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Legislative Representative

  • American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
  • Washington D.C., DC, USA
  • Oct 20, 2021
Full time Government Affairs / Relations

Job Description

1.        INTRODUCTION

To promote and advance the legislative objectives of the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, in the U.S. Congress and the Administration. Provides advice, guidance, consultation, coordination, and otherwise supports the expressed and implied will of the membership for legislation. This includes maintenance of sound work relationships with the U.S. Congress and staff members; execution of liaison and lobbyist functions; introduction of favorable legislation; keeping informed of and expressing the AFGE view on proposed legislation; coordinating departmental efforts to prepare bills and legislative comments; coordinating with grassroots, political, policy, legal, labor relations, and communications staff to ensure successful promotion of legislative agenda; and keeping National and District offices, councils as appropriate, and members informed of progress.

 

II.        MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Participates in planning, organizing, coordinating, and conducting legislative programs to carry out mandates from the Convention, the National President (NP) and the National Executive Council (NEC). Formulates and develops written legislative, grassroots, and political strategy proposals and programs to assist the NP and the NEC to accomplish the legislative goals and mandates of the Convention. Tracks, analyzes, and prepares testimony, researches legislative history, and provides policy research on issues concerning members.

  2. Performs liaison and lobbyist functions of a business and social nature, including attending daily multiple meetings with Representatives and Senators as well as their staffs. Attends Congressional hearings, subcommittee and committee markups, and floor votes in both chambers on Capitol Hill. For this reason, hours are unpredictable due to nature of congressional activity. Represents AFGE and the Legislative Director and Deputy Legislative Director in contacts with personnel throughout AFGE, Congress, Federal agencies, and labor organizations. Collects or delivers proposals, bills, reports, correspondence, and recommendations to foster and keep communications channels open, makes arrangements for AFGE experts to comment upon or help introduce legislation and personally ensures that AFGE position is clearly understood. Fosters a high level of trust through sincere and honest personal relationships. Keeps Director informed of progress, obstacles, and unusual developments.

  3. Works in close coordination and harmony with other AFGE departments and staff on legislative matters and support. Specifically:
    • Communications Department - Ensures that this department is furnished timely and current information on the Federation's legislative initiatives, victories, and activities to properly disseminate such information to the media, districts, locals, councils and AFGE activists. Provides information and ideas to help the department refine and focus its public relations message.

    • Membership and Organization - Participates in all membership recruitment efforts, including lunch and learns, and metropolitan organizing initiatives throughout the country.

    • Political Action Committee (PAC) - Supports and assists the AFGE-PAC Director in fundraising activities. Makes recommendations to Legislative and Political Director on the distribution of contributions in a manner that will support and enhance the union's legislative objectives.

    • Grassroots - Works closely with the Field Mobilization Director and Legislative and Political Organizers in the field to identify, train and develop a cadre of local and council activists to provide legislative and political action to advance the union's legislative goals. Ensures that the union's legislative message is delivered to local and council activists, and that they, in turn, lobby their Representatives and Senators on AFGE initiatives.

    • Training - Conducts frequent training for members on legislative issues and lobbying techniques, as well as other matters. Supports AFGE legislative and political program in headquarters including during the annual legislative conference, and at multiple events in the field.

    • Policy and Field Services and Education Departments - Works closely with economists, labor relations specialists, and other technicians to develop arguments and positions on a wide range of legislative issues. Develops and coordinates policy paper and testimony production.

    • General Counsel's Office (GCO) - Works closely with staff attorneys to ensure legislative proposals address AFGE legal concerns.

4. Reviews and signs lobbying reports to the Senate and House reflecting extent of such activities as registered AFGE lobbyist.

5. Some travel by air and surface transportation is required. Some overnight travel during the week and weekends is required, as well as attendance and participation at work events during the weekends and after regularly scheduled work hours.

6. Performs other duties as required.

 

III.      WORK ENVIRONMENT

This job operates in a professional environment working to establish Federation and Departmental goals. The incumbent will routinely use standard office equipment such as computers, fax machines, scanners, and phones. Long hours are periodically required. Travel is required. The employee will periodically be required to do some lifting and/or move items over 10 pounds.

 

IV.     CONTROLS OVER WORK

This is a professional salaried position that is exempt from the FLSA.  Reports to the Legislative Director and works under her general supervision. Work requires thorough familiarity with the process and people through which legislation is introduced and enacted; a working knowledge of federal personnel statutes; and knowledge of AFGE policies and procedures. Performance is evaluated in terms of personal and departmental accomplishments and effectiveness in meeting AFGE legislative goals and objectives.

 

V.     QUALIFICATIONS

  1. Applicant must have five years of U.S. Congressional legislative experience from working on Capitol Hill or lobbying the Congress. Applicant must have a thorough knowledge of the legislative process.

  2. Applicant must have bachelor's degree, and due to the complexity of the legislative issues facing AFGE members, graduate/law degree is strongly

  3. Applicant must be familiar with and able to analyze legislative bills, proposals, reports, make recommendations regarding them, and prepare written testimony.

  4. Applicant must have a comprehensive understanding of AFGE's legislative Goals.

  5. Applicant must have a deep and abiding commitment to the American labor movement.

  6. Applicant must be an exceptional analyst and writer.

  7. Grade 14 level is available to incumbents in Grade 13 after one year in service. To be promoted from Grade 13 to Grade 14 Legislative Representative, incumbent must be able to operate independently, with very little direct supervision, while simultaneously keeping the Director informed of all important matters. Incumbent must have demonstrated extraordinary skills in the ability to resolve complex legislative challenges and be able to strategize with Field Mobilization Director and Political and Mobilization Director in the absence of the Director. Incumbent must have close working relationships with all members of the LPAD, including field staff, and must stay generally up to date on all legislative matters affecting AFGE members to provide substitute backup for other legislative representatives if necessary.

