Job Description
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By joining the American Red Cross you will touch millions of lives every year and experience the greatness of the human spirit at its best. Are you ready to be part of the world's largest humanitarian network?
Join us—Where your Career is a Force for Good!
Job Description:
Senior Director, Government Relations
WHY CHOOSE US?
Joining the American Red Cross is like nothing else – it’s as much something you feel as something you do. You become a vital part of the world’s largest humanitarian network. Joining a team of welcoming individuals who are exceptional, yet unassuming. Diverse, yet uncompromising in unity. You grow your career within a movement that matters, where success is measured in people helped, communities made whole, and individuals equipped to never stop changing lives and situations for the better.
When you choose to be a force for good, you’ll have mentors who empower your growth along a purposeful career path. You align your life’s work with an ongoing mission that’s bigger than all of us. As you care for others, you’re cared for with competitive compensation and benefits. You join a community that respects who you are away from work as much as what you do while at work.
Where Your Career is a Force for Good!
We are currently seeking a Senior Director, Government Relations for our Government Relations Department. The location for this position is flexible with the U.S., but you must be open to working east coast hours.
NOTE: The application deadline for this position is Friday, August 14th, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Senior Director, Government Relations Serves as one of the organization’s senior leaders and must have expertise in the aforementioned issue areas. Responsible for forging and maintaining relationships with Members of Congress, key staff and selected agency officials. The Director must be able to develop strategic and tactical plans around relationship building and execution of the ARC’s business priorities. Interprets, recommends and executes the organization’s priorities by providing expert analysis on legislation and regulations. Essential skills include: Strategic analytical ability, ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, exceptional written and oral communication skills, superior public policy acumen, political sophistication and ability to work with senior elected officials and the staff. The Director must be able to confidently represent the business priorities of the organization at the highest levels of government and with key stakeholder groups and be able to anticipate future issues that impact the Red Cross.
Perform all duties and responsibilities in alignment with the Fundamental Principles and in compliance with standard operating procedures and other applicable Federal, State, and local regulations.
PAY INFORMATION: The salary range for this position is $175,000- $200,000 This position is not eligible for relocation.
Note that American Red Cross salaries are aligned to the specific geographic location in which the work is primarily performed. Other factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include your specific skills, how many years of experience you have and comparison to other employees already in this role.
WHERE YOUR CAREER IS A FORCE GOOD
- Drive a Comprehensive Legislative Advocacy Strategy by advancing federal, state, and local policy priorities and cultivating relationships with key elected officials, government stakeholders, and coalition partners.
- Focus areas include tax policy, labor and employment policy, ethics and compliance, Red Cross field support.
- Lead Strategic Government Relations Engagement across assigned regions, ensuring alignment between national policy objectives and state and local advocacy efforts.
- Advise and Empower Field Leadership by providing government relations expertise, legislative strategy, and policy guidance to Red Cross field operations.
- Build and Strengthen Influential Policymaker Relationships with members of Congress, state legislators, local officials, and executive branch stakeholders to advance organizational priorities.
- Mobilize Grassroots and Grasstops Advocacy Efforts by equipping chapters, volunteers, and community leaders to effectively support legislative and policy initiatives at all levels of government.
- Analyze and Anticipate Policy Developments by monitoring legislative, regulatory, and political trends, assessing potential impacts, and providing strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
- Develop Policy and Advocacy Resources including legislative briefings, issue papers, testimony, hearing preparation materials, policy analyses, and executive-level talking points.
- Represent Organizational Interests Before Government Bodies by supporting legislative hearings, stakeholder meetings, coalition activities, and direct advocacy engagements.
- Strengthen Field Government Relations Capacity through training, coaching, and strategic consultation to enhance advocacy effectiveness and policy influence across assigned regions.
- Foster Strategic Alignment Across the Enterprise by ensuring consistent execution of government relations priorities and facilitating collaboration between national and field-based teams.
- Provide Executive Counsel on Legislative Strategy by delivering timely intelligence, political analysis, and actionable insights to support organizational decision-making and advocacy investments.
WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED
- Extensive knowledge of policies that impact the non-profit sector, particularly tax laws affecting charitable giving.
- Experience working with the Senate Finance Committee and/or House Ways and Means Committee to include current relationships with key Members and/or staff.
- Ability to brief Red Cross leadership on issues and opportunities before the Congress and recommend ideas and actions to accomplish Red Cross goals.
- Responsible for developing legislative/regulatory strategic plans with the SVP to advance the Red Cross public policy agenda and assist the other team members in this process.
- Responsible for developing one pagers, other collateral, and testimony.
- Excellent communicator with stellar verbal and oral skills who can advocate on behalf of the organization and influence elected officials.
- Possess an understanding of complex legislative/regulatory issues, assumes a persuasive, thoughtful demeanor and can engage with many diverse audiences.
- Serves as the organization’s expert on lobbying disclosure and Congressional ethics requirements.
- Represents the American Red Cross at a senior level on non-profit coalitions and interacts with these coalitions at a senior level.
- Provides guidance and strategic insight for state legislative initiatives, including developing policy, advancing legislation and implementing outreach and communication.
- Identifies opportunities to further strengthen relationships across corporate departments and in the field; continues to strategically align state relations efforts with Red Cross priorities to help ensure more effective and efficient partnerships.
- Must possess strong interpersonal skills.
- Knowledge of emergency management and disaster response is a plus.
Education: Bachelor's degree required. A Juris Doctor (J.D.) or other advanced degree is a plus.
Experience: Minimum of 10 years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and related experience required.
Management Experience: 7 years of management experience.
Skills & Abilities: Ability to work on a team. Ability to plan, prioritize and organize work to maximize team performance and meet customer expectations. Excellent organizational skills and ability to work with attention to detail. Strong project management skills. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to create and maintain collaborative work relationships within the organization and with external stakeholders. Refined critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving skills and the ability to establish and adjust to current and emerging priorities and negotiate multiple complex activities.
Travel: Travel is required throughout the Region. Some out-of-region travel may also be required.
BENEFITS FOR YOU:
We take care of you, while you take care of others. As a mission-based organization, we believe our team needs great support to do great work. Our comprehensive benefits help you in balancing home and work. With our resources and perks, you have amazing possibilities at the American Red Cross to advance the learn.
- Medical, Dental Vision plans
- Health Spending Accounts & Flexible Spending Accounts
- PTO: Starting at 15 days a year; based on FLSA status and tenure
- Holidays: 11 paid holidays comprised of six core holidays and five floating holidays
- 401K with up to 6% match
- Paid Family Leave
- Employee Assistance
- Disability and Insurance: Short + Long Term
- Service Awards and recognition
Physical Requirements
Physical requirements are those present in normal office environment conditions. Operational flexibility is required to meet sudden and unpredictable needs. Ability to use a personal computer, applicable software, and office equipment for sustained periods of time. May include sitting for long periods of time, driving a vehicle, and working under challenging conditions.
DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.
Apply now! Joining our team will provide you with the opportunity to
make your career a force for good!
The American Red Cross is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, San Diego Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and any other applicable state and local laws.
AmeriCorps, the federal agency that brings people together through service, and its partners — the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps Alums, National Peace Corps Association, and the Service Year Alliance — launched Employers of National Service to connect national service alumni with opportunities in the workforce. American Red Cross is proud to be an EONSpartner and share our employment opportunities with the network of organizations.
Interested in Volunteering? Visitredcross.org/volunteertoday to learn more, including our most-needed volunteer positions.
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Originally posted on Himalayas
