Executive Director, Government Affairs

TITLE:                                   Executive Director, Government Affairs

LOCATION:                         Alexandria, Virginia

DATE CREATED:              July 2026

FLSA:                                     Exempt

DIVISION:                            Office of Legal Counsel

TRAVEL REQUIREMENT:

Minimal, less than 10%

HOURS AND SCHEDULE:

Generally, Monday – Friday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm (minimum 37.5 hours within 5 days per week). Ability to work flexible hours to be responsive to requests from Congressional offices is required. Ability to be on the Hill for meetings as needed is required.  

REPORTS TO:

Chief Legal Officer

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

This position will work closely with the President and CEO and Chief Legal Officer to provide senior leadership support and strategy and manage execution of NCMEC’s strategic engagement with the U.S. Congress, Executive Branch, and State governments relating to support for NCMEC’s federal appropriations and key clearinghouse programs and services. 

The Executive Director, Government Affairs will be responsible for amplifying NCMEC’s impact on child protection by responding to Congressional and oversight related requests for NCMEC data and program information; developing and nurturing relationships with new and existing Congressional staff; developing collateral and outreach initiatives to promote the organization’s programs and services, annual data, and successful resolutions of missing and exploited child cases both nationally and on a state-by-state basis through tours at NCMEC headquarters, Hill briefings, and a regular cadence of communications to Congressional offices and committees to share data and collateral on NCMEC programs of work. The position will be responsible for submitting annual appropriations requests and leading efforts to ensure Congressional appropriators are aware of NCMEC’s impact on child protection across the country.

The Executive Director, Government Affairs will support NCMEC’s task force/coalition participation and development of formal written collateral (e.g., written testimony, regulatory comments, advocacy statements) and will manage the Government Affairs Policy Analyst on issues relating to state legislative affairs and related projects. 

The Executive Director, Government Affairs will support the Chief Legal Officer and NCMEC senior leaders in tracking ongoing legislation related to NCMEC’s mission and child protection and ensuring NCMEC’s voice and insights are shared.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinate with NCMEC senior leadership and operational divisions to execute NCMEC’s strategic outreach plan for Congress and other key government stakeholders relating to NCMEC’s 16 programs of work and its federal appropriations support.
• Submit annual appropriations requests and conduct all related and follow-up communications.
• Oversee day-to-day engagement with Congressional offices.
• Supervise the Government Affairs Policy Analyst as a direct report.
• Manage responses to Congressional inquiries relating to NCMEC programs and data and coordinate with operational divisions to obtain necessary information and provide subject matter expertise in response to Hill inquiries; build and maintain new and existing relationships with staff in key Congressional offices and committees; and support NCMEC’s strategic outreach activities.
• Develop and implement Congressional outreach strategies and initiatives that create a regular cadence of communications and information-sharing and support NCMEC’s goals and objectives.
• Schedule Member/Chief of Staff level meetings to facilitate Congressional outreach for NCMEC’s President and CEO.
• Prepare prep and collateral materials and conduct all follow-up after Member/Chief of Staff meetings on the Hill.
• Participate actively in Public Policy Committee meetings, discussions and updates.
• Ensure availability to, and strong coordination, communication, and collaboration with the President and CEO on developing and executing strategic Congressional outreach plans.
• Actively track and provide senior staff level updates relating to Congressional, federal agency, and state level funding relating to child protection programs and services.
• Coordinate NCMEC participation in relevant task forces, coalitions, and conferences and drafting written testimony, regulatory comments, position pieces/advocacy statements/social media, as needed.
• Collaborate with the Chief Legal Officer on legislative issues, including review of draft legislation and provision of feedback and comments to Congressional offices.
• Consistently manage and maintain document workflows, deliverables, and metrics relating to all Hill contacts, materials, and strategy execution.
• Promote a professional image and communicate with co-workers, senior leaders, and external partners and entities in a courteous and professional manner, including responding promptly to telephone calls, emails and other correspondence.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders and partners to achieve government affairs’ objectives.
• Other duties and special projects as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum 5 years Hill experience in progressively senior roles, with combined 10 years of Hill and/or advocacy/legal experience at third party lobbying firm, law firm, think tank, or nonprofit organization.
• Extensive working knowledge of Congressional protocols and processes.
• Substantive experience staffing Appropriations Committee or engaging on appropriations issues required.
• Deep understanding of Federal appropriations and funding authorization.
• Proven experience developing and maintaining bipartisan and strategic relationships with Congressional, executive branch, and/or federal agency officials.
• Proven experience with advocacy efforts and/or collaborating with policy advocates working individually or in a coalition effort.
• Previous management/supervisory experience required.
• Experience working with nonprofit organizations in some capacity preferred.
• Demonstrated experience balancing a wide range of short and long-term projects and meeting substantive and complex productivity goals under shifting deadlines.
• Uncompromising ethics and integrity.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Willingness and commitment to gaining, and expanding substantive understanding and knowledge of NCMEC’s mission and history, programs and services, role as the national clearinghouse on missing and exploited children’s issues, and the legislative/policy issues NCMEC is regularly involved in.
• Ability to register as lobbyist for NCMEC.
• Ability to perform as a high-level strategic thinker and produce sophisticated, succinct, and decisive written work product for a range of audiences.
• Ability to quickly absorb significant amounts of new information and distinguish what is important to NCMEC and to our various stakeholders.
• Effective communicator who can translate complex concepts and programs into concise and credible messages at the highest level of government and business.
• Ability to adhere to deadlines and to balance multiple pending projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Proven bipartisan track record of delivering high-volume and high-quality work.
• Diligence and past success in pursuing positive outcomes in difficult situations.
• Adaptability, flexibility and ability to work as part of a team or in an individual capacity.
• Ability to inspire trust and confidence relating to discussions of sensitive matters.
• Excellent public relations and interpersonal skills and abilities.
• Excellent judgment in setting priorities and interacting with internal and external contacts.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively perform legal and Internet research and proficiency with basic word processing and database software tools.