 

VI.       EEO STATEMENT

AFGE provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, personal appearance, gender identity and/or gender expression.  In additional to federal law requirements, AFGE complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.  This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

 

Interested applicants please submit resume to jobs@afge.org.

 

Please mention that you saw this position posted on LobbyingJobs.com

Organization

American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
About American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)

POSITION DESCRIPTION

American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)

Department:                                      Legislative Department

Location:                                            National Office

FSLA Classification:                        Exempt

Position Title:                                    Director Legislative & Political

 

CLASSIFICATION:             Director of Legislative & Political, ELS

 

INTRODUCTION

AFGE is the largest union representing 700,000 federal and D.C. government employees. The union represents employees in over 65 agencies, including the Social Security Administration, the Department of Defense (civilians), the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, Justice, Labor, HUD, HHS, Transportation, Energy, Education, Commerce, Treasury, Interior, State, and Agriculture. AFGE has been growing for 25 consecutive years.

AFGE's Legislative Department is responsible for the continued development, maintenance and strengthening of the Federation's ability to promote and achieve its legislative and policy objectives in Congress and through the federal Executive Branch. The department works to achieve these goals through AFGE's government affairs and political programs.  Major responsibilities of this position include strategic planning, lobbying, development of issue mobilization and training programs.

This position is a key senior staff position that reports to the National President of AFGE. The person holding this position works with other senior staff in a team environment to carry out the goals of AFGE under the direction of the National President.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Supervisory: Supervises Legislative Department to pursue successful achievement of the union's policy and institutional goals.
  2. Strategic Planning: Works with staff, National Vice Presidents, and Bargaining Councils to develop annual strategic plans for implementing the Federation's national legislative and political plan in a given calendar year.
  3. Training: Manages annual Legislative and Grassroots Mobilization Conference. Works with Education Department staff to develop training programs for AFGE leaders in legislative strategies such as meeting with members of Congress.

 

  1. Coalition Building: Assists President's Office, AFGE Districts, and Bargaining Councils in     developing and maintaining local, state, regional and national coalitions to address legislative issues of specific concern to AFGE members but also of mutual concern to other unions, community, and public interest organizations.

 

  1. Written Communications: Supervises staff development of and edit written materials used for fundraising, grassroots organizing, issue mobilization, and voter education. Examples of such materials include email communications, brochures, direct mail solicitations, fact sheets, faxes, leaflets, letters, scripts for phone banks, and related materials.

 

  1. Lobbying: Oversees and engages in lobbying Members of Congress and the Executive Branch.

 

  1. Interdepartmental Coordination: Works in close coordination and harmony other AFGE department on legislative and political matters and support. Specifically:

 

  1. Communications Department – Directs Legislative staff to ensure that this department is furnished timely and current information on the Federation's legislative initiatives, victories, and activities to properly disseminate such information to the media, districts, locals, councils and AFGE activists. Directs staff to provide information and ideas to help refine and focus its public relations message.
  2. Membership and Organization - Personally participates and directs Legislative staff to participate in all membership recruitment efforts, including lunch and learns, and metropolitan organizing initiatives.
  3. General Counsel's Office (GCO) - Works closely with the General Counsel to ensure AFGE's political program complies with federal election and other relevant laws.

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This job operates in a professional environment working to establish Federation and Departmental goals. The incumbent will routinely use standard office equipment such as computers, fax machines, scanners, and phones. Travel is required and position may require long periods of travel.  Long hours are periodically required. The employee will periodically be required to do some lifting and/or move items over 10 pounds.

 

CONTROLS OVERWORK

Works under the day-to-day supervision of the National President who makes specific assignments. The incumbent is called upon to make judgments as to approaches, techniques, and methods for pursuing established Federation and Department goals. The incumbent is encouraged to point out areas of activity or interest where revised goals and techniques might be considered to facilitate achievement of the Legislative Department’s goals and mission. The results of the incumbent's completed work are reviewed for extent of fulfillment of Department objectives as delineated.

QUALIFICATIONS

  1. Applicant must have at least 10 years of combined full-time work experience in legislative and political activity, including but not limited to organizing, grassroots issue mobilization activities, lobbying, educational training, and election related activities (including voter registration, voter education and get-out-the-vote activities). Management experience is highly preferred.

 

  1. Bachelor's degree required.

 

  1.  Loyalty to the American labor movement required.

 

  1. Demonstrated skill and knowledge in the legislative and political (election) process.

 

  1. Demonstrated ability to educate and motivate individuals to join the union and become

  involved in legislative and political action activities.

 

  1.  Demonstrated ability to make objective decisions and recommendations independently.

 

  1. Good interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to speak effectively in individual, small group and large settings with AFGE members and leaders as well as members of Congress.

 

  1.  Ability to respond quickly and effectively when unexpected events demand an immediate response.
  2. Ability to develop and edit written materials related to legislative and political program, including but not limited to grassroots mobilization materials such as planning documents, issue alerts, issue leaflets, phone scripts, draft letters to members of Congress and the Administration, and

 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Ability to travel regularly, a minimum of 4-5 weeks per year. During election years incumbent

may travel 6-8 weeks per year, including extended periods away from home.

Work is generally in an office setting. Periodically long hours are required.

Writing sample and/or writing test demonstrating skills in developing grassroots educational

materials may be required.

 

EEO STATEMENT

AFGE provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, personal appearance, gender identity and/or gender expression.  In additional to federal law requirements, AFGE complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.  This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.



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