Vice President, Advocacy

Aristotle•Washington, DC

1d•$175,000 - $225,000•Onsite

About The Position

Aristotle is seeking a Vice President, Advocacy to build and lead significant government affairs engagements. This role requires deep expertise in federal policy, an understanding of decision-making processes, and the ability to leverage relationships and judgment to influence outcomes. While federal lobbying is a core component, the position demands a strategic thinker who can integrate lobbying efforts with a broader advocacy strategy encompassing policy, stakeholder engagement, coalition building, grassroots and grasstops influence, and digital advocacy to achieve legislative and regulatory success. The ideal candidate will be credible with policymakers, comfortable with clients, and adept at translating policy objectives into effective, results-driven campaigns. This individual will immediately enhance Aristotle's federal practice, enable the firm to handle more complex engagements, and contribute valuable experience and relationships to benefit clients.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Communications, Public Affairs, Public Policy, a related field, or equivalent work experience.
Minimum of 12 years of experience in advocacy, public affairs, government relations, lobbying, policy, campaigns, or a related field.
Proven experience in building and executing federal and state advocacy programs for corporations, associations, coalitions, PACs, or public affairs clients.
Direct federal lobbying experience, including congressional and agency engagement, lobbying strategy, client preparation, and understanding of lobbying compliance.
Existing relationships with administration officials, agency staff, congressional offices, committee staff, trade associations, coalition leaders, or other influential federal policy stakeholders.
Experience in building or managing a government affairs office, advocacy service model, client program, coalition, or policy-focused team.
Strong understanding of the federal legislative and regulatory process and the ability to connect policy developments to client strategy and execution.
Excellent executive presence, writing, and communication skills, with the ability to clearly and persuasively brief clients, senior leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders.
Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with experience guiding staff, collaborating across teams, and establishing repeatable processes.

Nice To Haves

Prior senior role in a federal agency, administration, congressional office, committee, trade association, corporation, public affairs firm, or advocacy organization.
Registered federal lobbying experience or direct management of federal lobbying programs.
Experience building coalitions on complex policy issues.
Experience with digital advocacy tools, grassroots activation, PAC or association advocacy, social listening, and paid media coordination.

Responsibilities

Serve as a senior member of Aristotle's Advocacy team, collaborating with existing leadership and account teams to develop federal and state advocacy strategies.
Contribute to building and managing a government affairs capability that integrates lobbying strategy, policy intelligence, coalitions, grassroots and grasstops activation, digital engagement, and client advisory services.
Advise clients on transforming policy objectives into advocacy programs, messaging, stakeholder plans, and measurable campaigns.
Utilize relationships across the administration, federal agencies, congressional offices, committees, trade associations, coalitions, and the broader policy community to inform strategy and facilitate access.
Lead or support federal lobbying efforts, including developing outreach strategies for the Hill and agencies, preparing clients, planning lobbying days, engaging coalitions, and conducting policymaker meetings.
Monitor legislative, regulatory, and political developments, translating them into timely recommendations, advocacy content, position statements, and outreach plans.
Oversee client-facing advocacy materials and events, such as briefs, presentations, talking points, leave-behinds, action alerts, fly-ins, lobby days, coalition meetings, and stakeholder briefings.
Coordinate with product, data, creative, digital, and client service teams, while also mentoring staff and contributing to the establishment of a scalable service model.
Identify opportunities to deepen client relationships by aligning client needs with Aristotle's advocacy, data, digital, technology, and strategic communications capabilities.