Director, Government Affairs

THE ORGANIZATION

The Partnership for Public Service is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to building a better government and a stronger democracy.    

Central to this mission is our work to support and safeguard the apolitical civil service, the backbone of our democratic system that ensures the federal government meets its mandate to serve the public good. We prepare federal employees to navigate threats to the nonpartisan workforce, and we educate and engage the public about why the government matters and what is at stake for everyone if it is undermined. We also aim to help state and local governments deliver for those they serve, applying our 20-plus years of experience working in the federal sector to reinspire faith in government at all levels. Our staff, diverse in experience and perspective, is mission-driven, creative, collaborative, optimistic, intentional and inclusive.    

Our work is strategic, fast-paced and guided by our values:    

• Passion for public service and our work toward more effective government  
• People who promote a culture of learning, leadership, collaboration, inclusion and respect  
• Persistence to drive change, take strategic risks and deliver results  
• Promise to be trustworthy, nonpartisan and fiscally responsible  

We hire smart and friendly people who are great at what they do and good to one another in the process.    

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking a bold, action-oriented Director of Government Affairs to lead policy, advocacy and execution of a major government reform initiative focused on near term federal government reform and longer-term efforts to reimagine how government operates. This is not a “traditional” policy development role. It’s a dynamic opportunity for a strategic leader and builder who knows how to move fast, manage complexity, and deliver real-world impact across stakeholder engagement, Congressional engagement, and internal cross-functional teams through policy development and educational advocacy initiatives.

The right candidate will be a proactive leader, and someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, creates clarity from ambiguity, and enjoys “building and flying the plane” — managing grant outcomes, consultants, advocacy efforts, and leading a team, from day one. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead & Execute an Educational Advocacy Strategy

• Translate the goals of the Government Affairs team into a cross-cutting, actionable advocacy plan 
• Integrate policy development, communications, Congressional outreach, grassroots engagement, and stakeholder convenings into the advocacy plan execution 

Create Innovative Solutions to Make Government Work Better

• Work with internal and external experts, innovative thinkers, and government implementers to identify root causes to long-standing federal management challenges and identify a range of statutory, administrative, or process solutions 

Drive Stakeholder Engagement

• Cultivate and manage relationships with key players in the good government and broader ecosystem 
• Convene and facilitate conversations with subject matter experts, partners, and policymakers 

Connect the Dots Internally

• Ensure alignment between the Government Affairs team and other departments across the organization 
• Manage a large portfolio of policy development work and ensure the Government Affairs team is meeting outcomes and driving toward results 

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

• A builder and systems thinker — skilled at moving from vision to execution, even in complex and fast-evolving environments 
• A coalition and campaign leader — who understands how to mobilize stakeholders, shape narratives, and get results 
• A trusted operator — ready to substitute for senior leaders, represent the organization externally, and deliver under pressure 
• A doer — willing to roll up their sleeves and lead their team cross the finish line 

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Strong enterprise level perspective and leadership with the ability to navigate across teams and lines of work using situational awareness of the strategic, operational and cultural equities at play in the decision-making process. 
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, with proven management and leadership capabilities and a high degree of initiative and willingness to navigate new situations.  
• Ability to design and deliver a variety of programming related to organizational priorities.   
• Highly collaborative; Ability to lead internal and external teams to drive results and impact. 
• Consistent, sound judgment and decision-making skills; ability to identify potential problems, analyze issues and provide proactive solutions.  
• Excellent facilitation, written and verbal communication skills.  
• Creativity, resourcefulness, proactivity and agility.   
• Adept at working in a fast-paced and high-energy environment while consistently demonstrating emotional intelligence, critical thinking, mature judgement and common sense.  
• Commitment to the values of public service; the mission of the Partnership for Public Service. 

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• 10-12 years of experience in advocacy, government affairs, campaign strategy, civic innovation, or related fields 
• Demonstrated success managing multi-faceted advocacy campaigns and working with Congress 
• Demonstrated ability to develop policy proposals, facilitate policy development dialogues, and identify strategies to drive a policy conversation  
• Experience with government policies and processes, particularly at the federal level, is preferred 
• Experience with grassroots mobilization and/or organizing is a plus 
• Experience working in non-profits and with grants development a plus 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY/REPORTING STRUCTURE 

This position reports to the Vice President, Government Affairs. The position will supervise junior staff.  

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

This job operates in a hybrid (remote + office) environment in Washington, DC. The successful candidate must be a permanent resident in the Washington, DC, Maryland or Virginia area. The person in this role is expected to work in the office, on average, three days per week – with Wednesday as the required day in-office. This position requires consistent use of office equipment such as computer, telephone, printer/scanner and MS Office.   

In assessing employee performance at the Partnership, we consider collaboration, results, and demonstration of our values.  

POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK 

This is a full-time exempt position with regular work hours Monday-Friday, 9 am to 6 pm. Additional work hours and evening or weekend activities may be required.  

TRAVEL 

If travel occurs, it is usually local and during the business day.    

SALARY AND BENEFITS 

The starting salary range for this position is $125,000 - $160,000. The Partnership offers a compensation package that includes a competitive salary; medical, dental and vision coverage; life insurance; long- and short-term disability insurance; a 401(k) program with a 4 percent employer match; opportunities for training and development; commuter benefits; 15 days of annual leave per year, 10 days of sick leave per year, plus all federal holidays and the day after Thanksgiving off; and use of an on-site exercise facility.  

EEO STATEMENT 

The Partnership adheres to all federal, state and local employment laws. Partnership for Public Service is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, caste, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, veteran status, disability; or on any other basis prohibited by law.