Vice President, Advocacy

Aristotle•Washington, DC

21h•Onsite

About The Position

Aristotle is looking for a Vice President, Advocacy to build and lead serious government affairs engagements. This is not a role for someone who tracks policy and writes memos. We need someone who knows federal policy inside and out, understands how decisions actually get made, and has the relationships and judgment to move the needle. Federal lobbying is central to this role, but we want someone who sees the big picture. The right candidate can anchor lobbying work within a broader advocacy strategy, drawing on policy, stakeholder engagement, coalition building, grassroots and grasstops influence, and digital advocacy to win legislative and regulatory battles. This person should be credible with policymakers and their staff, comfortable in front of clients, and able to translate policy goals into organized campaigns that produce results. From day one, they will strengthen our federal practice, help us take on more complex engagements, and bring the experience and relationships that make Aristotle more valuable to every client we serve.

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 building and executing federal and state advocacy programs for corporations, associations, coalitions, PACs, or public affairs clients.
Direct federal lobbying experience, including congressional engagement, agency engagement, lobbying strategy, client preparation, and familiarity with lobbying compliance expectations.
Existing relationships with administration officials, agency staff, congressional offices, committee staff, trade associations, coalition leaders, or other influential federal policy stakeholders.
Experience helping build or manage 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 brief clients, senior leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders clearly and persuasively.
Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with experience guiding staff, working 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, working with existing leadership and account teams to shape federal and state advocacy strategies.
Help build and manage a government affairs capability that integrates lobbying strategy, policy intelligence, coalitions, grassroots and grasstops activation, digital engagement, and client advisory services.
Advise clients on translating policy objectives into advocacy programs, messages, stakeholder plans, and measurable campaigns.
Leverage relationships across the administration, federal agencies, congressional offices, committees, trade associations, coalitions, and the broader policy community to inform strategy and create access.
Lead or support federal lobbying efforts, including Hill and agency outreach strategy, client preparation, lobbying day planning, coalition engagement, and policymaker meetings.
Monitor legislative, regulatory, and political developments and turn them into timely recommendations, advocacy content, position statements, and outreach plans.
Oversee client-facing advocacy materials and events, including 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 mentoring staff and helping establish a scalable service model.
Identify ways to deepen client relationships by connecting client needs with Aristotle's advocacy, data, digital, technology, and strategic communications capabilities.