Social Policy Government Affairs Manager
The Niskanen Center seeks a government affairs professional to lead outreach for our growing Social Policy Team. This team is responsible for advancing a fundamental premise of the Niskanen Center: ongoing social progress and widespread prosperity depend on both a robust system of social insurance and a vibrant, innovative private sector. To advance this vision, the team engages in traditional work and family issues (family benefits, unemployment insurance, paid leave) as well as emerging supply-side issues (housing, healthcare). This position will cover the work and family portfolio.
Description
Department: Social Policy
Location: Washington, D.C.
Schedule: Flexible hybrid, minimum 3 days in-office per week
Job Status: Full-Time
Experience: 3+ years working with the federal legislative or executive branch or equivalent experience on a government affairs team.
Salary: $100,000-$113,000, plus a generous benefits package
Reports to: Director of Social Policy and Director of Government Affairs
The Niskanen Center seeks a government affairs professional to lead outreach for our growing Social Policy Team. This team is responsible for advancing a fundamental premise of the Niskanen Center: ongoing social progress and widespread prosperity depend on both a robust system of social insurance and a vibrant, innovative private sector. To advance this vision, the team engages in traditional work and family issues (family benefits, unemployment insurance, paid leave) as well as emerging supply-side issues (housing, healthcare). This position will cover the work and family portfolio.
To support this work, the government affairs manager collaborates with our policy and communication staff to advance and promote the team’s research and policy proposals with Congress, the Administration and Executive Branch Agencies, key stakeholders, and coalitional allies. Applicants should have experience working across ideological lines and enthusiasm for strengthening the economic security of American families. The position reports to the Director of Social Policy and to the Director of Government Affairs as a member of the Government Affairs Team. This position does not require prior lobbying registration, but it may involve registering in the future.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, implement, and track outreach strategies to advance Niskanen social policy research and proposals with Congress, the Administration and Executive Branch Agencies, key stakeholders, and coalitional allies. This will include activities ranging from direct engagement with policymakers to coalition building and management.
- Monitor and interpret legislation and policy implementation to ascertain any impact on Niskanen social policy priorities.
- Draft briefing and educational materials, testimony, statements, questions for the record, speeches, and talking points.
- Build, coordinate, and maintain partnerships with other nonprofits, public interest groups, coalitions, and related organizations engaged in advancing family economic security.
- Represent Niskanen in the coalitions, community events, public forums, and the media, including print, radio, television, and social media.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
- At least three years of experience working with the federal legislative or executive branch, or equivalent experience on a government affairs team.
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
- A track record of working independently, creative thinking, and managing multiple projects and priorities.
- Ability to translate policy ideas to appeal to audiences across the political spectrum.
- Success working with diverse stakeholders such as policy experts, advocates, thought leaders, as well as Congress, the Administration, and federal administrative and executive agencies.
- Working knowledge of, or familiarity with, social insurance (UI, PFML, SSDI) social assistance (SSI, TANF), and tax credit (CTC, EITC) policies.
How to Apply
We only review applications after the deadline: applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on September 30, 2026. Please include a cover letter and resume combined into one PDF. Be prepared to present additional materials during the interview process.
