Director of Government Affairs

## Position
Asylon is seeking a strategic, relationship‑driven **Director of Government Affairs** to establish and lead the company’s congressional engagement function. This role reports to the Senior Vice President of Government and will build and execute Asylon’s Capitol Hill strategy across the states where Asylon operates and where its DoW and broader federal mission is decided—Pennsylvania, Missouri, North Dakota, Georgia, and Louisiana, with expansion into Oklahoma, Virginia, and other priority states.

The Director will translate Asylon’s autonomous security, Counter‑UAS, and General Visual Inspection (GVI) capabilities into policy outcomes: NDAA and appropriations report language, member and staff champions, hearing and testimony opportunities, and durable relationships with committees of jurisdiction (e.g., HASC, SASC, HAC‑D, SAC‑D, and relevant homeland‑security committees). This individual will possess a deep understanding of the congressional process, defense authorization and appropriations cycles, member and staff dynamics, and the interplay between Capitol Hill, the DoW, DHS, and the defense industrial base.

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## Primary Duties

### Congressional Strategy & Political Landscape
Own and continuously refine Asylon’s congressional engagement plan across PA, MO, ND, GA, LA, and other priority states. Map House and Senate offices, committee assignments (HASC, SASC, HAC‑D, SAC‑D, Intel, Science & Technology, Appropriations), and key staff (Legislative Directors, defense LAs, appropriations LAs, district directors). Maintain tiered engagement priorities and a member/staff database with 95%+ accuracy.

### Member & Staff Relationship Development
Build durable, personal relationships with members and staff in target delegations. Host facility tours, live demonstrations, and roundtables that convert awareness into advocacy.

### NDAA, Appropriations & Report Language
Drive Asylon’s presence in the annual authorization and appropriations cycles. Deliver issue briefs, suggested report language, and pre‑hearing briefings tied to autonomous/automated security systems, integrated Blue and Counter‑UAS (C‑sUAS), and General Visual Inspection (GVI) programs.

### Advocacy Narrative & Materials
Develop and maintain Asylon’s congressional messaging toolkit: 1‑page corporate overview, district‑specific fact sheets, capability briefs, and success stories tied to anchor programs. Ensure every staffer can repeat Asylon’s value proposition on demand.

### Economic & Workforce Impact
Quantify Asylon’s district‑level economic and workforce footprint—employees, hiring pipeline, wages, university and subcontractor partnerships, STEM engagement—and package it into constituent‑facing materials that make Asylon part of each member’s economic story.

### Third‑Party & Coalition Engagement
Build a chorus of external validators: universities, prime contractors, chambers of commerce, and defense business associations. Coordinate joint events, co‑signed letters, and partner references that reinforce Asylon’s credibility in member ecosystems.

### Federal Contracting Enablement
Partner with Asylon’s government and commercial business‑development and program‑management leaders to align congressional engagement with pipeline execution.

### Internal Coordination & Reporting
Act as Asylon’s internal congressional liaison across Government Programs, Engineering, Operations, Communications, and the executive team. Maintain a CRM‑style engagement log with 100% of interactions captured. Report KPIs and outcomes to the CEO and Board on a quarterly cadence.

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## Required Skills and Experience
– Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree in public policy, political science, national security, or related field preferred.
– 10+ years of congressional, executive‑branch, or government‑affairs experience, with substantial time spent on Capitol Hill (personal office, committee staff, or in‑house/agency government affairs).
– Deep working knowledge of the defense authorization and appropriations processes, including HASC, SASC, HAC‑D, and SAC‑D procedures, member and staff dynamics, and NDAA/appropriations report‑language mechanics.
– Established relationships with defense and homeland‑security committee staff, defense LAs, and appropriations LAs; existing network within the DoW, DHS, and defense industrial base.
– Demonstrated track record of securing report language, member letters, hearing invitations, or comparable congressional outcomes for a technology, defense, or dual‑use company.
– Ability to translate complex technology (AI, robotics, autonomous systems, Counter‑UAS) into concise, member‑ and staff‑ready narratives.
– Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfort briefing senior members, committee staff, and executive‑branch officials.
– Strong operating discipline: CRM hygiene, KPI tracking, and quarterly reporting cadence.
– Ability to work independently and cross‑functionally in a fast‑moving, early‑stage environment.
– Must be a U.S. Citizen and eligible for a security clearance (Active Secret or Top Secret clearance preferred).
– Willingness to travel regularly across DC, the five priority states, and Asylon facilities.

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## Highly Desired
– Prior service as a Legislative Director, defense LA, appropriations LA, or committee staff on HASC, SASC, HAC‑D, or SAC‑D.
– Familiarity with Department of War and Service program offices.
– Experience standing up a government‑affairs function from scratch, including PAC formation and compliance.
– Existing relationships across the five priority state delegations (PA, MO, ND, GA, LA).
– Understanding of DoW cybersecurity requirements and compliance frameworks relevant to autonomous systems.

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## Compensation & Benefits
**Salary Range:** $200,000 – $225,000

The salary range for this role is an estimate and reflects base salary only. Actual compensation will vary based on factors such as experience, skills, education, and business needs. Full‑time offers also include highly competitive equity as part of Asylon’s total compensation package.

In addition, Asylon provides a comprehensive benefits package for full‑time employees, including:

– Comprehensive Benefits – medical, dental, and vision plans
– Retirement Savings Plans – Traditional and Roth 401(k)
– Income Protection – life and disability insurance for all team members
– Generous Time Off – competitive flexible PTO plans
– Relocation Assistance – available subject to role eligibility

Apply here