Government Relations Director

Government Relations Director

Start Date: October 12, 2026

Permanent, Full-Time, Based in D.C. | Salary Range $103,000-$129,000 plus benefits

About NETWORK: Founded by Catholic Sisters in 1971, in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, NETWORK is an inclusive, national, Catholic advocacy organization open to all who share our values, working to achieve equity and justice for everyone. Grounded in Gospel values and the Catholic social justice tradition, NETWORK transforms society by shaping federal policies that achieve racial, economic, and social justice; serve the common good; and honor the dignity of all. We value women’s leadership, we appreciate people from religious and secular backgrounds, we affirm members of the LGBTQ+ community, and we engage in the ongoing work to become a multicultural, anti-racist organization.

Why this position matters: The Government Relations Director leads the Government Relations team of professionals and serves as a collaborator and strategic leader in coordination with other NETWORK Team Leads and Leadership. The Government Relations Director is an effective leader, responsible for direct supervision and performance management of the Government Relations team, and for advancing NETWORK’s legislative and public policy agenda at the federal level. The Government Relations Director is an experienced government relations professional who has successfully managed and executed high-level federal policy and advocacy strategies. They are an excellent listener, organized self-starter and implementer, who can integrate the organization’s mission and foundational principles into all areas of government relations work.

You could be our next Government Relations Director if you have:

• 8-10 years of progressive professional experience in federal government relations, public policy, and/or political advocacy, and in managerial leadership;
• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Government, Communications, or a related field;
• Preferred: Advanced degree such as a JD, MPP or MBA;
• A commitment to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and dedicated to creating a multi-cultural, anti-racist organization;
• Ability to work under pressure, solve problems, work independently and on a team, meet deadlines, and lead people and multiple projects;
• Exceptional understanding of the inner workings of the legislative process, appropriations, authorization bills, and the federal rulemaking cycle;
• Direct network with established, bipartisan contacts on Capitol Hill and within relevant federal executive agencies.

What you are great at:

• Managing successful teams with skilled supervision and performance management;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present confidently to congressional staff, federal regulators, and coalition leaders;
• High level of organizational skills and emotional intelligence, and the capacity to nimbly navigate a polarized and rapidly shifting political climate;
• Ability to turn complex data into mission-driven communication when crafting statements and press releases in coordination with the Communications Team.

What you'll be doing:

• Serve as Team Lead for the Government Relations team, providing team leadership, ensuring collaboration and communication within the team and with all of NETWORK;
• Supervise Government Relations team staff, including handling all personnel issues, managing workload and timely high-quality deliverables, and conducting regular individual performance review and coaching sessions;
• Work closely with Team Leads and Leadership to create and execute coordinated strategies to move mission;
• Design and execute legislative campaigns to advance NETWORK’s priorities through federal legislation;
• Lobby Members of Congress and key committee staff on bipartisan policy initiatives;
• Draft legislative text, amendment language and official position letters;
• Lead the Government Relations Team to develop policy expertise and sharp lobbying skills;
• Allocate internal resources across legislative priorities and fast-moving campaigns.

Benefit details:

• Generous time off: Two weeks paid vacation in each of first two years, in addition to Thanksgiving Week off, Christmas Week off, plus 10 additional holidays and 12 personal days a year;
• Platinum level health plan offered including dental and vision;
• Generous retirement plan, and parental leave after one year of employment.