State-Federal Affairs Director

State-Federal Affairs Director

The National Governors Association is seeking a State-Federal Affairs Director in Washington, DC (onsite). This full-time, exempt position reports to the Chief Policy Officer and President, Center for Best Practices. A competitive compensation package will be offered to the qualified candidate.

Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association is the bipartisan organization of Governors from the 55 states, territories, and commonwealths. NGA's mission is to share best practices, address issues of national and state interest, and drive innovative solutions that improve state government and support the principles of federalism.

NGA's Center for Best Practices is the policy and research arm that helps Governors develop and implement solutions to public policy challenges. NGA's State-Federal Affairs group assists in ensuring the voice of Governors are heard in Congress, and the Executive Branch and NGA's Communications team collaborates with Governors' offices to amplify bipartisan messaging and strategy.

Throughout the year, NGA convenes Governors and senior advisors for meaningful discourse, problem-solving, and thought leadership.

Key Responsibilities of the State-Federal Affairs Director Reporting to the Chief Policy Officer, the Director serves as NGA's operational lead for advocacy coordination, translating Governors' policy priorities into structured, bipartisan federal engagement and ensuring NGA's voice is heard effectively on Capitol Hill, in the Executive Branch, and across the state-federal landscape.

The Director works closely with the Chief Policy Officer and Center for Best Practices program directors to ensure NGA's policy research informs its advocacy, and that federal insights flow back into the organization's agenda. The Director manages NGA's outside government relations consultants and serves as the primary liaison to Governors' state-federal representatives.

The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of federal legislative and regulatory processes, strong Capitol Hill and Executive Branch relationships, and the ability to manage multiple complex workstreams in a fast-paced, politically sensitive environment.

Key responsibilities of the State-Federal Affairs Director include:

• State-Federal Relationship Management
• Serving as the principal liaison to Governors' state-federal representatives, maintaining consistent communication on federal priorities, legislative developments, and advocacy opportunities.
• Managing structured engagement for state-federal representatives, including daily updates, standing calls, briefings, working groups, and issue-specific coordination sessions.
• Synthesizing state priorities and feedback, sharing actionable intelligence with senior leadership, and keeping representatives current on Center for Best Practices research and advocacy materials.
• Identifying misalignments between state priorities and federal advocacy, and recommending adjustments to strategy, messaging, or engagement.

• Consultant and External Partner Management
• Managing NGA's outside consultants day-to-day, coordinating deliverables, timelines, and engagement in alignment with Chief Policy Officer priorities.
• Ensuring consultants are briefed on NGA's policy priorities and member sensitivities, and that their Capitol Hill and Executive Branch insights are captured and shared internally.
• Facilitating regular touchpoints between consultants and NGA staff and evaluating consultant performance—advising the Chief Policy Officer on effectiveness and adjusting the engagement as needs evolve.
• Building and maintaining complementary relationships with peer organizations, coalition partners, and advocacy allies, including other state and local government associations, to amplify NGA's advocacy reach and coordinate on shared priorities.

• Federal Stakeholder Engagement
• Building and maintaining working relationships with Congressional staff, committee offices, and Executive Branch contacts; representing NGA in meetings and escalating high-level opportunities to the Chief Policy Officer and CEO.
• Monitoring federal legislative activity, regulatory proceedings, and executive actions on a continuous basis, assessing their implications for states and territories, and ensuring NGA leadership and state-federal representatives receive timely, well-synthesized updates.
• Identifying and pursuing strategic opportunities for Governors to engage directly with federal decision-makers, including Congressional testimony, Administration meetings, and coalition advocacy efforts, and managing the logistics and preparation for those engagements.

• Advocacy Coordination & Materials Development
• Working with the Communications Team, drafting and coordinating a broad range of advocacy materials to include statements, sign-on letters, public comments, policy briefs, talking points, and legislative updates.
• Translating the Chief Policy Officer's strategic priorities into coordinated execution plans.
• Ensuring NGA's advocacy messaging, Center for Best Practices policy positions, and external communications are aligned and consistent.

• Convenings & Meetings
• Planning and executing weekly state-federal meetings, larger convenings, and strategy sessions—developing agendas, securing speakers, managing logistics, and designing sessions that drive alignment and advance advocacy objectives.

Qualifications Candidates should hold a bachelor's degree in government relations, public policy, political science, or a related field. A minimum of eight (8) years of experience in federal government relations, state-federal engagement, legislative affairs, or closely related roles is required. Experience working with Governors, in Congressional offices or federal agencies, or in a senior capacity at a national association or advocacy organization is strongly preferred.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Deep knowledge of the federal legislative and regulatory process—including Congressional procedure, committee structures, and Executive Branch rulemaking—and existing relationships with Congressional staff, committee offices, and/or Executive Branch officials.
• Demonstrated experience managing government relations consultants or external advocacy partners, including setting priorities, coordinating deliverables, and evaluating performance.
• Thorough understanding of the state-federal policy landscape, including federalism, federal grant programs, regulatory preemption, and intergovernmental relations.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft high-quality advocacy materials quickly and represent NGA credibly with senior officials, Governors' staff, and external partners.
• The ability to engage effectively and credibly across party lines in a resolutely bipartisan environment, and to support Governors of both parties with equal professionalism and dedication.
• Strong project management skills, political acumen, and sound judgment—with the ability to track complex workstreams, anticipate bottlenecks, read political dynamics, and advise senior leadership on timing and strategy.
• Commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards.
• Travel, as necessary.

How to Apply Interested candidates should apply online through NGA's career site. NGA uses Clear Company, and all information is kept strictly confidential. An application is considered when all required fields are completed. Please include:

• Your resume highlighting your education, experience, and direct transferable skills
• A portfolio of your best work (attach to your candidate profile via Clear Company)

Compensation Salary Range: $125,000 - $150,000 annually. The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the lowest to the highest salary for the role at this time. The final salary offered will be based on qualifications and experience.

Physical and Sensory Demands Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. NGA is committed to providing a productive and safe environment. To achieve that goal, we conduct background and reference check investigations for all final applicants considered for employment.

Working at the National Governors Association NGA staff proudly serve our nation's Governors daily, and it's our mission to ensure we offer a comprehensive, competitive benefits package, to include healthcare and more, designed to support the needs of NGA employees. NGA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to any protected characteristic under applicable law. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.