Director of Government Affairs

Develop and execute strategies to position Community Catalyst, partner organizations, and our shared agenda with national policymakers and influencers. 

Oversee strategic engagement with Congress, the Executive Branch, and with national partners and coalitions focused on federal policy advocacy work. 

Spearhead the development of issue advocacy campaigns focused on advancing Community Catalyst’s legislative and administrative priorities at the federal level, in a way that supports power building.  

Work collaboratively across the organization to build and execute against policy strategies at the federal level, leveraging a broad range of tools to do so, including research, polling, communications work, and coalition building.  

Work closely with the communications team to identify and execute against opportunities for media work related to Congress and the administration, including public hearings, testimony, and community-based roundtables with federal policymakers.  

Oversee the development of organizational processes and systems to ensure transparency, collaboration, and strategy regarding organizational engagement with federal policymakers – congressional and administrative. 

Collaborate with the Directors of Policy to identify congressional champions and administrative agencies best positioned to advance emerging policy ideas.   

Build multi-year engagement plans focused on building relationships with federal policymakers, advancing understanding and support of critical health equity issues, and creating more platforms for Community Catalyst and our partner organizations to tell the story of why and how our health system must change.  

Serve as a thought leader on health policy issues and represent Community Catalyst with a wide range of audiences, including policymakers, coalition partners, funders, and the media.  

In partnership with the Directors of Policy, actively work to build new ways of engaging and collaborating with local, state, and national partners on key issues before Congress and the administration. This includes driving related coalition building strategies at the national level and maintaining relationships with partner organizations.  

In partnership with the Directors of Policy, ensure strong engagement and communications with local and state partners on national policy issues, including the development and dissemination of materials regarding legislative and regulatory policy developments and strategies to influence outcome.  

In partnership with the Directors of Policy, build and maintain strategic linkages between local, state, and federal policy.  

Serve as a contributor in efforts to engage a range of stakeholders, partners, and policymakers (as appropriate) in building a long-term policy vision for change.  

Provide leadership, direction, and professional development to team members, establishing and monitoring staff performance and development goals; setting objectives, establishing priorities, and conducting performance appraisals.   

Contribute to a culture of high performance and continuous learning that embeds the organization’s values.  

Actively engage in fundraising efforts as needed, and participate in budget development and management.  

Contribute to organization-wide efforts to center racial justice in Community Catalyst’s work and to build a more inclusive organization.  

At least 8 years of successful experience leading and managing public policy efforts at the federal level in a non-profit, association, and/or Capitol Hill/administration setting. 

Organizational leadership and management experience – ability to motivate others to advance goals, and the ability to effectively manage multiple projects or roles in a rapidly evolving environment. 

Experience as a political and policy strategist, working closely with executive and legislative bodies, agencies, and departments – especially at the federal level. 

Experience building relationships with federal policymakers and their staff and passion for positioning policy issues before federal policymaking bodies. 

Strong knowledge of national news and social media and the role that media plays positioning issues before federal policymakers. 

Strong knowledge of the federal policy process and experience leveraging it to advance federal policy goals.  

Excellent communicator, both written and verbal. 

Excellent consensus-building, coalition-building, and leadership skills; proven ability to work in coalition with a broad range of organizations on advancing policy issues.  

Deep experience building out and advancing policy strategy, including through 360 degree issue advocacy campaigns that incorporate grassroots, grasstops, media, and coalition levers.  

Excellent people management skills, ensuring staff are meeting goals and objectives in a sustainable way and growing professionally. 

Excellent judgment and creative problem solving skills – ability to make decisions in a changing environment and anticipate future needs.   

Innovative thinker, with a track record for translating strategic thinking into impactful action plans.  

Collaborative and proactive leader.  

Passion for Community Catalyst’s mission.