Government Affairs Associate Director

Great Benefits. Competitive Pay.

We know these are some of the things people look for in a job.

If you’re the kind of person who believes that honoring and empowering our nation’s veterans is more than just a cause — that it’s a calling — then we’re ready to meet you.

When you join Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), you’re committing to making a difference. We make a commitment to you, too – helping you to find that spark, ignite your passion to serve, and embark on a career with meaning and purpose.

At WWP™, we recognize our mission cannot be accomplished without our talented teammates, which is why we’re proud to offer benefits such as:

• A flexible hybrid work schedule (three days in the office, two days’ work from home)
• Full medical, dental, and vision coverage for both teammates AND family members
• Competitive pay and performance incentives
• A fun, mission-focused, and collaborative team environment

A mission that matters is just the beginning, so if you’re ready to get started, we’re ready for you.

Government Affairs Senior Specialist (Associate Director)

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) Government Affairs Senior Specialist (Associate Director) assists with the development and implementation of WWP’s legislative strategy to advance WWP’s legislative and policy priorities. The Government Affairs Senior Specialist helps lead the planning and implementation of WWP’s legislative and advocacy operations to advance WWP’s mission and vision. They provide support to the WWP Government Affairs team by analyzing and reporting on federal legislative and regulatory matters, communicating WWP’s public policy positions, and identifying new opportunities to communicate the impact of WWP programs and services while bolstering relationships with legislative representatives, nonprofit organizations, and internal and external partners and stakeholders.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Support the Government Affairs team to build and enhance collaborative relationships to advance WWP advocacy priorities and inform on WWP public policy positions.
• Support Government Affairs leadership in developing and implementing advocacy campaigns for high-priority policy initiatives at federal and state levels.
• Prepare internal and external communications including emails, reports, memos, and presentations. Coordinate cross-organizational communication with WWP program management to support and inform policy initiatives.
• Collect and analyze data to assist the Government Affairs team with decision-making and subsequent reporting to leadership on activities and results. Compile and analyze data to identify and track trends.
• Prepare reports on federal legislative and regulatory matters of interest to WWP.
• Manage the development of congressional testimony, roundtable remarks, talking points, and federal agency rulemaking comments. Testify before congressional audiences as needed.
• Support Government Affairs leadership with various projects and activities, such as team budgeting, strategic planning, and defining Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Assist with oversight of external resources and vendors supporting WWP advocacy efforts.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to develop communications that raise awareness of Government Affairs team activities.
• Coordinate with the Community Partnerships and Investments team to help develop and monitor advocacy-related grants and projects.
• Coordinate engagements, working groups, roundtables, and meetings.
• Represent WWP at events, meetings, discussions, hearings, and conferences, including routine and ad hoc engagements with senior government officials such as agency undersecretaries and Members of Congress. Provide written summaries and recommendations to the Government Affairs team.
• Develop community support for WWP and effectively communicate WWP’s history, mission, vision, and the benefits of WWP programs and services, inspiring others to get involved and support WWP.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Advanced knowledge and understanding of the legislative process, public policy, and advocacy issues and processes.
• Highly motivated, passionate, and creative team player with a strong understanding of WWP and its mission, values, programs, and services.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to motivate, mentor, and educate staff members while fostering a strong team mentality.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong research and writing capabilities.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and meet deadlines while working independently with limited supervision.
• Ability to establish working relationships with WWP teammates to advance the mission and advocacy priorities and inform them about WWP public policy positions.
• Strong relationship-building skills with a deep understanding of relationship management and partnering.
• Ability to participate in and lead external advocacy efforts through collaboration with stakeholders, including military service organizations (MSOs), veteran service organizations (VSOs), congressional staff, and federal agency staff.
• Ability to manage sensitive matters with diplomacy and confidentiality while building effective working relationships with diverse individuals.
• Strong advocacy experience with an understanding of MSO and VSO community needs, concerns, and issues.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to analyze complex information and offer creative, practical, and high-impact solutions.
• Effective presentation skills with the ability to present information to large audiences, small groups, and individuals while facilitating discussions.
• Professional presence and demeanor with the ability to establish credibility, influence others, and effect change.
• High energy level and self-starter attitude.
• 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.

Experience

Requirements:

• Seven years of experience in advocacy, policy, or legislative affairs or research.

Preferences:

• Five years of military experience or working with veterans’ or military service organizations.
• Five years of experience working with a non-profit organization.
• Five years of experience working in a Congressional office, an Executive branch office, or with a lobbying firm.

Education

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, business, management, communication, or another relevant field of study. Equivalent combinations of education, experience, training, or certification may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Preferences:

• None.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

• General office environment; temperature-controlled.
• Up to 30% travel.

We recognize the success of our mission depends on the efforts of our passionate, hard-working teammates. To help teammates remain focused on the warriors and families we serve, WWP offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical/prescription drug, dental, vision, life/AD&D, short-term disability, long-term disability, and an Employee Assistance Program. WWP also offers a 401(k) retirement plan, a competitive PTO package, sick leave, family care leave, paid holidays, a birthday holiday, education assistance, and bereavement leave.

For Washington, D.C. applicants: The estimated hiring range for this position is between $90,316 – $112,896 annual base salary, subject to a candidate’s combination of experience, qualifications, and credentials. This position may also be eligible for an annual performance incentive.

Wounded Warrior Project® is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please Note: Wounded Warrior Project is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms without a written search agreement in place. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Wounded Warrior Project via email, the internet, or directly to hiring managers at Wounded Warrior Project in any form without a valid written search agreement will be deemed the sole property of Wounded Warrior Project, and no fee will be paid if the candidate is hired as a result of the referral or through other means.

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