Government Affairs Specialist

Job Summary:

Every employee of IRI is responsible for carrying out the Mission of IRI and demonstrating the Core Values in their day-to-day operations. The Core Values, which are IRI’s foundational building blocks include: Excellence– We believe in quality results delivered by investing in people. Freedom- We believe in exploration and experimentation to be agile and responsive. Respect– We believe in trust, empathy and empowering people. Teamwork– We believe in diversity, inclusion and the power of global collaboration. Transparency– We believe in open communication and clear decision-making. Accountability– We believe in personal responsibility as the foundation of success.

The Government Affairs Specialist will support IRI efforts to cultivate support for U.S. democracy assistance overseas. The Government Affairs Specialist will track and analyze legislation, Congressional activities, as well as the Administration’s foreign policy and foreign assistance policies, funding and priorities related to democracy, rights and governance programming overseas.

Position Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in political science, international relations or related field.
• Three to five years’ professional experience working on Capitol Hill and/or the executive branch of government, international/NGOs, in the field of democratic governance or equivalent combination.
• Understanding of the legislative and congressional appropriations processes
• Must be willing and able to successfully engage with Democrat and Republican offices in Congress.
• Familiarity with U.S. foreign democracy assistance funding and programs preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English
• Ability to work under pressure and take initiative to develop creative solutions to complex problems in a short amount of time.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team to coordinate and lead the efforts of other professionals to effectively meet goals.
• Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and social media platforms required.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

• Support IRI’s efforts to cultivate awareness of the role that U.S. democracy assistance overseas plays in advancing American national security goals;
• Support IRI’s efforts to build consensus among the democracy, rights and governance (DRG) community and contribute to the development of joint education strategies that advance the DRG community’s interests;
• Coordinate and contribute to the development and implementation of strategic plans to engage the U.S. Congress on foreign policy and foreign assistance matters related to DRG programs overseas;
• Track, analyze, and report on legislation, other Congressional activities, and administration budget justifications related to DRG foreign assistance funds;
• Track, analyze and report on U.S. foreign policy and foreign assistance developments that impact DRG programming, and support efforts to coordinate with other DRG organizations to advance joint approaches to related issues;
• Draft memos and briefing materials;
• Coordinate logistics for meetings with relevant stakeholders;
• Anticipate potential problems, trouble shoot and actively take part to lead the resolution of challenges with creative and immediate solutions;
• Maintain and demonstrate an understanding of IRI and funder policies and procedures;
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with IRI employees across the organization;
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with relevant stakeholders in Washington, D.C.;
• Represent IRI at external events;
• Perform other duties as assigned.