Government Affairs Manager

Location

Washington, D.C. (hybrid; remote work Monday and Friday; in-office work Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)

This position supports First Five Years Fund and its related 501(c)(4) social advocacy arm, First Five Action Fund.

About First Five Years Fund

At First Five Years Fund (FFYF), our mission is to ensure that all children, especially those from low-income families, have equitable access to a continuum of affordable, comprehensive, high-quality early care and education (ECE) to support their healthy development and help them reach their full potential. To achieve our mission, we work to sustain and expand bipartisan support for early learning, while identifying and advancing new and innovative ways to increase access to high-quality early childhood education for children from low-income families. With so many children from birth through the age of five living in poverty, there is a tremendous need for greater investments and policies that expand access to high-quality opportunities that lay the foundation for a healthy and productive future.

Become part of our rewarding, mission-driven culture! We want our employees to feel empowered, motivated, energized, and passionate about the work they do!

Role Overview

The Government Affairs Manager is a member of the First Five Years Fund’s (FFYF) Government Affairs Team and contributes to the strengthening and expansion of federal early learning and care programs by performing a variety of congressional affairs activities.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Government Affairs Managing Director, FFYF, you will:

• Assist with the development and implementation of FFYF’s legislative agenda and congressional activities related to federal early learning and care programs, including, but not limited to, annual appropriations, tax provisions, and authorizing legislation.
• Track, analyze, and develop federal legislation, committee hearings, and markups in conjunction with the FFYF Policy Team. On an ongoing basis, manage the tracking of relevant articles and mentions by Members of Congress.
• Develop congressional resources, such as letters, one-pagers, and toolkits, and manage quick turnaround research assignments to support the Government Affairs Director.
• Strategize and engage in congressional outreach and educating lawmakers and staff through meetings, correspondence, and resources in conjunction with the Government Affairs Director.
• Provide the Government Affairs team with research and written content ahead of meetings and events.
• Collaborate with national organizations, coalitions, and groups.
• Manage the use of Quorum to support FFYF’s government relations and legislative affairs efforts.
• To support FFYF’s federal advocacy goals, manage attendance of webinars, events, briefings, Hill meetings, and calls related to early learning and care.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Early Childhood Education, or a related field and 3 or more years of experience with government relations, legislative affairs, congressional staff, or a related field.
  Or
  Master’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Early Childhood Education, Law, or a related field; experience with public policy, advocacy, government relations, legislative affairs, or a related field preferred.
• Strong oral and written communication skills; proven track record to articulate sophisticated ideas, thoughts, and concepts clearly and effectively.
• Knowledge of the legislative process and how Capitol Hill functions is required; knowledge of early childhood education is a plus.
• Ability to organize complex tasks, prioritize multiple assignments, exercise independent judgment, and remain flexible and adapt to changing needs and priorities.
• Ability to meet deadlines and develop and move projects forward with a high degree of independence.
• Ability to think strategically and analytically with an ability to see the big picture while managing details.
• Ability to process and protect confidential information in a professional manner.
• Ability to travel independently and alone (to locations that may not be handicap accessible) and manage travel arrangements, when it is safe to do so, per CDC guidelines.

We recognize that few candidates might meet every single piece of knowledge, experience, or education listed here. Research shows that women and people of color, among many other historically excluded groups, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Start Early is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your qualifications don’t perfectly align with everything in the job description, we still encourage you to apply!

Compensation

Base Annual Salary: $98,000 – $108,000
We believe that all employees should be paid fairly and equitably. As of the time of this posting, this is the expected base annual salary range. The base annual salary will be based on a wide range of factors, including skills, qualifications, experience, as well as business needs and limitations.

Benefits

Our generous benefits plan includes:

• Comprehensive Health Plans
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
• Holistic Wellness Program
• Professional Development Program
• 401k Contribution
• Paid Volunteer Days
• 6 months paid parental leave
• And much more

Equal Opportunity Employer

FFYF is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.

Learn more here