Director of Government Affairs

National Aquarium • Baltimore, MD

1d • $71,000 - $92,399 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Government Affairs turns the Aquarium’s government affairs strategy into results, helping set strategy and managing the day-to-day public funding and government relations program. The position oversees the public funding request pipeline, filing calendar, legislative monitoring, compliance, and associated stakeholder relationships. Reporting to the VP of External Affairs, the Director advises on public funding and cultivation strategies and helps meet annual funding goals from Baltimore City, Maryland counties, the State of Maryland, and federal sources.

The Director builds relationships with elected officials and their staff, agency and county staff, delegations, councils, and community leaders. The role represents the Aquarium at hearings and meetings, leads special events involving public-sector leaders, coordinates VIP visits and tours, and supervises the External Affairs Coordinator. It also monitors legislative and policy developments, manages lobbying compliance, and coordinates with internal teams and outside consultants.

The position is based in Baltimore, Maryland, with an on-site/hybrid work arrangement. The schedule is full time and may require a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, public policy, public affairs, or a related area.
• At least seven years of experience in government relations, legislative affairs, or public affairs, including work with the Maryland General Assembly and Maryland local governments.
• Experience navigating state and local budget processes, including state or local capital requests.
• Registered with the Maryland State Ethics Commission, or able to register and complete required training within 60 days of hire.
• Demonstrated ability to develop compelling request narratives, testimony, and executive briefings.
• Experience building and sustaining relationships with elected officials, staff, and community leaders.
• Event and meeting planning experience, with strong attention to deadlines and details.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail.
• Experience directly supervising staff and managing performance.
• Ability to work independently and manage projects across departments.
• Decisiveness and resourcefulness, including the ability to anticipate emerging issues and identify strategic opportunities.
• Ability to represent the Aquarium externally with professionalism and discretion.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in public policy, public administration, law, or a related field.
• Experience with federal appropriations or Community Project Funding requests.
• Demonstrated ability to secure public-sector funding in Maryland.
• Experience with county-level funding, including arts and cultural councils.
• Nonprofit, cultural institution, or conservation sector experience.
• Experience managing consultants.
• Interest in the National Aquarium’s conservation mission.

Responsibilities

• Develop the annual public funding strategy and manage the full cycle of city, county, and state capital requests, operating grants, and federal appropriations requests.
• Advise the VP of External Affairs on public funding and cultivation strategies.
• Research and track public funding opportunities and recommend opportunities to the VP.
• Draft request narratives, budgets, testimony, and supporting materials with Philanthropy, Finance, and program leads.
• Verify that state, city, and county requests meet eligibility criteria and capital guidelines before submission.
• Manage the Government Affairs master calendar, including filing deadlines, hearings, budget cycles, and reporting dates.
• Track request status and award outcomes; prepare pipeline and revenue reports against annual public funding targets.
• Coordinate post-award obligations across Aquarium teams to maintain good standing with funders.
• Cultivate working relationships with local, state, and federal officials and their staff.
• Serve as a primary day-to-day contact for the Baltimore City delegation and county delegations.
• Represent the Aquarium before the General Assembly, Board of Public Works, City Council, Board of Estimates, and other relevant hearings and meetings; share summaries and implications with staff.
• Strengthen relationships with community, neighborhood, and civic organizations, including downtown and Inner Harbor partners.
• Maintain the government and community contact database and track stakeholder engagement.
• Serve on internal and external committees as assigned and lead special projects supporting relationship building and public funding goals.
• Lobby directly on approved priorities as delegated by the VP.
• Monitor local, state, and federal legislation, budgets, regulations, and elections that affect the Aquarium.
• Prepare briefings, bill summaries, and talking points for the VP, CEO, Leadership Team, and Board.
• Coordinate with the Director of Conservation Policy on advocacy supporting the Aquarium’s conservation priorities.
• Track political-cycle shifts and recommend adjustments to outreach and messaging.
• Plan and execute special events, including Legislative Family Night and government official site visits.
• Coordinate VIP and legislator visits and tours, greet and host guests as needed, and lead groups on tours.
• Develop publications and materials specific to cultivation and funding goals.
• Prepare briefing materials for Aquarium hosts and follow up with event attendees.
• Supervise the External Affairs Coordinator in executing public funding and cultivation strategies and other priorities identified by the VP.
• Maintain lobbying registration, activity reporting, and ethics compliance with the VP and outside lobbyists.
• Coordinate with Philanthropy, Communications, and program teams to ensure government contacts are consistent and logged.
• Support the VP in managing outside lobbying consultants, including coordinating meetings and tracking deliverables.
• Learn Aquarium team functions and how they relate to the organization’s mission; represent Government Affairs in cross-functional meetings as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Flexible paid leave.
• Up to four weeks of paid family leave.
• Health care coverage for single and family plans after 30 days of full-time work.
• Conservation day leave.
• 401(k) plan with employer match.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior