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Director of Policy and Operations, Government Affairs
About the Position: The Director of Policy and Operations to serve as an operational and policy leader within the Government Affairs Department. This is a high-impact role for a sharp political mind and exceptional writer who thrives at the intersection of policy substance and organizational execution. Reporting directly to the Chief Government Affairs Officer, the Director will help drive the day-to-day operations of the department — managing workflows, ensuring quality across all written products, and serving as a key connective tissue between departmental priorities and NACo's broader organizational goals.
Key Responsibilities:
- Oversee internal operations of the Government Affairs Department, ensuring effective workflow management, staff coordination, and operational consistency.
- Review, edit, and finalize departmental materials—including policy drafts, correspondence, and advocacy content—prior to submission to the Chief Government Affairs Officer.
- Support the Chief Government Affairs Officer in managing departmental activity, tracking deadlines, and ensuring timely completion of deliverables.
- Coordinate administrative processes such as internal briefing preparation, advocacy events, document review cycles, and cross-departmental task management.
- Assist in developing internal systems to support efficiency, quality control, and operational excellence.
- Provide administrative and operational support to the Chief Government Affairs Officer in fulfilling responsibilities with NACo’s Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and membership.
- Serve as the department's primary editor and quality control lead, ensuring all written products — including policy briefs, one-pagers, testimony, member alerts, and correspondence — meet a consistently high standard of clarity, accuracy, and strategic framing.
- Draft and edit high-priority policy documents, advocacy materials, and communications on behalf of the Chief Government Affairs Officer and the department.
- Translate complex legislative and regulatory developments into clear, accessible written products for county officials, Hill staff, federal partners, and NACo membership.
- Ensure written materials reflect NACo's policy positions accurately and are strategically framed for their intended audiences.
- Work collaboratively with public affairs, research, county solutions, membership, and other internal partners to ensure alignment and coordination across all advocacy-related materials and activities.
- Support development and implementation of internal communication processes that ensure timely information sharing and collaborative execution.
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in public policy, government, public administration, or related field/similar life experience
- Minimum of 4+ years of progressively responsible experience in government affairs, public policy, legislative administration, or similar life experience
- Demonstrated experience supporting or managing professional staff and coordinating organizational workflows or department-level operations.
- Proven ability to review, edit, synthesize, and finalize complex policy or advocacy documents.
- Excellent administrative, communication, leadership, and organizational management skills.
- Experience working within or alongside membership associations, government organizations, or intergovernmental partners preferred.
Location & Travel:
- Based in Washington, D.C.
- Frequent interaction with federal officials, county officials, and partner organizations
- Considerable travel to national, regional, and state association events
Salary Range: $100,000 base commensurate with experience
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