State-Federal Affairs Director

TITLE: State-Federal Affairs Director

ORGANIZATION: National Governors Association

LOCATION: Washington, DC (onsite)

DURATION: Full Time

POSITION STATUS: Exempt

COMPENSATION: A competitive compensation package will be made to the qualified candidate

REPORTS TO: Chief Policy Officer and President, Center for Best Practices

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND

Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association is the bipartisan organization of Governors from the 55 states, territories and commonwealths. NGAs mission is to share best practices, address issues of national and state interest, and drive innovative solutions that improve state government and support the principles of federalism.

NGAs Center for Best Practices is the policy and research arm that helps Governors develop and implement solutions to public policy challenges. NGAs State-Federal Affairs group assists in ensuring the voice of Governors are heard in Congress, and the Executive Branch and NGAs Communications team collaborates with Governors offices to amplify bipartisan messaging and strategy.

Throughout the year, NGA convenes Governors and senior advisors for meaningful discourse, problem-solving and thought leadership.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE-FEDERAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR

Reporting to the Chief Policy Officer, the Director serves as NGAs operational lead for advocacy coordination, translating Governors policy priorities into structured, bipartisan federal engagement and ensuring NGAs voice is heard effectively on Capitol Hill, in the Executive Branch, and across the state-federal landscape.

The Director works closely with the Chief Policy Officer and Center for Best Practices program directors to ensure NGAs policy research informs its advocacy, and that federal insights flow back into the organizations agenda. The Director manages NGAs outside government relations consultants and serves as the primary liaison to Governors state-federal representatives.

The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of federal legislative and regulatory processes, strong Capitol Hill and Executive Branch relationships, and the ability to manage multiple complex workstreams in a fast-paced, politically sensitive environment.

Key responsibilities of the State-Federal Affairs Director include:

1. State-Federal Relationship Management

• Serving as the principal liaison to Governors state-federal representatives, maintaining consistent communication on federal priorities, legislative developments, and advocacy opportunities.
• Managing structured engagement for state-federal representatives, including daily updates, standing calls, briefings, working groups, and issue-specific coordination sessions.
• Synthesizing state priorities and feedback, sharing actionable intelligence with senior leadership, and keeping representatives current on Center for Best Practices research and advocacy materials.
• Identifying misalignments between state priorities and federal advocacy, and recommending adjustments to strategy, messaging, or engagement.

2. Consultant and External Partner Management

• Managing NGAs outside consultants day-to-day, coordinating deliverables, timelines, and engagement in alignment with Chief Policy Officer priorities.
• Ensuring consultants are briefed on NGAs policy priorities and member sensitivities, and that their Capitol Hill and Executive Branch insights are captured and shared internally.
• Facilitating regular touchpoints between consultants and NGA staff and evaluating consultant performanceadvising the Chief Policy Officer on effectiveness and adjusting the engagement as needs evolve.
• Building and maintaining complementary relationships with peer organizations, coalition partners, and advocacy allies, including other state and local government associations, to amplify NGAs advocacy reach and coordinate on shared priorities.

3. Federal Stakeholder Engagement

• Building and maintaining working relationships with Congressional staff, committee offices, and Executive Branch contacts; representing NGA in meetings and escalating high-level opportunities to the Chief Policy Officer and CEO.
• Monitoring federal legislative activity, regulatory proceedings, and executive actions on a continuous basis, assessing their implications for states and territories, and ensuring NGA leadership and state-federal representatives receive timely, well-synthesized updates.
• Identifying and pursuing strategic opportunities for Governors to engage directly with federal decision-makers, including Congressional testimony, Administration meetings, and coalition advocacy efforts, and managing the logistics and preparation for those engagements.

4. Advocacy Coordination & Materials Development

• Working with the Communications Team, drafting and coordinating a broad range of advocacy materials to include statements, sign-on letters, public comments, policy briefs, talking points, and legislative updates.
• Translating the Chief Policy Officers strategic priorities into coordinated execution plans.
• Ensuring NGAs advocacy messaging, Center for Best Practices policy positions, and external communications are aligned and consistent.

5. Convenings & Meetings

• Planning and executing weekly state-federal meetings, larger convenings, and strategy sessionsdeveloping agendas, securing speakers, managing logistics, and designing sessions that drive alignment and advance advocacy objectives.

QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates should hold a bachelors degree in government relations, public policy, political science, or a related field. A minimum of eight (8) years of experience in federal government relations, state-federal engagement, legislative affairs, or closely related roles is required. Experience working with Governors, in Congressional offices or federal agencies, or in a senior capacity at a national association or advocacy organization is strongly preferred.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Deep knowledge of the federal legislative and regulatory processincluding Congressional procedure, committee structures, and Executive Branch rulemakingand existing relationships with Congressional staff, committee offices, and/or Executive Branch officials.
• Demonstrated experience managing government relations consultants or external advocacy partners, including setting priorities, coordinating deliverables, and evaluating performance.
• Thorough understanding of the state-federal policy landscape, including federalism, federal grant programs, regulatory preemption, and intergovernmental relations.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft high-quality advocacy materials quickly and represent NGA credibly with senior officials, Governors staff, and external partners.
• The ability to engage effectively and credibly across party lines in a resolutely bipartisan environment, and to support Governors of both parties with equal professionalism and dedication.
• Strong project management skills, political acumen, and sound judgmentwith the ability to track complex workstreams, anticipate bottlenecks, read political dynamics, and advise senior leadership on timing and strategy.
• Commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards.
• Travel, as necessary.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should apply online through NGAs career site. NGA uses Clear Company, and all information is kept strictly confidential. An application is considered when all required fields are completed. Please include:

• Your resume highlighting your education, experience, and direct transferable skills
• A portfolio of your best work (attach to your candidate profile via Clear Company)

COMPENSATION

Salary Range: $125,000 - $150,000 annually. The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the lowest to the highest salary for the role at this time. The final salary offered will be based on qualifications and experience.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY DEMANDS

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. NGA is committed to providing a productive and safe environment. To achieve that goal, we conduct background and reference check investigations for all final applicants considered for employment.

WORKING AT THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION

NGA staff proudly serve our nations Governors daily, and its our mission to ensure we offer a?comprehensive, competitive benefits package, to include healthcare and more, designed to support the needs of NGA employees.

NGA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to any protected characteristic under applicable law. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.?