Senior Director of Government Affairs

Senior Director of Government Affairs

Brookings Institution

Washington, D.C., United States

Responsibilities

The Senior Director of Government Affairs is a seasoned public affairs professional with deep expertise in policy and stakeholder engagement. The Senior Director drives the Institution’s nonpartisan engagement with policymakers and decisionmakers in the public, private, and civic sectors through data-informed decision making and strategic leadership. Reporting to the Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, the Senior Director will use their strong network in Washington, DC, and track record of successful public affairs campaigns to foster productive relationships between Brookings and government bodies and stakeholders in all sectors.

Strategy Development and Execution (80%)

• Lead development of sophisticated strategies to reach key stakeholders including policymakers, industry leaders, and decisionmakers, with Brookings’ broadly disseminated work, including events, briefings, testimony, digital communications, collateral, etc.;
• Forge and nurture relationships with public officials, policymakers, and key stakeholders at all levels, leveraging existing and new relationships to broaden our impact;
• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, using knowledge of federal, state, and local policy operations and trends to identify and recommend engagement opportunities;
• Provides timely analysis and recommendations on legislative, regulatory, and political developments that impact Brookings;
• Work with internal, cross-functional teams to integrate public affairs priorities and audience insights into overall organizational objectives;
• Draft impactful communications to support government affairs work;
• Oversee the creation of systems to track, measure, and optimize our government affairs impact;
• Collaborate with Brookings scholars and research programs communications staff to support the broad dissemination of their research and recommendations effectively contributing to public discourse.

Team Management & Internal Support Strategies (20%)

• Collaborate with peer directors across Communications and Public Affairs to ensure cohesive strategy implementation so that work is high-impact internally and externally;
• Collaborate with internal teams to identify opportunities to promote and broadly disseminate Brookings work to stakeholders via various channels such as written materials, print collateral, presentations, , digital and multimedia media, etc.;
• Serve as an internal consultant to subject matter experts on public affairs and audience engagement strategies;
• Establish team processes and workflows;
• Mentor a high-performing, cross-functional team;
• Actively contribute to internal team and/or organizational work that shapes our systems and our culture;
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Ready to make an impact? In this role, you will support Brookings values of collegiality, respect, inclusion, diversity and community, and bring the following qualifications:

Education/Experience Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required in Political Science, International Affairs, Public Policy, Law, Communications, Marketing, or a related field. Advanced degree strongly preferred. Minimum of 10-15 years of progressive work experience in government affairs, public policy, or public affairs. Extensive working knowledge of federal legislative and administrative matters. Proven experience in engaging with government bodies and officials, with a strong understanding of protocols for government relations; additional experience at the local, state, and/or international levels is strongly preferred. Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic plans to engage with policymakers and other key stakeholders. Experience providing guidance and support to scholars, nonprofit staff, and/or leadership in their interactions with public officials. Strong track record of using data and research to drive strategic decisions and measure impact, including in policy or advocacy environments. Excellent public speaking and communications skills with a track record of managing through influence. Proven ability to translate complex research into actionable insights and communicate effectively with senior stakeholders. Minimum of 5 years of management experience leading cross-functional teams. Brookings policy prohibits lobbying in the course of Brookings activities and this position will not be expected or permitted to engage in lobbying activities. Must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

Knowledge/Skill Requirements

Excellent written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to tailor messages to a diverse audience and translate complex data and research into compelling insights. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships across policy, government, and research communities. Strategic mindset with track record of developing engagement strategies that drive measurable results. Experience working in policy or advocacy environments with understanding of legislative and regulatory processes. Analytical skills to assess the potential impact of legislative and regulatory developments on the Institution’s mission and research areas. Proficient in analytics platforms, CRM systems, and audience research tools. Detail-oriented project manager capable of leading multiple complex initiatives simultaneously. Collaborative leader with proven ability to work across teams and guide cross-functional projects. Strong understanding of policy landscape and stakeholder ecosystem. Commitment to nonpartisanship, scholar independence, civil debate, and inclusive policymaking.

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