About CEI

CEI is a nonprofit public policy organization dedicated to advancing the principles of limited government, free enterprise, and individual liberty. Our mission is to reform America’s unaccountable regulatory state. We make the uncompromising case for economic freedom because we believe it is essential for entrepreneurship, innovation, and prosperity to flourish. CEI pursues a full-service approach to advancing public policy, which includes original scholarly research, active communications campaigns, direct advocacy, and litigation. Founded in 1984, CEI is an effective advocate for freedom on critical regulatory-related policy issues, including: energy and environment, banking and finance, technology and telecommunications, antitrust, trade, labor, transportation, and health care.

About the Role

The Competitive Enterprise Institute seeks a Government Affairs and Coalitions Associate(GA Associate) to assist CEI’s Senior Government Affairs and Coalitions Manager (GA Manager) in developing and maintaining relationships with public officials and other allies. The GA Associate will communicate CEI’s policy and legislative agenda to key policymakers in Congress, the White House, and federal agencies, in coordination with the manager. The Associate will assist with coalitions outreach. A core responsibility for the successful candidate is to work with the GA Manager and events team to plan and execute an ambitious event series on Capitol Hill to educate members and their staff on regulatory reform issues important to CEI in the 119th Congress. Ultimately, CEI is looking for someone with the energy and enthusiasm to help increase CEI’s presence on the Hill through event programming and traditional government affairs practices.

This is an in-person role based in-office in Washington, DC, and reports directly to the GA Manager.

Culture matters: CEI is a feisty think tank that embraces a forward-thinking and entrepreneurial approach to policy change. Members of the communications team operate in a cooperative team structure with an emphasis on accountability to one another. They work hard, have a good sense of humor, enjoy life, and are intensely dedicated to conveying CEI’s principles of individual liberty, free enterprise, and limited government.

The ideal candidate demonstrates flexibility, cooperation, entrepreneurialism, and an ability to juggle multiple tasks with a steady attention to detail. There is opportunity for growth in this position, with respect to both additional responsibilities and greater autonomy at work. CEI frequently promotes from within.

PrimaryResponsibilities:

In coordination with the GA Manager and the Events and Communications teams, the Government Affairs Associate will:

  • Plan and execute a series of educational Congressional briefings and Hill events:
    • Promote and advertise Hill briefings and other events
    • Conduct outreach to potential Hill speakers and partners
    • Manage event logistics: secure room reservations, manage RSVPs, and staff events to handle onsite logistics
  • Develop and maintain relationships with key members and staff on Capitol Hill, policymakers in the executive branch of government, and coalition allies:
    • Ensure lawmakers, staffers, and other policymakers are aware of CEI’s scholarly work and have access to CEI experts
    • Arrange and attend meetings between CEI experts and key policymakers
    • Attend regular congressional, executive, and coalition meetings
  • Communicate CEI’s policy agenda to legislative and executive branch policymakers and allies:
    • Circulate CEI research and policy work to key audiences and allies on Capitol Hill and elsewhere
    • Present CEI research and updates on CEI events at regularly scheduled congressional and ally meetings
  • Keep CEI staff informed of legislative and policy developments:
    • Educate CEI staff on congressional structure and operations, legislative process, and strategy
    • Provide CEI experts with reminders of upcoming deadlines for congressional and executive branch-related work

Qualifications:

  • The ideal candidate will have 1-3 years of experience working in Congress, a legislative affairs role, or another relevant role
  • Experience and an interest in event planning and logistics is important
  • Deep interest in policy, politics, and government affairs is necessary
  • Alignment with the mission of the Competitive Enterprise Institute
  • Strong writing, communications, and organizational skills are required
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office is essential
  • Experience with Quorum, Salesforce, and Pardot is helpful
  • Candidate must be able to work in-person at CEI’s D.C. based office

Characteristics:

  • Communicator. You have excellent oral communication, writing, and editing abilities. Any type of strong writing skills will be considered, but legislative and/or public affairs experience provides added benefit.
  • Detail Oriented. You are relentless about accuracy for both content and formatting and obsessive about meeting deadlines.
  • Team Player. CEI’s communications team is a close-knit, five-person team that works hard (and sometimes long hours) to serve the organization and its external and internal audiences.
  • Discreet. You have a lifelong commitment to discretion and to maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of information entrusted to you. You are comfortable and diligent in handling highly confidential materials and information.
  • Teachable. You are eager to learn new things and not deterred by mundane tasks.
  • Self-Starter. You are willing and able to project manage. You know when to ask for help, but don’t need hand-holding. You’re comfortable receiving increasing autonomy to manage your own work and important processes.
  • Multi-Tasker. You thrive in an environment that demands multi-tasking.
  • Focused. You can focus on specific tasks for as long as necessary. While skilled at multi-tasking, you know how to avoid being distracted. You drive yourself to get the job done right and on time.
  • Curious and Policy-Minded. You like public policy and are curious enough to enjoy the challenge of taking complex policy ideas and distilling them in ways that are both factually accurate and interesting to both internal and external audiences.
  • Planner. You enjoy planning and executing complex processes.
  • Deadline Driven. You are punctual. You are deadline-driven. Making the trains run on time and meeting deadlines are simply part of your DNA.
  • Flexible. You maintain a positive, flexible attitude whenever needs or priorities shift.
  • Aligned. You are politically libertarian or conservative and can discuss your philosophical alignment with CEI’s mission and vision. Please see the CEI website, cei.org, for a deeper understanding of the organization’s policy agenda.

Compensation

The projected salary range for this role is $55,000-$70,000, contingent upon the specific skills and experience of the selected candidate.

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

  • Cover letter describing your interest in the position and the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s mission, as well as your salary requirements and location preference
  • Resume

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/

Questions can be directed to Bailey Drouant, Outreach Manager at Talent Market, who is managing the search: [email protected]

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.