Director, Government Affairs

NSSGA is the leading advocate for the aggregates industry. Its members – stone, sand and gravel producers and the equipment manufacturers and service providers who support them – produce the essential raw materials found in homes, buildings, roads, bridges and public works projects. NSSGA represents more than 90 percent of the crushed stone and 70 percent of the sand and gravel produced annually in the United States. Learn more at www.nssga.org. 

Position Summary 

As Director of Government Affairs, you will play an important role in shaping and executing NSSGA’s government affairs agenda and communicating outcomes to the association membership. This position will report to the Senior Vice President, GARA and it offers significant opportunities to engage directly with policymakers, congressional staff, association members and industry leaders. The role is highly visible, requiring a deep congressional rolodex with an active presence on Capitol Hill, including meetings and political events when Congress is in session, as well as travel for political and industry events, including a minimum of one weekend per month. With a flexible and fast paced schedule, you will have direct contact with NSSGA members from the world’s top aggregates producers, state aggregates association executives and government officials. 

In a typical day, you might correspond with a CEO at a fortune 500 company or a high-ranking elected official. You might drive policy initiatives through meetings with officials at DOT or DOE, persuade members of Congress to vote on an issue important to NSSGA or draft and communicate policy positions on an emerging issue important to the aggregates industry. You also may draft legislation pertaining to natural resource issues or monitor regulations related to the Clean Air Act or write an industry memo on the latest tax package. 

This role offers a flexible hybrid work environment in the Washington D.C. area. The ideal candidate for this role will be a forward thinker with initiative, a strong work ethic and a desire to work in policy and politics. This is excellent opportunity to advance your career in Washington D.C. 

Key Position Responsibilities 

• Promote and defend the interests of NSSGA members on issues important to the industry on Capitol Hill and across federal agencies to include transportation, infrastructure, environment, energy, natural resources, taxes, appropriations and workforce. 
• Develop and maintain relationships with members of Congress and their staff as well as officials at federal agencies, relevant to these issues. 
• Arrange and facilitate meetings between association members, members of Congress and their staff on issues of importance to the industry. 
• Analyze legislation and regulations related to these issues of importance. 
• Draft legislation related to these issues and successfully enact them into law. 
• Drive and execute policy development and prepare position papers on legislation and regulations in issue areas of importance. 
• Actively participate in coalitions that promote the interest of the industry. 
• Ability to work in a bipartisan fashion and with both chambers of Congress. 
• Coordinate activities with association members’ government affairs teams and respond timely to their inquiries. 
• Draft strategies to execute member communications, grassroots alerts and press statements relevant to assigned issue areas. 
• Draft presentations and speak at industry meetings, in front of hundreds of industry members, to provide policy updates on issue activity. 
• Work with Political Action Committee to advise political strategy to accomplish policy outcomes. 
• Act as key participant in planning and executing annual fly-in with over 300 engagements with members of Congress. 
• Expand membership in the Congressional Aggregates Caucus and strengthen its role as a platform for advancing NSSGA’s legislative and policy priorities. 

Experience & Skill Requirements 

• BA/BS degree in political science, public policy, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• At least 7 years of public policy experience, preferably at the federal level including association, consulting firm, Capitol Hill and/or federal agency experience. Knowledge of Capitol Hill is imperative. 
• Deep knowledge of the legislative and regulatory process. 
• Mastery of issues that are important to member companies and ability to resolve conflicts that arise between competing member priorities. 
• Effective communication skills (both written and verbal). 
• Robust presentation skills for both large and small groups at all levels internal and external to NSSGA. 
• Ability to communicate complex legislative initiatives in straightforward language at the highest levels of government and business organizations. 
• Ability to understand and communicate issues important to the aggregates industry. 
• Strong interpersonal skills. 

Travel and Schedule Expectations 

Must be available for Capitol Hill meetings and political events approximately three days per week when Congress is in session, as well as regular domestic travel for industry and association events including at least one weekend per month. Additional evening and weekend commitments may be required based on the association’s advocacy and event schedule. 

Pay Range: $120K-$140K annually 

Located in Alexandria, VA, NSSGA provides a supportive work environment, excellent benefits and competitive compensation. 

NSSGA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status.