The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) Government Affairs Director oversees components of the day-to-day legislative and advocacy operations of the organization. Responsibilities may include supervising government affairs professional(s) and prioritization processes, planning and executing WWP’s legislative and policy initiatives, and ensuring their effectiveness. The Government Affairs Director serves to amplify the work of WWP in the National Capital Region by bolstering relationships with members of Congress and like-minded non-profits and for-profit organizations, enhancing their awareness of WWP programs and services, and identifying new, timely opportunities to communicate the impact of WWP programs and services.
Areas of Responsibility:
- In collaboration with the Government and Community Relations (GCR) leadership, develop a comprehensive strategy to engage the legislative branch in WWP legislative and policy priorities.
- Support the GCR leadership to vet, foster, maintain, and improve relationships with federal lawmakers and their staffs to further WWP’s effectiveness and collective impact. Inform key stakeholders of WWP programming, partnerships, and legislative and policy work.
- Lead and develop the GCR team by coaching, mentoring, and managing teammates.
- Design and manage a process through which WWP may adopt policy positions to foster buy-in from internal stakeholders.
- Serve as subject matter expert on WWP legislative priorities and positions. Provide recommendations regarding policy and in-depth research and analysis.
- Execute congressional and executive branch engagements, working groups, roundtables, and other meetings at the national and grassroots levels.
- For high priority policy initiatives, develop and execute strong, well-designed advocacy campaigns at the federal and state levels that are specifically tailored to a specific issue to maximize success, e.g., campaigns seeking legislative/regulatory changes, cultural shifts within VA or other agencies, or guidance/policy shifts.
- Work closely with GCR team, including Communications Director, to ensure campaigns are properly coordinated among WWP teams.
- Work closely with GCR teammates and GCR Communications leadership and team to ensure a coordinated and consistent articulation of WWP’s brand and policy positions.
- Lead cross-organizational project management for advocacy initiatives.
- Ensure internal and external stakeholders including WWP staff are informed about initiatives.
- Forge relationships and strategic collaborations with external groups and influencers including government officials, lobbyists, fundraising professionals, and non-profit stakeholders.
- Effectively deploy and manage localized external resources to effectively represent WWP advocacy priorities.
- Provide support to the Vice President (VP) of Government and Community Relations to ensure he/she is effectively positioned to advocate on WWP priorities in external forums.
- Represent WWP as necessary at key events, meetings, discussions, hearings, conferences, or before Congress during Congressional Hearings, as directed by the VP of Government and Community Relations.
- Establish working relationships with WWP teammates across the organization to advance the mission and GCR program strategy and goals.
- Maintain broad and in-depth knowledge and understanding of military service organization (MSO) and veteran service organization (VSO) community needs, concerns, issues, trends, “best practices,” and innovations which will inform investments.
- Other duties as assigned.
Educational Background:
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Equivalent combination of education, experience, training, or certification may be considered in lieu of degree.
Skills/Experience:
- Highly motivated, passionate and creative team player with demonstrated commitment to the organization’s mission. Demonstrated understanding of Wounded Warrior Project and its mission, values, programs, and services, and the impact of these programs and services on wounded warriors and their families.
- Demonstrated understanding of relationship management and partnering. Exceptional interpersonal and relationship building skills. Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with diverse individuals and build effective working relationships and networks in pursuit of common goals, e.g., building personal professional relationships with VSO/MSO legislative affairs counterparts and lawmakers and their staffs.
- Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to motivate, coach, and educate staff members while fostering a strong team mentality.
- Demonstrated advanced knowledge and understanding of the legislative process, public policy, and advocacy issues and processes.
- Strong advocacy experience and a thorough understanding of the issues faced by military and veteran’s population, including the military family.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Effective presentation skills. Confident communicator, with demonstrated ability to present information effectively to large audiences, small groups, and individuals, and facilitate discussion, serving as a strong effective representative of WWP.
- Strong organizational and time management skills. Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities and ensure deadlines are met.
- Demonstrated ability to establish credibility, be decisive, influence others, and effect change.
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically, analyze complex information, and offer creative, practical, and high-impact solutions.
- High energy level. Self-starter; willing to take initiative.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, e.g., Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
- Unequivocal commitment to the highest standards of personal and business ethics and conduct.
- Mission-driven, guided by core values, and a pleasure to work with.
- Five years of legislative, advocacy, and policy experience, preferably in a government or non-profit organization.
- Three years of leadership or management experience.
- Excellent knowledge of the legislative processes, substantial experience in preparing testimony, and working with Members of Congress and Government personnel.
Preferences
- Master’s degree or Juris Doctorate.
- Seven years of legislative, advocacy, and policy experience, preferably in a government or non-profit organization.
- Five years of military experience or working with veteran’s or military service organizations.
- Five years of experience working in a Congressional office, an Executive branch office, or with a lobbying firm.
- Three years of experience working with a non-profit organization.
- Two years of community outreach experience.
- Experience testifying before Congress or preparing witnesses for testimony before Congress.
Certifications & Licensure
- Admission to the Bar in any state preferred.
- Registration as a lobbyist for WWP preferred.
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Sep 24 2019
Active Until:
Oct 24 2019
Hiring Organization:
Wounded Warrior Project, Inc.
industry:
Nonprofit