Employment

Government Affairs Manager

Small Business Majority was founded and is run by small business owners to ensure America’s entrepreneurs are an essential part of a thriving and inclusive economy. We actively connect small business owners and independent entrepreneurs with policymakers in support of commonsense public policy solutions, and deliver information and resources to entrepreneurs to promote inclusive small business growth and drive a sustainable, job-creating economy. We regularly engage our network of more than 58,000 small business owners and 1,000 business organizations from our Washington, D.C. and five regional offices. Our extensive scientific polling, focus groups and economic research help us educate and inform policymakers, the media and other stakeholders about key issues impacting small businesses and freelancers, including access to capital, healthcare, retirement, taxes, paid leave and other workforce issues.  (www.smallbusinessmajority.org)

The Government Affairs Manager position consists of two main roles: 

  1. Manage Small Business Majority’s federal policy & advocacy efforts: Working in collaboration with Small Business Majority’s senior management, communications and engagement teams, the Government Affairs Manager manages implementation of the organization’s federal policy goals, and oversees federal advocacy campaigns. The Manager is responsible for building and managing relationships on Capitol Hill, with federal government entities, and with national business and issue advocacy groups to further Small Business Majority’smission.
  2. Manage Small Business Majority’s Virginia policy & advocacy efforts. The Manager conducts outreach to Virginia lawmakers, state/local media, small business owners, business organizations and policy advocates to promote the organization’s Virginia policy goals. (And, on an ad hoc basis, the Manager may conduct policy advocacy and small business outreach efforts in other Middle-Atlantic states.)

This position reports to the CEO for federal policy/advocacy work and to the Vice President, National Outreach for the work in Virginia. The Manager also works closely with the Vice President, Communications.

This position is located in Small Business Majority’s Washington, DC office.
 

Key Responsibilities

1. Manage Small Business Majority’s federal policy & advocacy efforts:

Federal Policy

  • Work with other team members to further develop and maintain the organization’s federal policy platform. Current policy priorities are access to capital/responsible lending, healthcare, retirement and other portable benefits, workforce issues, entrepreneurship issues, rural issues and tax policy—with limited involvement in other issues affecting America’s small businesses.
  • Actively monitor key federal policy issues impacting small businesses and independent entrepreneurs.

Federal Government Relations

  • Build and maintain relationships with key offices on Capitol Hill, including members, committees, leadership offices and caucuses.
  • Build and maintain relationships with select federal agencies (e.g., Small Business Administration, Treasury Department, Federal Trade Commission, Department of Commerce, and Department of Health & Human Services).
    • Ensure that policymakers are aware of Small Business Majority’s policy positions and advocacy campaigns.
    • Work with the Engagement and Communications teams to mobilize small business support for policy initiatives—including testimony, op-eds, letters-to-the-editor and sign-on campaigns.
    • On occasion, testify before congressional committees and federal governmental bodies; and speak at press conferences and other events to advance Small Business Majority’s policy agenda.
  • Communicate directly with national, state and local media as appropriate (with support from the Communications team). 

National Partnerships

  • Build and manage relationships with other national business organizations. Coordinate with those groups to advance Small Business Majority’s federal policy agenda.
  • Represent the organization on national coalitions of which Small Business Majority is a member (e.g., the Responsible Business Lending Coalition.)
  • Engage with other national issue advocacy groups and coalitions in priority issue areas, ensuring Small Business Majority is plugged into relevant coalition activity.
  • Help grow and build policy programming for the organization’s Strategic Partner Program: a network of national, state and local business organizations.

Research

  • Work with the research team to help develop and implement national and state research projects such as small business opinion polling and focus groups.

Fundraising

  • Assist with fundraising efforts in Washington, DC.
     

2. Manage policy development and government affairs in Virginia:

Policy & Advocacy

  • Work with other team members to develop and maintain Small Business Majority’s Virginia policy platform.
  • Stay on top of key Virginia policy issues impacting small businesses and independent entrepreneurs.
  • Build relationships with Virginia small business owners and work with the Engagement and Communications teams to mobilize them in support of the organization’s Virginia policy platform—including testimony, op-eds, letters-to-the-editor and sign-on campaigns.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with state and regional business organizations and state issue advocacy groups and coalitions. Coordinate with those groups to advance Small Business Majority’s Virginia policy agenda.
  • Testify before legislative committees and state governmental bodies; and speak at press conferences and other events to advance the organization’s policy agenda.

Communications

  • Collaborate with Small Business Majority’s national Communications team to develop state-based media and other communications strategies. 
  • Communicate directly with Virginia media as appropriate. 

State and Local Fundraising

  • In concert with the organization’s Development team, identify and pursue new Virginia funding opportunities from philanthropic, corporate and other institutional funders.
  • Maintain relationships with Virginia and other regional funders.

NOTE: The Manager may, on occasion, be called on to manage or participate in limited policy and/or outreach initiatives in other Mid-Atlantic states on an ad-hoc basis.
 

Qualifications/Requirements:

The candidate must have:

  • 3 - 5 years’ experience working on public policy and/or government affairs (business/economic issues preferred).
  • Strong interest in business, public policy, and their intersection.
  • Passion for Small Business Majority’s mission.
  • Availability for regular travel. While most of the work will be in the Washington, DC area and Virginia, there will be occasional travel elsewhere on the East Coast and in the South. Travel is also required to attend the annual three-day organizational retreat (usually in California), and the two-day annual Outreach team meeting (usually in the Midwest or West.)
  • Ability to quickly build relationships with all types of people.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
  • Strong public speaking abilities. 
    • Self-starter who has ability to make introductory calls and network with policy-makers small business owners, business organizations, issue advocates and funders.
    • Demonstrated success in cultivating and expanding stakeholder relationships.
    • Strong entrepreneurial/resourceful spirit.
    • Flexibility and adaptability to ever-changing priorities. 
    • Ability to work independently, but also be a team player who will engage with others at varying levels in the organization.
    • Ability to take initiative and manage multiple tasks and projects.
    • Strong organizational and time management skills and exceptional attention to detail.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please send your resume and a cover letter to [email protected].