Director, Federal Legislative

Federal Legislative Director – NAHB

NAHB seeks a dynamic and driven Federal Legislative Director to serve as a lobbyist and advocate for the housing industry’s interests on Capitol Hill. This position will focus on critical areas such as environmental, land development, and transportation policy, alongside other NAHB priorities. The Federal Legislative Director will serve as the primary advocate for the housing sector, offering expert guidance to NAHB members on issues including the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, smart growth, land development, and transportation policy.

This role is responsible for analyzing legislation and government programs, while developing and executing impactful legislative, grassroots, and political strategies. These strategies will be communicated to NAHB’s membership, Congress, the administration, and national political parties. This role will also take the lead in educating, updating, and mobilizing NAHB’s grassroots network in the assigned region, fostering their active participation in shaping policy on Capitol Hill and influencing the broader political landscape. A successful candidate will thrive in a team-oriented environment and work collaboratively across NAHB’s Government Affairs department and with the broader advocacy team to advance NAHB’s priorities. This is a unique opportunity to make a substantial impact and drive efforts to shape policies that advance the housing industry.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develops and maintains an active presence and working relationships on Capitol Hill and within the administration and White House for NAHB through regular visits to congressional offices and with administration staff; attending congressional briefings, committee hearings, and markups; communicating with congressional staff, other trade associations, coalitions and national political parties; attending receptions and other political events as assigned.
• Direct political outreach in assigned region and advise NAHB’s membership on political support for candidates in assigned region. This is to ensure the voice of the nation’s home builders is heard by federal legislators throughout the legislative and political process.
• Communicates information, both in written and oral form, about NAHB policies and positions to members of Congress, their staffs, federal agencies, and the White House.
• Drafts letters, testimony, floor statements, colloquies, position papers, and other materials to transmit these policies to Capitol Hill.
• Attends Congressional hearings and other meetings as appropriate. Similarly, communicates information, both in written and oral form, about federal legislative activity and issues to NAHB Senior Officers, general NAHB membership, BUILD-PAC trustees, NAHB committees, and NAHB staff.
• Develops issue papers for NAHB meetings, updates NAHB’s Issues Management system, prepares briefing materials and issue summaries, formulates memorandums for NAHB leadership, and reports information on assigned issue areas to NAHB committees and staff.
• Analyzes legislative proposals. Gathers information about Congressional and political activity, evaluates effect on housing industry, confers with NAHB senior leaders and regulatory staff to determine position and develop legislative strategies.
• Directs and develops grassroots liaison activities with NAHB’s councils and leadership groups. This includes developing grassroots outreach activities, materials, conducting grassroots educational programs, and recruiting grassroots membership. Coordinates and directs these activities among the legislative staff.
• Educates and advises NAHB’s BUILD-PAC trustees on legislative (pro-housing) support from members of Congress and candidates.
• Establishes a working relationship with individual campaign fundraisers and candidates in the oversight area, the administration, and national political party staff, as relevant.
• Attends BUILD-PAC sponsored political events for candidates in the oversight area.

Preferred Skills:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and synthesize complex legislative information and political environment.
• Demonstrated ability to balance a heavy workload with short- and long-term project deadlines. Ability to address changing priorities and work well under pressure.
• First-hand knowledge of federal legislative process, including the congressional budget/appropriations process.
• Knowledge of political process, grassroots outreach, housing industry, trade association operations, and/or regulatory process.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in education and experience. Master’s degree/law degree preferred.
• Minimum of four years of federal legislative experience, either on Capitol Hill, federal government agency, political campaigns, or at another trade association. Knowledge of specific issue area or assigned region preferred.
• Ability to travel.
• Eligible for telework (three days in person, two days remote).

To apply for this position, please submit this application.