Government Relations Director

Government Relations Director

Reports to: Vice President, Government Relations

Job Summary: The Government Relations Director oversees a strategic outreach portfolio, providing policy guidance, educational events, fellowships, and trainings for current members of Congress and their staff, Administration officials, and allies in the conservative movement. The Director serves as a spokesperson for The Heritage Foundation and ensures Heritage policy positions are communicated to Hill and Administration audiences. The Director also informs Heritage analysts of emerging issues in Congress and the Administration and spearheads opportunities for analysts to educate policymakers and their staff. The ideal candidate brings policy expertise in a critical issue set such as culture, life, education, and health care to effectively drive impact with policymakers.

Job Duties:

• Strategic policy communication — Ensure Heritage policy positions are communicated effectively to the Hill through strategic policy briefings, technical assistance, retreats, fellowships, and working groups.
• Department priority execution — Drive successful achievement of department priorities, including coordinating and leading coalition working groups on strategic priorities, using innovative approaches.
• Administration engagement — Engage with Administration officials and other key stakeholders to educate on policy issues.
• Cross-department collaboration — Lead cross-departmental collaboration by representing government relations in one or more internal policy campaign teams.
• External representation — Represent Heritage policy positions to external audiences.
• Relationship development — Develop and foster strategic policymaker relationships for the President of Heritage.
• Fellowship coordination — Coordinate Heritage Fellowships and staff training programs.

Qualifications:

• Education: BA/BS required
• Experience: 5+ years of relevant experience; previous Hill experience strongly preferred
• Communication: Excellent writing, interpersonal, presentation, and public speaking skills
• Technology: Microsoft Suite

Other Requirements:

• Mission alignment — Understand and support the Heritage mission and vision for America, and the department's goals and objectives.
• Policy consistency — Promote policies consistent with Heritage's priorities; speak with one voice.
• Policy expertise — Proven experience in shaping policy related to the economy, technology, energy, or foreign policy, aligning with Heritage's mission.
• Strategic thinking — Strategic thinker, understanding the importance of collaboration.
• Fast-paced adaptability — Work well in a fast-paced environment.
• Federal policy knowledge — Extensive Administration and Congressional relationships and advanced knowledge of federal policy issues.
• Clear communication — Clear articulation of Heritage policy positions to external stakeholders.

Benefits and Salary:

The Heritage Foundation offers a highly competitive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, best-in-class health care, vision, and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement funding, "take what you need" PTO and sick leave, 14 weeks of paid leave for new moms and 6 weeks of paid leave for new dads, among other programs.

The salary range for this role is $120,000 – $145,000 annually. This range is a good faith estimate, and the final salary offered to a selected candidate depends on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate's experience, education, and other qualifications; internal and external market pay for comparable jobs; and level of hire based on aforementioned qualifications.