Director, Legislative Affairs

TITLE:                       Director, Legislative Affairs

LOCATION:             Alexandria, Virginia

FLSA:                        Exempt

DIVISION:                Office of Legal Counsel

TRAVEL REQUIREMENT:
Minimal, less than 10%.

HOURS and SCHEDULE:
Generally, Monday – Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm (minimum 37.5 hours within five (5) days per week); unless otherwise required or approved by management and as needed to be consistently responsive to after-hours and time-sensitive requests from NCMEC leadership and legislative offices.

REPORTS TO:
Position reports to the Chief Legal Officer.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC CONTACT:

Daily contact requiring courtesy, discretion, and sound judgment.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
This position will work to build and maintain trusted relationships with congressional offices, caucuses, and committees on the federal level and legislative offices and committees on the state level through consistent, strategic legislative outreach, advocacy, and information sharing relating to legislative and policy issues in support of NCMEC’s mission, programs, and services.

The Director, Legislative Affairs will manage the Legislative Affairs Manager, the State Policy Counsel, and the Policy Program Assistant.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

·       Create and implement strategy to increase federal and state legislative outreach, including building new relationships and strengthening existing relationships; maintaining consistent communications with federal and state legislative offices tailored to specific NCMEC issues; and planning and implementing engagement initiatives to build awareness of and support for NCMEC’s child protection mission.

·       Support organizational strategy for increasing interactions, relationships, and communications with private corporate and non-profit entities and governmental offices on legislative and policy issues that impact or relate to NCMEC’s core programs of work.

·       Manage the work of the Legislative Affairs Manager and State Policy Counsel on multiple, concurrent deliverables, deadlines and projects relating to federal and state initiatives and manage organizational responses to legislative and related third party requests for guidance and technical assistance concerning issues relating to NCMEC’s programs.

·       Facilitate introductions and plan trips for senior leaders, including the CEO, and NCMEC issue experts to interact with key stakeholders in Congress.

·       Manage proactive monitoring and reporting out on hearings and legislation with potential impact on NCMEC’s mission.

·       Collaborate with the Chief Legal Officer, legislative team, and senior leadership on policy developments and substantive requests from the Hill and state legislators as part of formulating evolving organizational strategy and decision-making.

·       Collaborate with internal staff and external resources to stay up to date on relevant legal and policy developments relating to NCMEC’s operational programs in order to continually benchmark impact of NCMEC’s legislative and policy strategy and to help develop ideas for new legislative initiatives supporting NCMEC.

·       Represent the organization when interacting with the Hill, governmental agencies; federal officials and staffers; non-profit and corporate entities; internal working groups; and partner coalitions.

·       Implement and maintain consistent workflows and protocols relating to legislative and policy trackers, communications, and deliverables on federal and state issues.

·       Oversee compilation of briefing documents and related communications relating to NCMEC’s federal and state legislative priorities and positions.

·       Oversee maintenance of NCMEC lobbying registrations at the federal and state levels.

·       Other duties and special projects as assigned by the Chief Legal Officer.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

·       Bachelor’s degree required.

·       Minimum of 6 years substantive experience relating to Congressional relations, federal and/or legislative affairs, and public policy matters, including advocacy, required.

·       Experience as a Congressional staffer required.

·       Experience with and/or exposure to state legislative issues preferred.

·       Experience working with federal appropriations and federal grant protocols preferred.

·       Experience working closely with non-profit organizations, for-profit corporations, or law firms lobbying on legislative and/or advocacy matters required.

·       Previous experience with and/or working knowledge relating to non-profit, child-related, constitutional, and/or technology-related issues preferred.

·       Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining strategic relationships with Congress, federal government agencies, and/or state legislative offices required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

·       Working knowledge and experience with protocols and processes relating to Capitol Hill and federal government agencies, especially relating to appropriations and federal grant procedures.

·       Working knowledge, or interest in quickly developing working knowledge, with protocols and processes relating to state legislative procedures.

·       Strong written and oral communication and advocacy skills in support of NCMEC’s mission.

·       Commitment to participating in and furthering a collaborative work environment.

·       Ability to interact and communicate appropriately with a range of internal and external colleagues and entities holding the same or different policy positions on issues relevant to NCMEC.

·       Ability to perform as high-level strategic thinker and act decisively.

·       Excellent judgment in setting priorities and interacting with internal and external contacts.

·       Demonstrated ability to effectively coordinate multiple projects and manage multiple staff through various workflows and prioritize multiple deliverables while maintaining open communication with Chief Legal Officer and senior management, as needed.

·       Diligence and past success in pursuing positive outcomes in difficult situations.

·       Strong commitment and dedication to continually learning about evolving programs and operations of NCMEC and the legislative and policy trends impacting NCMEC’s mission.

·       Demonstrated proficiency in using word processing, spreadsheet, and standard database software.

·       Adaptability, flexibility and ability to work as part of a team and in an individual capacity.

·       Ability to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of highly sensitive material and information.

·       Passion for the issues affecting missing and exploited children. 

·       Ability to register as a federal lobbyist for NCMEC required.