
• Increase PAC fundraising and engagement with core U.S. Travel constituencies, including corporate CEOs and lobbyists, destination leaders and local industry executives.
• Develop a robust prior approval campaign to obtain authorization from U.S. Travel members and begin fundraising campaigns with approved member organizations.
• Work with campaign fundraisers to host campaign events with other industry stakeholders and U.S. Travel's government relations team.
• Maintain regular communication with the TravelPAC Board of Directors and donors (including emails, conference calls and newsletters).
• Increase visibility of TravelPAC at U.S. Travel events.
• Maintain regular communication with legal counsel to ensure FEC compliance.
• Grow TravelPAC and develop metrics to gauge growth and execution of the program.
• Attend PAC events and other political and industry functions that often require attendance in early mornings or evenings.

Grassroots

• Maintain and improve U.S. Travel's grassroots program to increase political education and involvement of U.S. Travel members and the travel industry in U.S. Travel's advocacy campaigns.
• Work across U.S. Travel departments to plan and execute U.S. Travel's annual fly-in, Destination Capitol Hill. Lead the development of materials, briefing documents and educational content to prepare grassroots advocates to effectively lobby members of Congress and staff.
• Draft communications to inspire engagement from industry advocates, including newsletters and action alerts, and encourage action on Capitol Hill.
• Grow and improve U.S. Travel's advocacy focused social media outreach.
• Plan and execute stakeholder and coalition engagement, including through industry associations, business groups, third‑party allies, and state and local policymakers.
• Look for new ways to grow the travel industry voice in Washington, D.C., and at the state and local level.
• Respond to needs of U.S. Travel members, including on unique or sector‑specific demands.
• Collaborate with internal teams to advance U.S. Travel initiatives.
• Work with outside stakeholders, including consultants and travel industry lobbyists, to execute advocacy.
• Build and maintain business relationships with key associations, think tanks and nonprofits.

Champion Development

• Design and execute a congressional champion development program. Build and manage a year‑round suite of engagements with members of Congress, including TravelPAC events, in‑district education visits and site tours, fundraisers, and marquee industry events, that deepen lawmakers' understanding of travel's economic impact in their states and districts.
• Lead relationship mapping across the industry. Develop and maintain a relationship map that identifies U.S. Travel members, industry executives and advocates with personal, professional or constituent ties to priority congressional champions and targets.
• Broker and strengthen U.S. Travel members’ relationships with Members of Congress. Connect U.S. Travel members with congressional champions and targets through meetings, facility visits and events, and coach members to become trusted, repeat voices for the industry.
• Leverage PAC and industry engagement strategically. Coordinate PAC contributions and engagement from CEOs, U.S. Travel members, industry lobbyists and allied stakeholders to show clear, unified travel industry support for champions who advance the association's policy priorities.
• Align champion work with the legislative agenda. Partner with the government relations and policy teams to prioritize champion targets by committee jurisdiction, leadership role and pending legislation, so engagement supports near‑term legislative goals.
• Track impact and report results. Maintain records of champion engagement, member touchpoints and PAC activity, and report to leadership on relationship strength, champion growth and legislative outcomes.
• Ensure compliance. Make sure all PAC, fundraising and event activity complies with FEC regulations, House and Senate ethics and gift rules, and internal U.S. Travel policies.

Competencies

• Demonstrates and promotes a spirit of cooperation within and outside the work unit.
• Effective collaborator and mediator that listens attentively, shares information and responds appropriately.
• Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external contacts.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to recognize the need for action, confront issues, take appropriate action and pursue an issue until resolved.
• Serves as a mentor by training, coaching and counseling others continually by developing capabilities through formal and informal training as well as coaching direct reports in their pursuit of career goals.
• A problem‑solver who identifies issues affecting the work unit or U.S. Travel Association and takes early corrective action to avoid problems, as well as generating new ideas and practical solutions.
• An exceptional leader who can influence and motivate others to achieve a common purpose, develop and maintain an atmosphere of trust and cooperation, and demonstrate consistent behavior with the expectations communicated to others.

Qualifications:

• 10‑15 years of prior advocacy, campaign, PAC or grassroots work experience. Association PAC experience is preferred. Trade association and/or travel industry experience is a plus.
• Skilled in advocacy for the travel and tourism industry (considered a plus but not required).
• Understands the legislative process and possesses strong political instincts.
• Education and Experience
• Undergraduate degree in Political Science, Public Policy or Communications or an applicable field.
• Master's degree preferred but not required.

Other:

• Position based in Washington, D.C. U.S. Travel staff work in the office Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with the option to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays.
  Salary: $235K - $250K with bonus potential.
• Travel Requirements: Up to 35% travel required.
• Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive healthcare package with fertility coverage
• Generous paid leave including family leave
• Routine staff functions and opportunities for social connection
• Transportation and cell phone benefits
• Robust wellness initiatives and Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
• Education and professional development assistance