Federal Government Affairs Manager (RISE)

Description

Location: Arlington, Virginia
Position Type: Full-Time
Travel: Some travel is required for industry conferences and other stakeholder engagements.
Reports To: Executive Director

RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment), a trade association representing the specialty (non-agricultural) pesticide and fertilizer industry, is seeking a full-time Federal Government Affairs Manager based in Arlington, Virginia, near our nation’s capital. The successful candidate must register as a federal lobbyist. As a member of the public affairs team, this position will strengthen RISE’s federal advocacy presence on Capitol Hill and help ensure the association is a force multiplier for the industry. This role offers direct exposure to congressional policymaking and the opportunity to help shape advocacy outcomes for an industry with a broad national footprint. Responsibilities include supporting federal advocacy strategies that integrate grassroots engagement and communications to engage members, allies, congressional offices, policymakers, and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate with the RISE team to develop and implement effective grassroots engagement strategies that mobilize members and allies on federal issues.
• With the Executive Director, help lead RISE’s congressional advocacy initiatives by cultivating relationships with national partner associations, key congressional offices, and committee staff, and positioning RISE as a subject matter expert on issues affecting its membership.
• Help lead educational meetings with congressional staff on behalf of the Pesticide Policy Coalition, focusing on foundational pesticide regulation education and the benefits of specialty pesticides and fertilizers.
• Support the development and execution of RISE’s federal appropriations strategy, including building congressional resource materials, identifying key House and Senate targets, and supporting a national campaign.
• Track congressional developments, hearings, markups, member priorities, committee activity, and relevant political dynamics to help inform RISE’s advocacy strategy.
• Assist in the development and delivery of public policy presentations and updates on behalf of RISE at industry conferences.
• Assist in composing and distributing informative and compelling correspondence, testimony, policy positions, grassroots alerts, congressional briefing materials, meeting notes, follow-up summaries, reports, toolkits, and background materials to support engagement on priority issues.
• Prepare for, participate in, and follow up on meetings with Members of Congress, congressional staff, committee staff, coalition partners, and member company representatives.
• Assist with planning and execution of RISE fly-ins, including member preparation, scheduling, materials development, congressional meeting logistics, and follow-up.
• Collaborate closely with RISE colleagues and members to advance federal advocacy, grassroots engagement, and communications initiatives.
• Participate in political fundraisers, industry events, coalition meetings, and other stakeholder engagements outside normal business hours, as needed.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

Education and Work Experience:

• Minimum of a BA/BS degree in political science, communications, public relations, environmental science, or a similar field.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in public policy, legislative affairs, government affairs, or advocacy is required; at least 1 year of experience working in Congress, with a congressional committee, or in a congressional-facing advocacy role is preferred

Additional Qualifications:

• Ability to self-start projects and independently manage assignments while meeting established timelines.
• Drive to become a subject matter expert on legislation and regulations broadly impacting the specialty pesticide and fertilizer industry.
• Ability to monitor federal legislative activity, identify emerging congressional trends, and summarize implications for members and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to proactively develop and maintain key relationships with congressional offices, committee staff, members, allies, RISE contract lobbyists, coalitions, grassroots stakeholders, teammates, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to build trust and work effectively with congressional offices, committee staff, coalition partners, and stakeholders across the political spectrum.
• Ability to exercise political acumen in assessing congressional dynamics, stakeholder interests, and opportunities for effective Hill engagement.
• Embodies flexibility, sound judgment, and discretion.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including strong writing, proofreading, editing, and the ability to distill complex or technical information into concise, effective, and influential materials.
• Experience tracking legislation and summarizing policy proposals.
• Familiarity with the U.S. pesticide regulatory system and current policy issues is preferred but not required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and legislative tracking tools.