Government Relations Specialist
About The Position
National 4-H Council is seeking a Government Relations Specialist to strengthen relationships with policymakers, Congressional 4-H alumni, Cooperative Extension partners, and key stakeholders. This role will advance government relations initiatives that expand opportunities for youth across the country. The Specialist will play a vital role in advancing 4-H's government relations strategy by cultivating strategic partnerships, supporting legislative engagement, and amplifying youth voice at the local, state, and federal levels. Responsibilities include leading stakeholder engagement efforts, coordinating high-impact events, conducting policy and stakeholder research, and developing communications to strengthen relationships with elected officials and Congressional staff. The role involves managing projects, preparing legislative briefings, and creating opportunities for youth to engage with policymakers, ensuring advocacy efforts are organized, responsive, and impactful.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of relevant work experience and training.
- 3+ years of progressively responsible including events, project management, government or relevant work experience.
- Experience planning events of large size and scope, managing projects, or timelines.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects across various deadlines.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft 365 including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams.
- Experience planning and facilitating virtual meetings and trainings using Teams, Zoom, or other virtual platforms.
- Experience managing multiple tasks, deadlines, projects, and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
Nice To Haves
- Familiarity with legislative processes, political acumen, and government relations.
- Knowledge of the Cooperative Extension System and 4-H.
- Proficiency with CRM or stakeholder management systems.
- Ability to work independently in a remote environment while maintaining high responsiveness and accountability.
- DMV based applicants preferred.
Responsibilities
- Initiate, cultivate, and maintain relationships with government officials, Congressional staff, 4-H alumni, and other stakeholders.
- Monitor and analyze federal and state legislative, regulatory, and policy developments affecting 4-H, Cooperative Extension, and youth development.
- Proactively maintain engagement records and contact databases, and lead research to identify 4-H alumni in public service to support strategic relationship-building and outreach efforts.
- Conduct research on sector best practices and provide recommendations to improve Government Relations and Stakeholder Relations approaches.
- Plan and execute Citizenship Washington Focus Hill Day, Congressional 4-H Week activities, and Congressional 4-H alumni engagement initiatives.
- Develop written communications to strengthen relationships with 4-H alumni on Capitol Hill.
- Lead pre-meeting preparation for congressional & alumni engagement, including creating pre-read materials, research, and engaging stakeholders.
- Maintain accurate records of stakeholder interactions and engagement history.
- Develop and execute opportunities for youth to engage with policymakers and share their 4-H experiences and perspectives.
- Develop resources and toolkits for state 4-H and Cooperative Extension partners for State Legislative Days and advocacy efforts.
- Conduct research on sector best practices to update and improve Government Relations activities.
- Lead operational support to the Chief of Staff & Government Relations team, including scheduling, agenda preparation, briefing materials, presentations, and stakeholder communications.
- Develop and track project timelines, deliverables, and partnership activities.
- Draft communications, presentation materials, and key messages for legislative briefings.
- Provide general operational support including preparing expense reports and processing payment requests.
Benefits
- Salary range disclosure reflects national market range; final compensation based on geographic location and internal equity.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
