GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ASSISTANT

Unclassified - Washington, DC

Part-time - Entry Level

Washington, DC

11-50 employees

About the position

The Government Relations Assistant reports to the Vice President of Government Relations and is classified as a Full-Time Exempt position. The normal workday for NAICU staff is seven and one-half hours, totaling 37.5 hours a week. Staff members have the flexibility to select their office hours with supervisor approval, typically starting at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. NAICU operates in a hybrid workplace model, where employees are expected to report to the DC office two days a week, with mandatory in-person attendance on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Employees should also be available for in-person work on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The hybrid environment may change, and occasional evening and weekend work, as well as travel, may be required, particularly during membership meetings and to support NAICU programs. This position offers exposure to and opportunities for professional development in the policy and advocacy work of the department. Responsibilities include developing a deep understanding of the missions and issues facing private nonprofit higher education and their students, advocating on Capitol Hill on behalf of the sector, and supporting the six Government Relations professionals in their policy work. The Government Relations Assistant will coordinate the work of the department, serve as a communications link among staff members, provide project management support, and manage logistics for member programs, meetings, webinars, and special events. The role also involves attending congressional hearings, agency briefings, and policy seminars, reporting on these events to the Government Relations team, and providing administrative support to the Vice President of Government Relations and other staff members.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the work of the Government Relations Department and serve as a communications link among staff members.
• Provide project management support and manage logistics for member programs, meetings, webinars, and special events.
• Attend congressional hearings, agency briefings, and policy seminars, reporting on these events to the Government Relations team.
• Provide administrative support to the Vice President of Government Relations and other Government Relations staff members.
• Maintain records of official communications of the department and manage lobbying, expense, travel, and leave reports.
• Arrange and coordinate Government Relations membership meetings, both virtual and in-person.
• Support the NAICU Annual Meeting, including writing speaker invitations, organizing background memos, and managing Advocacy Day materials.
• Support programs and events for NAICU state executives and the NAICU Secretariat, including site selection and logistics management.
• Support Congressional Independent College Caucus events, including room procurement, catering, and logistics.
• Draft correspondence to Congress, the Administration, and association members.
• Serve as the point person for daily staff schedules and communications, acting as a liaison across NAICU departments.
• Work with the Executive Assistant to the President to identify opportunities for cross-departmental efficiency and priority-setting.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree is required.
• One year of administrative experience is required, preferably with exposure to Capitol Hill as an employee or intern.
• Experience in a membership association or similar environment representing constituencies is preferred.
• Ability to organize and complete detailed administrative tasks independently.
• Excellent organizational, writing, and communication skills are essential.
• A highly collaborative work style in a diverse, team-oriented organization is necessary.
• Effective interpersonal communication skills and adaptability to changing needs are important.
• A passion for making higher education accessible to students of all income levels is essential.
• Interest in public policy and advocacy, with a desire to develop new skills is required.
• Proficiency in Office 365 (Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive), Zoom, SharePoint, or similar tools is required.
• Familiarity with emerging uses for Artificial Intelligence in the workplace is preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Knowledge of Congress Plus, Protech, or other advocacy or membership software is a plus.