Policy and Advocacy Associate - Alexandria, VA

Policy and Advocacy Associate
National Society of Professional Engineers

TITLE: Policy and Advocacy Associate
FLSA Status: Exempt
SUPERVISOR: Sr. Manager, Government Relations
DEPARTMENT: Government Relations

EDUCATION/TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelors degree in political science or related field and 1 - 2 years of experience in federal or state government relations (legislative and/or regulatory), or equivalent combination of education and experience.

COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to influence legislative and regulatory outcomes by identifying and analyzing relevant public policy issues and mobilizing NSPE resources.
• Knowledge of state and federal legislative and regulatory processes.
• Knowledge of federal election and lobbying laws, including PAC operations procedures.
• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to work effectively, independently, and cooperatively with all levels of staff, NSPE members and constituents, key government officials, and the general public and the ability to harmonize and build consensus among competing professional interests.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to represent and promote the licensed professional engineer by producing publications, making presentations, and attending conferences and meetings.
• Strong interpersonal and customer -service skills to work with NSPE leadership, state executive directors, state society leaders, Committee on Policy and Advocacy and NSPE-PAC Board of Trustees members and other volunteers, elected and appointed government officials, other association staff, the general public, and NSPE staff.
• Understanding of effective PAC fundraising and grassroots recruitment techniques.
• Financial management skills, including the ability to develop and maintain a budget.
• Solid computer applications skills, including but not limited to Microsoft Office, VoterVoice, MagnetMail, Bloomberg Government, etc. 

JOB PROCESSES:

1. Evaluate and track professional licensure, legislative and regulatory issues relevant to licensed professional engineers. 
2. With NSPE leadership, the Senior Manager of Government Relations and the COPA Committee, craft NSPE’s federal and state legislative and regulatory agenda and develop a plan to achieve positive legislative and regulatory outcomes through participation in issue-based coalitions with like-minded organizations, coordinating with and supporting affiliated state societies on state-level advocacy, direct lobbying, grasstops action, and grassroots action.
3. Track and communicate information about state legislative and regulatory issues to NSPE members and state society executives.
4. Conduct issues research and prepare issue and policy analysis, issue briefs, advocacy collateral materials, committee and governance reports, responding to member/staff inquiries regarding government affairs and licensure issues.
5. Serve as a staff liaison, in conjunction with the Senior Manager of Government Relations, to the COPA Committee, NSPE-PAC Board of Trustees and AAES UPADI Task Force.
6. Assist the Senior Manager of Government Relations in representing NSPE before federal agencies and Congress. Develop and maintain relationships with elected and appointed officials, including Members of Congress, key federal agency personnel, and their staff.
7. Communicate information to NSPE members about legislative and regulatory issues in publications such as the “Policy Perspectives” column in PE magazine, issue briefs, and the Government Relations Web site.
8. Develop an annual fundraising plan for NSPE-PAC.
9. Craft a clear and compelling message to inspire members to contribute to NSPE-PAC.
10. Implement a schedule of communications with NSPE members, including: Solicitations (see number 8); Thank-you letters to contributors, sent monthly; Updated content on the NSPE-PAC Web site, as it becomes available.
11. Plan fundraising campaigns for NSPE-PAC to increase member participation and receipts.
12. Solicit NSPE Board of Directors and House of Delegates annually, seeking a participation rate of 100% and recommending a contribution level of $100 per person.
13. Solicit all NSPE members by email twice a year.
14. Solicit Enterprise members every April.
15. Hold fundraising events at each NSPE Annual Meeting.
16. Research and recommend candidates to receive NSPE-PAC contributions. Attend candidate fundraisers as necessary and arrange for NSPE members and state society executives to attend local events and deliver PAC checks to candidates.
17. Manage the online Legislative Action Center by using VoterVoice to publish legislative information and send Action Alerts to NSPE members.
18. Manage QBS Award process and work with NSPE volunteers and partner organizations to determine award and grant recipients.
19. In coordination with Senior Manager of Government Relations, prepare monthly FEC reports, maintaining compliance with all regulations.
20. Assist the Senior Manager of Government Relations in developing and managing the Government Relations budget.
21. Enter PAC payments from dues invoices and direct contributions into database
22. Serve as NSPE staff support to the AAES WFEO International Relations Committee and the AAES UPADI Task Force, manage task force process, conference calls, meetings, agenda, minutes and related administrative issues and track engineering professional practice legislation and regulation as it may impact upon international engineering practice.
23. All other duties as assigned.

Please submit resumes, cover letters, and salary requirements (advertised elsewhere in $40Ks)

About National Society of Professional Engineers
Located in Old Town Alexandria, the National Society for Professional Engineers (NSPE) is a nonprofit organization for licensed professional engineers and engineers on the licensure track that enhances the image of its members and their ability to ethically and professionally practice engineering through education, licensure advocacy, leadership training, multi-disciplinary networking, and outreach.