Government Affairs Manager

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF or Federation) is America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 53 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts. The Federation's mission is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world, through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, ensuring equitable and easy access to outdoor recreation opportunities, connecting children with nature, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

The Federation’s National Advocacy Center (NAC), located in DC, is seeking a full-time Government Affairs Manager to join our team. The Government Affairs Manager for the National Wildlife Federation will support the policy and advocacy goals of the organization and will work directly with the Associate Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs in planning and executing communications with Congressional and Executive branch offices to educate, advise, and advocate for NWF's interests and policy priorities. These priorities are guided by the goals and milestones laid out in the Strategic Plan, affiliate resolutions, and the recommendations of program, regional, and senior staff. The Government Affairs Manager will also work directly with relevant staff to ensure consistency across activity and interactions among the campaigns, government affairs, communications, and digital programs.

Please note: Due to COVID-19 all employees are working remotely until we make return-to-work decisions. 

In this role you will:

Assist the Associate Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs in:

• Broadly building and maintaining relationships with key Congressional and Executive branch offices;
• Monitoring timely developments related to issues, staffing, and new or ongoing challenges in realizing the National Wildlife Federation’s policy goals;
• Developing new tools, alliances, and tactics to broaden and enhance the National Wildlife Federation’s influence;
• Working with the Government Affairs team and policy staff to provide strategic support and coordination of NWF priority campaigns, particularly ensuring integration across lobbying, communications, online, field, and other disciplines;
• Being responsive to requests, questions, and problems from regional offices and affiliates on legislative matters.

Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus. Your core competencies should include:

• Being motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized;
• Consistently bringing a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions;
• Being committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development and partner engagement; and
• Being dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work.

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree is required.
• A candidate must have 4 - 6 years of experience in policy, advocacy, or lobbying, including at least 2 years of experience in federal legislative lobbying, which can include service as congressional staff, executive branch staff, and/or federal lobbying experience.
• A candidate must possess excellent communication and organization skills, be a strong and quick writer, and have good political instincts.
• A candidate will be a self-starter who works well with others, a capable leader and negotiator, and able to work collaboratively with a broad set of internal and external coalition partners and interests.
• A candidate must also have a sense of humor, prioritize collegiality, and function in an exemplary manner in the servant-leader tradition of NWF's mission.

Due to the COVID pandemic, travel will be restricted. If/when it is deemed safe to travel, there may be some occasional travel.

Application:

Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

The salary range for this position is currently $65,000 to $70,000 annually.

The National Wildlife Federation values work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere.  Our paid time-off includes 3 weeks of vacation leave, open wellbeing leave, 10 paid holidays, 3 floating holidays, a week-long winter break, and additional leave options, per year.  In addition, our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, AD&D, short and long-term disability, 16 weeks of paid FMLA leave, 403b retirement plan with employer matching and annual contribution, adoption benefits, and flexible work options including telecommuting, non-traditional work hours, and compressed work weeks.  Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.

We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world.  We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity. 

If you have a disability and require an accommodation or assistance with our online application process, please tell us how we can help by calling us at 703-438-6244.

The requirements listed in our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, and if you have 75% of the qualifications listed we encourage you to apply.  Your experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, which helps build the competencies, knowledge, and skills that translates directly to our openings.  Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered.

www.nwf.org