Senior Manager of Government Relations

Senior Manager of Government Relations Job Description

About SPARC

SPARC is a non-profit advocacy organization that supports open systems for research and education that enable everyone, everywhere to access, contribute to, and benefit from the knowledge that shapes our world. As a catalyst for action, our pragmatic agenda focuses on driving policy change, supporting member action, and cultivating communities that advance our vision of knowledge as a public good. SPARC’s membership includes about 240 libraries and academic organizations across North America, and we work in close collaboration with a wide range of allied organizations who share our core vision.

Position Overview

We are currently looking for a full-time Senior Manager of Government Relations. The position will help SPARC pursue our policy priorities and serve our members. The Senior Manager serves as a critical liaison between SPARC and government officials at the federal level. This role requires an experienced advocate who can effectively represent our members’ interests in open research and open education through consistent, high-level engagement with Congress, Executive Branch officials, and federal agencies. A key component of this position is providing timely, comprehensive updates to our membership on policy developments affecting the scholarly communication ecosystem and higher education research landscape. For more details about the role or to formally apply, please see Careers at SPARC.

Position Title

Senior Manager of Government Relations

Location

Virtual, with regular visits to Washington, DC

Hours & Schedule

40 hours per week (average), generally available 9am-5pm Eastern Time with limited flexibility for other schedules or time zones. Extra hours may be necessary periodically and are offset by a generous time off policy during the rest of the year. Will require 3 to 5 overnight trips a year.

U.S. Overtime Status

Exempt

Compensation

Full-time employee salary of $95,000-$130,000 USD per year, commensurate with experience.

Employee Benefits

Candidates legally authorized to work in the United States will be considered for employment and will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families).
• 401k retirement plan with a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match.
• Pre-tax transportation benefits.
• 80 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually.
• 13 paid holidays per year.
• 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment.

Candidates located outside the United States will not be considered for this role.

Reports to

SPARC Executive Director

Availability

Desired start date of June 1, 2025

Responsibilities

Congressional Engagement

• Maintain a robust schedule of meetings with Members of Congress and congressional staff to advocate for SPARC’s open research and open education policy priorities.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key committee members relevant to research, education, and intellectual property, including House and Senate Appropriations, Education, Judiciary, and Science Committees.
• Track and analyze legislative developments affecting open access to research and open educational resources at both federal and state levels.
• Represent SPARC in congressional briefings and hearings.
• Develop regular educational briefings for congressional staff on issues such as textbook affordability, public access to research, and the economic benefits of open policies.
• Organize Hill visit opportunities for SPARC members and coalition partners, preparing briefing materials and coordinating meetings.
• Draft relevant documents to support these activities, including letters to Congress and testimony.

Executive Branch and Agency Relations

• Conduct regular meetings with relevant Executive Branch offices including the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to advance open knowledge policies.
• Establish and maintain regular meetings with key federal agencies including NIH, NSF, DOE, ED, and other research funding agencies.
• Monitor and engage with federal public access policy implementation across agencies.
• Participate in federal advisory committees and working groups relevant to SPARC’s issue areas.
• Track proposed regulations affecting academic libraries, research sharing, and educational resources.
• Develop relationships with senior political appointees and career staff at agencies with significant research portfolios.
• Draft public comments on behalf of SPARC in response to agency requests for information.

Member Communication and Engagement

• Produce regular policy updates for distribution to SPARC members, highlighting recent developments in open access and open education policy.
• Create monthly comprehensive policy briefings detailing the status and progress of SPARC’s priority issues.
• Conduct quarterly webinars to inform members about advocacy efforts and gather feedback from the academic library community.
• Maintain a dedicated section of the SPARC website with real-time policy tracking and advocacy resources.
• Respond to member inquiries regarding federal policy matters within 24 hours.
• Develop advocacy toolkits/resources for academic libraries to engage their campus communities in grassroots efforts.
• Present policy updates at SPARC member meetings and relevant library/higher education conferences.
• Convene monthly meetings of the Open Access Working Group, including preparing agendas and facilitating the meetings.
• Represent SPARC in relevant coalitions and develop and maintain partnerships with key collaborative organizations and subject matter experts.
• Facilitate strategic engagement opportunities for HELIOS Open and the Open Research Funders Group (ORFG) with federal agency staff in consultation with project leads.

Strategy and Planning

• Work with SPARC leadership to develop an annual policy agenda based on member priorities.
• Create and implement strategic advocacy plans for top legislative and regulatory priorities related to open research and open education.
• Collaborate with SPARC’s Communications team on messaging for policy initiatives.
• Engage with higher education, research, and library coalitions on shared policy objectives.
• Prepare regular reports for the SPARC Steering Committee on advocacy activities and outcomes.

Position Qualifications

Education and Experience

• 5+ years professional experience in federal policy advocacy, working across party lines with Congress and/or the Executive Branch.
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality, time-sensitive policy analysis tailored to diverse audiences.
• Experience building and managing advocacy coalitions and executing strategic campaigns.
• Established relationships with Executive Branch, federal agency, and Congressional staff, with expertise in effective communication strategies.
• Strong record of setting and meeting deadlines for both individual and team projects.
• Familiarity with open access, open education, open science, and scholarly communications.
• No specific degree required, though education, training, or experience in law, public policy, or related fields is preferred.

Skills and Abilities

• Clear, persuasive, and effective written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills; able to develop and manage productive relationships with consultants, partners, and senior policy staff.
• Active and attentive observation skills, with the ability to persuade others and gain support for project strategies.
• Proficiency in Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides) and/or Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Familiarity with CRMs.

Additional Desirable Qualifications

• Strategic and creative thinking with adaptability to changing circumstances.
• Passion for open access, open education, open science, AI, knowledge security, and data privacy.
• Experience in higher education, scholarly publishing, or academic research.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Ability to operate collaboratively in a fast-paced, virtual environment.

How to Apply

Complete the online application.

Hiring and E-Verify Statements

SPARC is a project of New Venture Fund (NVF), an organization committed to diversity and inclusion. NVF participates in E-Verify to confirm employment authorization.