Government Relations Director

American Rivers • Washington, DC

2d • $86,800 - $106,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Government Relations leads American Rivers' government relations and advocacy work to advance durable, bipartisan solutions for Western water issues, particularly the protection of the nation's rivers and floodplain restoration. The Director develops and executes legislative, administrative, and political strategies focused on the Southwest, California, Central, and Northern Rockies.
Working at the intersection of policy, politics, and conservation, the Director builds relationships with Members of Congress, congressional staff, federal agencies, state and local elected officials, and external partners to advance American Rivers' priorities. The Director works closely with conservation, policy, movement-building, communications, and regional staff to translate American Rivers' programmatic expertise and on-the-ground work into effective government relations strategies and policy outcomes. Additionally, the position is responsible for strategic planning within Government Relations, including facilitating annual retreats. The position reports to the Vice President for Government Relations.

Requirements

• Requires a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in government relations, public policy, legislative affairs, political advocacy, or a related field
• Familiarity with federal rulemaking procedures and requirements
• Significant experience working with Congress, federal agencies, state government, or complex policy advocacy campaigns
• Strong understanding of Western water policy and politics, including the political, economic, and institutional dynamics affecting water management in the Western United States

Nice To Haves

• Experience with conservation, natural resources, public lands, water, or river policy strongly preferred
• Knowledge of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and federal river protection policy preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute bipartisan legislative and government relations strategies
• Established relationships with Western policymakers, congressional offices, federal agencies, or relevant stakeholder networks are highly desirable
• Experience building coalitions and working with diverse stakeholders, including conservation organizations, local communities, Tribes, agricultural interests, water users, outdoor recreation interests, and elected officials
• Excellent political judgment and demonstrated ability to navigate complex and politically sensitive policy issues
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex policy issues into clear and compelling advocacy messages
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple policy campaigns and priorities in a fast-moving environment
• Commitment to American Rivers' mission and to advancing healthy rivers, clean water, and resilient communities
• Candidates who are unsure if they meet all minimum qualifications or who have transferrable skills and experience beyond the conservation sector are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead American Rivers' government relations strategy on priorities related to floodplains, river protection, including Wild and Scenic Rivers, and the Colorado and Mississippi Rivers
• Build and maintain strong relationships with congressional offices representing Western states, including Members and staff serving on key authorizing and appropriations committees to secure bipartisan congressional champions for river protection
• Monitor and analyze federal and state policy developments affecting Western rivers and water management and translate those developments into strategic recommendations and advocacy opportunities
• Lead administrative efforts including comment writing and building relationships with federal agency staff, including the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and the National Park Service
• Lead coalition meetings and strategy both internally and with external partners
• Work across departments to translate conservation priorities and field expertise into government relations strategies
• Help craft campaigns, connect state and regional policy opportunities to federal legislative strategies, develop coalitions and networks capable of building political support, and shape communications strategies for advocacy campaigns
• Defend existing river protections from legislative or administrative threats
• Build strategic relationships with conservation organizations, water interests, outdoor recreation groups, local elected officials, Tribes, and other constituencies
• Serve as a senior strategic advisor to the Vice President of Government Relations and organizational leadership on Western water politics and river protection policy
• Supervise volunteers and interns on short-term projects including research, GIS mapping, and communications material development
• Lead key congressional outreach including advocacy weeks, briefings, roundtables, site visits, legislative proposals, briefing materials, testimony, comment strategies, and other advocacy tools
• Provide strategic planning and operational support for Government Relations

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, long-term and short-term disability, and life insurance.
• 3% employer contribution to financial security plan after one year of service.
• Four weeks of paid leave, eleven paid holidays, three floating holidays, and sick leave.
• Focus Fridays (no internal meetings)
• Professional development opportunities
• Home office stipend
• Sabbatical leave (every seven years)
• Paid parental leave (six weeks w/ one year of service)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed