Coordinator, Government Relations

Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) is the global organization’s presence in the United States. We engage people in the U.S. to fight injustice all around the world, while we also work to protect people’s human rights here in the U.S. Amnesty International USA has more than one million members and activists in all 50 states, who are part of a larger global movement of 10 million people in 150 countries. We are a democratically governed, grassroots membership organization, which means that our members vote on key policy issues and elect our Board of Directors. Amnesty International USA’s elected Board members, staff, and members work together to lead the organization.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Please submit a resume and cover letter.

Department: Strategy and Impact

Reports To: National Director, Government Relations and Advocacy

Number of Direct Reports: none

FLSA Status: non-exempt

Location: Washington D.C.

Remote/Hybrid: Hybrid

Category: Full-time

Position Type: Union

Travel Required (%): up to 25%

Deadline to Apply: open until filled 

Job Summary

AIUSA’s Government Relations (GR) and Advocacy team educates, advises, and lobbies U.S. government (USG) officials on human rights issues around the world. Leveraging Amnesty’s research and grassroots power, GR creates and implements advocacy strategies to push for U.S. government policies that contribute to positive human rights outcomes. We build and maintain close relationships with policymakers in Congress and across the federal government. GR identifies influential stakeholders in the USG, including potential supporters and opponents, and takes advantage of political opportunities to push forward organizational goals.

The Coordinator, Government Relations (“Coordinator”) provides administrative support to our Government Relations and Advocacy team. The Coordinator will be managing various tasks such as processing payment requests, maintaining the departmental calendar, scheduling meetings, recording meeting minutes, and compiling monthly newsletters and quarterly reports. The Coordinator will also be responsible for supporting roundtables, briefings, and special events with members, coalitions, visitors, NGOs, press, and government officials. 

This role is a union position and covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Communication Workers of America (CWA), Local 1180.

Essential Responsibilities 

Administrative & Team Support

• Provide administrative and logistical support for meetings, briefings, special events, roundtables, travel, and team operations
• Maintain the unit calendar, schedule meetings, manage minutes and internal documents, and coordinate communications as needed
• Handle routine information requests, track expenses, process reimbursements, and maintain contact databases and filing systems

Advocacy Coordination & Research

• Compile data, prepare reports, and support the team’s advocacy for legislative and policy priorities
• Assist with creating, proofreading, formatting, and distributing advocacy materials such as testimony, talking points, letters, briefing papers, op-eds, and social media posts
• Support tracking legislative and regulatory developments and preparing updates for internal and external audiences
• Facilitate logistics and coordination for lobbying events, USG engagement, and meetings with coalition partners and government officials
• With support from National Director and Advocacy Directors, coordinate with researchers and advocates from the International Secretariat on key human rights issues

Teamwork & Operational Excellence

• Support coordination between the Government Relations team, AIUSA staff, the broader Amnesty movement, partner organizations, and coalitions
• Attend relevant meetings and provide administrative support for cross-departmental projects
• Help maintain systems for documentation, resource tracking, and compliance reporting in advocacy work
• Actively integrate IDEA principles into daily operations and communications
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications & Success Profile

To succeed in this role, candidates must bring both technical expertise and attention to detail to execute the work and the interpersonal and behavioral competencies that align with AIUSA's mission-driven, collaborative culture.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Knowledge of legislative and regulatory processes 
• Skilled in research, writing, and preparing clear, audience-appropriate materials
• Proficiency in digital tools and resource management for reports, schedules, and documentation
• Strong analytical, writing and research skills, and experience with Quorum, Leadership Connect, Congress.gov, the Federal Register, Politico, the Hill, Congressional Quarterly and other written, print, and online materials related to the creation, modification and finalizing or passage of federal legislation and regulation
• Strong analytical and project management skills, attention-to-detail, with an ability to multitask and manage multiple deadlines
• Strong interpersonal, listening, oral communication, writing, conflict resolution, and collaboration skills to create close working relationships with colleagues and members across AIUSA
• Ability to embed inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) best practices into both strategy and operations

Core competencies define how we work at AIUSA. The Coordinator, Government Relations is expected to model these behaviors consistently.

• Execution: Delivers results by planning, prioritizing, and managing time and resources to meet goals efficiently. Transforms strategic objectives into practical, measurable actions.
• Problem-Solving: Creates inclusive solutions by analyzing challenges from multiple perspectives. Applies critical thinking to develop innovative and practical approaches.
• Communication: Exchanges information clearly and effectively, adapting communication to diverse audiences. Ensures understanding through active, respectful dialogue.
• Collaboration: Builds effective teamwork by leveraging diverse strengths and fostering trust. Develops relationships internally and externally to achieve shared goals.
• Adaptability: Navigates change with flexibility, embracing new opportunities. Adjusts strategies, learns continuously, and supports others through transitions.
• Accountability: Owns actions and outcomes transparently. Follows through on commitments, acknowledges challenges, and acts with integrity.

Functional Competencies: These competencies reflect the technical practices required for this role.

• Supports team and coalition activities through meeting coordination, information sharing, and administrative assistance
• Helps maintain accurate team and coalition contact records and communication channels
• Implements established protocols for internal work and collaborative work with external partners and allied organizations

Education and Experience

• BA/BS and 3 years of relevant experience
• Experience working in advocacy, public policy and/or with the US Government is preferred
• Experience assisting with building and maintaining relationships with government officials and their staff
• Fluent in Microsoft Office Suite applications; experience with Quorum, Slack and Asana a plus
• Experience working in a grassroots and/or member-based organization with shared leadership principles preferred
• Must live near, and be able to attend meetings in Washington D.C.  

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing at a desk and working on a computer

Travel Requirements, Weeknight or Weekend Work

• Some weeknight and weekend work is required if needed

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS/ ACCOMMODATIONS 

Please visit our AIUSA Careers page and our Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) section for additional information on our hiring process, benefits, and accommodations. If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application submission, or if you require accommodations during the application process, please email talentacquisition@aiusa.org

AIUSA does not assist employees or applicants with obtaining or maintaining employment authorization or employment-based nonimmigrant status. This includes, but is not limited to, sponsorship, financial assistance, preparation of documentation for an application for a visa or nonimmigrant status, preparation of training plans, or any other form of support required to obtain work authorization. Candidates must already have authorization to work in the United States that does not currently or in the future require AIUSA’s intervention.

OUR EEO STATEMENT 

Amnesty International USA is an equal opportunity employer. AIUSA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people; women; people with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply.

We recognize the valuable skills that can be gained through internships, fellowships, volunteer work, and non-traditional work experience. This experience helps build competencies and knowledge that may translate to our job openings. We seek a diversity of experience and skills for our workplace and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our openings.