Director of Government Affairs

The Director of Government Affairs develops and implements the organization’s state and national policy agenda. They are responsible for positioning the organization with policymakers as a credible, trusted and non-partisan source of information, and lobbies ASA’s policy priorities before Congress, the administration, and in key states. This position reports directly to the Executive Director, works closely with other ASA staff, and may manage support staff as needed. This is a full-time job based in our Washington, D.C. office.

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities:

Congress, White House, and Federal Agency Engagement

• Develops annual ASA strategic policy plan
• Tracks and monitors public policy developments on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies
• Develops and implements timely political strategy and guidance on legislative and regulatory activities, prioritizing ASA’s goals in the political environment
• Builds and maintains relationships with key staff in Congress, the White House, and federal agencies to advance policy priorities
• Oversees the development of supporting materials used for Capitol Hill education and outreach including hearing testimony and coordination of Congressional briefings
• Monitors legislative activity and anticipates challenges and opportunities
• Educates and motivates chapters and other stakeholders to support national policy agenda
• Files all necessary federal lobbying forms and files
• Writes and edits letters, talking points, and other communication for Members of Congress, the White House and federal agencies
• Prepares and delivers written and verbal testimonies
• Organizes ASA’s Lobby Days

State and Local Government Engagement

• Monitors the status of medical cannabis programs in key states
• Develops and manages strategic approaches to advance policy priorities in various states
• Collaborates with key staff, chapters and affiliates to strengthen state policy goals
• Assists chapters, affiliates with strategic development, including planning and execution
• Responds to requests from policymakers, including preparing and delivering written or verbal testimony, developing of policy options, and analyzing policy issues
• Provides input to ASA policy team on issues related to states’ policy

Coalition Development/Outreach

• Develops national coalition to support national policy agenda
• Cultivates and maintains key relationships with partner organizations
• Improves coalition strategies, tactics, priorities
• Prepares coalition building materials including, sign-on letters, position papers, testimonies, etc.
• Convenes meetings, conference calls, briefings, or other events as necessary
• Represents ASA in meetings of ad-hoc legislative coalitions and with partner organizations

Supervision/Teamwork/Administrative

• Manages Policy Coordinator
• Works with ASA staff to build an internal policy team to help carryout policy activities
• Provides legislative updates and educates ASA staff during weekly policy meetings
• Creates and manages updated list of key Congressional, White House, and federal agency staff
• Works with ASA staff on other duties as assigned by the Executive Director

Writing and Presentation

• Writes legislative updates, factsheets, and action alerts for ASA’s monthly newsletter, email blasts, blog posts, and website
• Manages state and federal pages of website
• Assists ASA staff in writing publications such as ASA’s annual State of the States Report and Briefing Book
• Presents in webinars, podcasts, conferences, Congressional briefings, hearings, and other special events
• Gives on-the-record interviews to reporters

Please submit your resume and 2 writing samples to [email protected].

We value diversity on our staff and especially encourage women, people of color, indigenous people, disabled people, and members of the LGBTQ+ community to apply.

Application Deadline

June 30, 2021

About Americans for Safe Access

The mission of Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is to ensure safe and legal access to cannabis (marijuana) for therapeutic uses and research. ASA works with our grassroots base of over 150,000 supporters to effect change using public education and direct advocacy at the local, state, and federal level.