DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Government Relations works closely with the Associate Vice President (AVP) of US Advocacy to develop and oversee CARE’s US policy agenda and government relations strategy to protect and advance US international assistance. The Director manages a team responsible for setting policy goals and advocates for CARE’s position on key priorities - women and girls, global health, food and nutrition, and humanitarian assistance - to the US Congress and the Administration, working in collaboration with peer organizations and coalitions and across the US Advocacy and Global Advocacy departments. They serve on the US Advocacy Senior Leadership Team where they help to shape and manage the implementation of the department’s strategy and operating plans.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

U.S. Advocacy Strategy Development and Execution

• Works closely with AVP of US Advocacy, VP of US Programs and Policy Advocacy and Government Relations Team to create a US policy agenda to protect and advance US international assistance with specific policy goals and strategies. 
• Leads members of the Government Relations Team to execute strategies to achieve specific policy goals, driving execution on specific goals when needed. 
• Oversees engagement with US Congress and the administration and in collaboration with the Advocacy colleagues helps to coordinate the development and implementation of appropriate strategies for outreach and influence of targeted policymakers, decision makers, opinion leaders, institutions and media to achieve CARE’s policy goals. 
• Shares regular and timely government relations intel across US Advocacy Senior Leadership and the Government Relations team. 
• Actively manages relationships with policymakers and influencers to further CARE’s policy agenda. 
• In coordination with relevant members of the US Advocacy senior leadership and government relations teams, drives specific government relations outreach at strategic moments and engagement opportunities including briefings, salon dinners, Learning Tours, Congressional and staff delegations, advocate fly ins, CEO outreach, engagement with country offices and Global Women Leaders, etc.

External Relations and Representation

• Represents CARE on coalitions to influence, contribute to and leverage key coalitions relevant to CARE’s policy agenda. 
• Serves as co-chair and/or strategy lead coalitions and external working groups, such as Interaction’s Public Policy and Steering Committee. 
• Raise CARE’s profile and relationships with members of Congress, with a focus on key advocacy targets and leveraging available tools such as CEO engagement. 
• Seeks out opportunities to raise CARE visibility and credibility as a thought leader among the INGO community, working with relevant departments, including marketing and thought leadership. 
• Work with CARE’s corporate partnerships team to foster government relations collaboration with CARE’s corporate partners.

Government Relations Team Leadership and Internal Representation

• Represents the Government Relations team internally and externally. 
• Fosters the growth and morale of the Government Relations team as individuals and a collective. 
• Reinforces collaboration across the team and across the US Advocacy department and the organization to ensure CARE’s government relations work is best benefiting other teams’ needs and goals. 
• Provide key political acumen and government relations intel across the US Advocacy department and the organization. 
• Directly supports other departments, such as the Office of the President, Resource Development, Business Development, Marketing, etc., with requests for talking points, briefing memos, coordination around US government meetings and relationships, etc. 
• Ensure the timely submittal of accurate lobbying reports and compliance of the team with all state and federal lobbying regulations. 
• Working closely with the AVP, US Advocacy, oversees Human Resources-related needs, budget, fundraising, donor relations, grant management, and monitoring and evaluation as it relates to the Government Relations team and their work. 
• Supports and/or provides leadership for departmental and organizational initiatives as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in international relations or political science or similar field or relevant experience.
• Educational background or equivalent work experience in international development and humanitarian response.
• 10+ years’ experience working in advocacy, U.S. government, international development, humanitarian assistance and/or related field
• Experience working on Capitol Hill
• Experience working with a large, complex, international organization
• Strong people and leadership skills, at least 5 years of people management experience
• Strong political acumen
• Interest in and willingness to travel
• Demonstrated commitment to international development and humanitarian response
• Strong public speaking and written communication skills
• Deep knowledge and understanding of U.S. government policymaking processes
• Knowledge and understanding of CARE’s priority policy areas
• Fundraising and grant management experience
• Budget management experience
• Skilled in communications and messaging strategy for different target audiences
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, creative and evolving team
• Ability to work productively with policymakers, organizational leaders and other VIPs

About the Organization

There are individuals who may use CARE’s name and trademark in emails and on websites in an attempt to solicit fees from interested job-seekers. Some examples of these fees are placement fees or immigration processing fees. CARE does not use recruiting or placement agencies that charge candidates an up-front fee of any kind. Occasionally, CARE does employ recruiting or placement agencies to help us identify candidates for specific employment within CARE. If you’re contacted by a legitimate recruiting or placement agency, there should be no charge to you. If you suspect that you have been a victim of fraud from someone purporting to be CARE, please contact us at legal@care.org. Please do not email legal@care.org to apply for this position. Instead, click "apply now" below in order to submit your interest.

CARE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Starting salaries are based on internal equity, candidate experience, and the cost of labor where the job is based. Salaries listed only apply to jobs based in the US.