Manager, Federal Relations

Merchant McIntyre Associates • Washington, DC

11d • $90,000 - $115,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Merchant McIntyre & Associates is a midsize federal grants and government relations firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., that helps nonprofit clients from the higher education, healthcare, and local government sectors reach their federal funding and legislative advocacy goals. The Manager, Federal Relations is a mid-level professional position at Merchant McIntyre responsible for executing federal legislative and appropriations strategies, managing client projects, and supporting the firm’s advocacy and grant consulting services. This role combines hands-on project management with substantive policy and legislative work across diverse client portfolios in healthcare, education, municipal government, non-profit, and technology sectors. This position requires strong federal policy knowledge, proven project management capabilities, excellent written and oral communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a fast-paced environment. The Manager, Federal Relations serves as a critical bridge between senior leadership and staff, ensuring quality work product delivery while developing expertise in congressional appropriations, legislative advocacy, and federal grant processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in government relations, federal policy, legislative affairs, or related consulting roles
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and delivering high-quality work under tight deadlines
• Strong working knowledge of congressional appropriations processes, including earmark procedures and agency funding mechanisms
• Understanding of federal legislative processes, committee procedures, and congressional operations
• Experience with federal grant applications and familiarity with grants.gov and federal agency funding processes
• Knowledge of federal policy issues in one or more sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, rural development, or technology
• Familiarity with federal agencies and their funding programs (HHS, DOE, DOT, USDA, Commerce, etc.)
• Ability to conduct policy research using congressional databases, federal registers, and legislative tracking systems
• Ability to build and maintain productive working relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Demonstrated professionalism and discretion in client-facing interactions
• Full-time, salaried position based in Washington, D.C., with opportunity for travel.
• This is a hybrid role in Washington, DC, and requires in-office attendance Tuesday-Thursday. Remote candidates will not be considered.

Nice To Haves

• At least 2 years of Congressional legislative staff experience (legislative assistant, legislative correspondent, committee staff) strongly preferred
• Federal agency experience or background in federal grant administration is a plus
• Professional network within congressional offices, federal agencies, or policy communities preferred

Responsibilities

• Manage development and submission of congressional appropriations requests, including Congressionally Directed Spending (earmarks) and agency funding proposals
• Draft appropriations request forms, project narratives, and supporting documentation that clearly articulate project need, impact, and community benefit
• Research and analyze appropriations opportunities across federal agencies and congressional committees to identify optimal funding strategies for clients
• Track congressional appropriations cycles, committee deadlines, and procedural requirements to ensure timely submission and compliance
• Support legislative advocacy initiatives by drafting briefing materials, talking points, position statements, and legislative language
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting client interests and prepare an analysis of potential impacts and opportunities
• Coordinate with congressional offices and committee staff to advance client appropriations requests and legislative priorities
• Lead or support development of competitive federal grant applications across multiple agencies, including HHS, DOE, DOT, USDA, Commerce, and others
• Draft compelling project narratives that align client objectives and federal funding priorities and evaluation criteria
• Develop grant budgets, budget narratives, and financial documentation in coordination with client finance teams
• Conduct comprehensive research on federal funding opportunities and assess alignment with client capabilities and strategic priorities
• Facilitate partnership development and coalition building to strengthen competitive grant applications
• Utilize and maintain the firm’s proprietary Federal Funding Forecast and Earmark Tools to identify and track funding opportunities
• Manage grant submission processes from opportunity identification through final application submission and follow-up
• Serve as day-to-day project manager for assigned clients, coordinating deliverables and maintaining regular communication
• Develop and maintain project timelines, track deliverables, and ensure all client commitments are met on schedule
• Prepare client briefing materials, status updates (i.e., Legislative Newsletters), and strategic recommendations on federal funding opportunities and legislative developments
• Support client engagement activities, including preparation for Washington, DC meetings, congressional visits, and stakeholder briefings
• Coordinate with clients to gather information, review draft materials, and incorporate feedback throughout project cycles
• Participate in client calls and meetings, providing substantive policy expertise and project updates
• Track client satisfaction and proactively identify opportunities to enhance service delivery and expand engagement
• Conduct comprehensive policy research and analysis on federal programs, funding mechanisms, and legislative developments
• Monitor congressional hearings, markup sessions, and floor proceedings relevant to client interests and appropriations priorities
• Analyze federal agency Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) and prepare strategic assessments for client pursuit decisions
• Research congressional districts, member priorities, and committee jurisdictions to inform advocacy and appropriations strategies
• Develop policy briefs, fact sheets, and background materials that support client advocacy objectives
• Support the development of strategic plans and Federal Funding Forecasts that guide client federal funding pursuits
• Collaborate with Senior/Vice Presidents, legislative team members, and Government Relations Associates, and fellows to deliver integrated client services
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior staff members, reviewing work products and offering constructive feedback
• Coordinate workflow across client service teams to ensure efficient project execution and consistent quality standards
• Participate in internal strategy sessions and contribute insights on client needs, industry trends, and advocacy approaches
• Support knowledge-sharing initiatives by documenting best practices and contributing to internal resources
• May provide direct supervision to Government Relations Associates on specific projects or client teams

Benefits

• MM's benefits package includes the opportunity to participate in a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA), retirement benefits with a generous match, monthly transportation benefits, an annual professional development allowance, a flexible PTO policy including 13 federal holidays, and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees