Sr. Counsel, Vice President of Government Affairs

Alliance Defending Freedom - Private•Washington, DC

3d•$225,000 - $300,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is seeking a Vice President of Government Affairs to lead their U.S. Government Affairs team. This role reports to the Chief Legal Counsel and is responsible for overseeing the team's strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives, and driving policy and legislative initiatives. The Vice President will also foster unity among various legal advocacy components and directly supervise senior staff within the Government Affairs team. ADF is dedicated to protecting religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage and family, and parental rights.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school with an active license in at least one US state bar.
10+ years of professional experience working in federal or state legislative or executive-branch settings.
4+ years of professional experience working in a federal legislative context.
Experience managing teams of attorneys.
Proven ability to build and maintain strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Travel up to 30% of the year.

Responsibilities

Work with Chief Legal Counsel and organizational management to define, devise, refine, and oversee the plans and strategies to achieve key legal objectives, directing the application of those plans and strategies to positive legal outcomes.
Oversee and direct the Vice President of Public Policy to develop federal and state legislative tools and resources to defend religious freedom, freedom of speech, parental rights, sanctity of life, and marriage and family.
Oversee and direct the Vice President of Strategic Relations to develop a strategy for effective engagement with, and the development of legal options for, federal and state executive-branch officials to defend religious freedom, freedom of speech, parental rights, sanctity of life, and marriage and family.
Oversee and direct the federal and state government relations work of ADF Action, including direct advocacy (lobbying) work before Congress and state legislatures.
Oversee and direct the operational components of the Government Affairs team.
Oversee as direct reports the Vice President of Public Policy, Vice President of Strategic Relations, and all Government Relations Directors.
Develop and maintain direct relationships with key federal and state lawmakers and executive-branch officials.
Assist in the development of legislation, legislative testimony, position papers, and reports.
Build alliances and coalitions with like-minded policy groups.
Testify in support of or against significant federal and state legislation.
Represent ADF in media and at public events.
Communicate the ADF legal strategy, key objectives, and tactics to the Government Affairs team.
Promote cross-team communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and efficiency to accelerate organizational performance and achieve organizational objectives.
Ensure close coordination with the U.S. Legal, Communications, and Development teams.
Act as an educator within the organization to raise awareness of the Government Affairs team’s work and how it fits within and advances the broader ADF strategic plan.
Gauge the effectiveness of the Government Affairs team’s work by establishing effective measurements, reporting results, and initiating corrective action to ensure that objectives are achieved.
Act as the primary spokesperson for the Government Affairs team at ADF organizational meetings and other ADF team events.
Allocate resources wisely to maximize the achievement of ADF and legal objectives.