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Summary: The Director, Government Affairs will be responsible for advancing ASTHO’s federal legislative advocacy priorities through strategic policy analysis, congressional engagement, appropriations advocacy, and stakeholder coordination. This position monitors and analyses federal legislative budget and appropriations, developments impacting governmental public health; develops advocacy materials and policy communications; and cultivates relationships with members of Congress, congressional staff, federal agencies, coalition partners, and public health stakeholders.

Location: Washington, DC area (Must currently reside in the area)

Anticipated salary: Up to $110,000 based on experience

Principal Functions:

• Develops and advances federal legislative and regulatory advocacy strategies in collaboration with the vice president of government affairs to support and implement ASTHO’s priorities and organizational strategic goals, along with cultivating relationships with members of Congress, congressional staff, federal agencies, and external stakeholders to identify and advance advocacy strategies
• Leads the development, coordination, and dissemination of ASTHO’s annual Governmental Public Health Appropriations book and related appropriations advocacy materials to support congressional engagement and federal funding priorities
• Tracks and analyzes federal budget proposals, appropriations legislation, authorizing legislation, and administrative actions impacting public health funding
• Drafts and coordinates timely legislative alerts, policy briefs, advocacy materials, and member communications related to federal legislative activity, with particular emphasis on budget and appropriations
• Supports preparation for ASTHO member participation in congressional hearings, federal briefings, and policymaker engagement opportunities, including development of background memoranda, testimony, and briefing documents
• Supports planning and execution of ASTHO’s annual Hill Day and related federal advocacy events, including coordination with partner organizations and congressional offices, as well as development of pertinent advocacy materials
• Develops and maintains advocacy tools and resources for ASTHO members, alumni, affiliates, and public health leaders to support effective engagement with Congress and federal agencies, including advocacy toolkits, talking points, and legislative engagement guides
• Monitors, analyzes, and communicates federal legislative appropriations and political developments impacting governmental public health, along with producing reports, summaries, environmental scans, and strategic analyses for ASTHO leadership, staff, members, and external stakeholders
• Provides subject matter expertise, policy analysis, and federal affairs updates to ASTHO policy committees, peer networks, member groups, and organizational leadership on emerging public health policy
• Represents ASTHO in coalition meetings, stakeholder convenings, congressional briefings, and partner organization discussions, and develops summaries, strategic recommendations, and follow-up actions to support organizational advocacy objectives
• Contributes to the development of policy-focused content and strategic messaging for ASTHO publications, reports, issue briefs, and external communications materials
• Develops and contributes content for ASTHO health policy blogs to elevate awareness of governmental public health priorities and federal policy developments
• Collaborates across ASTHO to align advocacy priorities, communication strategies, member engagement efforts, and programmatic initiatives related to federal public health policy

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in political science, public policy, communications, or related field preferred
• Minimum 5 years of related Government Affairs experience (working on Capitol Hill preferred)
• Computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, virtual meetings, and collaboration platforms
• Demonstrated knowledge about the congressional appropriations process and federal health agencies such as HHS, CDC, HRSA, SAMHSA, and FDA preferred
• Experience in developing advocacy materials, legislative analyses, appropriations requests, and coalition engagement strategies preferred
• Familiarity with governmental public health systems is highly desirable
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple and diverse priorities with positive outcomes
• Strong writing/oral communication skills
• Must live in the Washington, DC area
• Registered or ability to be registered as a federal lobbyist
• Ability and willingness to travel

Benefits:

• Vacation leave, Sick leave, Personal days
• 12 Holidays (with some floating options for personalization)
• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Retirement Plans – 403B and Roth 403B, eligible employees can receive a company contribution up to 11.75%
• Electronic communication stipend
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short and Long-term disability insurance
• Additional Benefits include: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Pet Insurance, Legal Resources, Health & Wellness reimbursement, Flexible Spending accounts, Tuition Reimbursement, and Professional Development Assistance

About Us: ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. territories and Freely Associated States, and the District of Columbia, as well as the more than 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and to ensuring excellence in public health practice. ASTHO is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, and was incorporated on March 23, 1942, with the goal of helping health officials navigate a rapidly changing public health landscape and remains a strong voice in governmental public health.

This position is contingent upon the availability of grant, contract, or organizational funding. Funding levels and organizational needs may impact the duration or continuation of employment.