The Federal Relations (Senior) Associate is responsible for helping to develop and implement strategies that advance APS’s policy priorities. The Federal Relations Associate will consistently engage with federal policymakers and their staff, including joining APS member advocates in meetings; seek new opportunities to increase APS member engagement in the federal policymaking process; develop and/or author APS policy and advocacy materials; and manage the dissemination of APS policy and advocacy materials on Capitol Hill and with the Executive Branch. Additionally, the Associate will be responsible for a policy portfolio that includes policies related to federal R&D (DOE and DOD), national security, and other areas as assigned. The Associate will actively participate in and/or lead coalitions that advance APS policy goals; and develop and maintain relationships with colleagues across government and non-governmental organizations.

This position will require that you spend time in office, as well as travel to various geographically dispersed events and meetings as instructed by your Supervisor. This position also requires registering as a lobbyist.

APS has a “remote first” concept that promotes equal treatment and equal access, independent of physical work location, with a majority of staff working primarily from remote work locations. APS values diversity and welcomes candidates from a variety of backgrounds. APS offers a dynamic work environment with an outstanding total compensation package including salary, outstanding benefits, and excellent paid time off.

• Develop and advance advocacy strategies in consultation with the Director of Government Affairs (GA Director) and Chief External Affairs Officer (CEAO).
• Serve as a representative of APS with federal policymakers and staff, including on Capitol Hill and with Executive Branch agencies; develop and manage relationships with Congressional and Executive Branch staff.
• Serve as lead APS staffer in meetings between APS member advocates and Congressional staff on legislative priorities, as determined by GA leadership; responsible for follow-up items from meetings.
• Seek and facilitate opportunities for APS members to engage in policy activities on Capitol Hill and with the Executive Branch, including Congressional hearings, briefings, roundtable discussions, etc.; responsible for preparing APS members to participate.
• Manage dissemination of APS policy and advocacy materials ­– including POPA reports, APS GA reports, and letters from the APS President – with federal policymakers and staff.
• Serve as the principal APS resource on a wide range of federal science policy issues, including those related to DOE, DOD, national security, and other areas as assigned.
• Develop and/or author APS advocacy materials, including letters from the APS President, APS GA reports, and issue briefs.
• Work with Member Advocacy Senior Associate to provide training to Congressional Visit Day participants and to member advocacy volunteers.
• Represent APS at stakeholder events and meetings in Washington, DC that are within policy portfolio. This includes meetings with congressional and agency staff, congressional hearings, legislative mark-ups, agency briefings and receptions.
• Actively participate in and/or lead coalitions that advance APS’s advocacy goals; develop and maintain relationships with non-governmental, science-related organizations on matters within policy portfolio.
• Participate in discussions of all office projects involving interactions with federal policymakers and staff; remain up to date on all APS GA policy priorities, positions, and activities to the extent required to independently complete daily responsibilities.
• Communicate regularly with the Director of Government Affairs, APS GA staff, OEA Operations and Program Manager, Senior Public Relations Manager, APS Chief External Affairs Officer and other APS staff as appropriate, as well as APS membership.
• Attend APS national meetings and other APS-sponsored events as determined by GA Director; assist in APS member advocacy activities, as assigned.
• Help GA Director and CEAO develop briefing materials on advocacy for the APS Executive Board, Council, operating officers and presidential line.

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or equivalent training preferred. Degrees in the physical sciences, engineering or political science/public policy are strongly preferred.
• Directly applicable experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

• One-year related experience for Associate; 3+ years related experience for Senior Associate
• Experience in Congress, the Executive Branch, or a state legislature is highly desirable
• Strong written and oral communication, presentation and interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to describe scientific and technical matters to multiple audiences
• Ability to build relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders
• High degree of professionalism
• Must take initiative and be a self-starter
• Excellent analytical ability
• Keen attention to detail
• Strong organization, documentation, and prioritization skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Docs
• Ability to adapt to quickly changing schedules
• Ability to work well with interdepartmental teams as well as independently
• Understanding of R&D ecosystem; previous research experience strongly preferred
• A commitment to advancing policy issues impacting the scientific community

Travel:  This hybrid position will be required to have in-office work at the Washington, DC office location as specified by your supervisor. The current requirement for in-office work is currently at least 2 days per week; in the future, in-office work could increase to 3 or more days per week depending on team needs. This position will also require occasional travel to attend meetings and events as part of its core responsibilities, as well as additional travel as assigned.


Work Environment:

Our physical offices are located in College Park, MD, Washington D.C and Hauppauge, N.Y. We are operational in most US states. We are not operational in all 50 states. The APS has a “remote first” concept that promotes equal treatment and equal access within the United States, independent of physical work location, with a majority of staff working primarily from remote work locations. APS allows flexible work hours; responsiveness is required, however, during the core 9 am to 5pm Eastern Standard Time workday.

This is Us:

Help us achieve our mission of advancing and diffusing the knowledge of physics for the benefit of humanity, promote physics, and serve the broader physics community.

At APS, we:

• Provide a welcoming and supportive professional home for an active, engaged, and diverse membership
• Advance scientific discovery and research dissemination
• Advocate for physics and physicists, and amplify the voice for science
• Share the excitement of physics and communicate the essential role physics plays in the modern world
• Promote effective physics education for all

Core Values:

Core values are essential to shaping the culture of an organization. They provide the structure and guidance for how we conduct ourselves in our day-to-day interactions. Every employee has a responsibility for upholding these values. The behaviors and actions associated with demonstrating competency in these Core Values are described in a separate document.
 

Our Core Values:

• The Scientific Method
• Truth and Integrity
• Diversity, Inclusion, and Respect
• Partnering, Cooperation, and Open Collaboration
• Speaking Out
• Education and Learning

Amazing 2022 Benefit Offerings:

• Flexible schedules and ability to work remotely
• 8% employer-paid retirement contribution
• Investment advisement services: 100% employer paid
• Medical benefits: PPO or HDHP option
• Employer contribution to FSA or HSA account, eligibility based on medical plan enrollment
• Dental benefits:  individual coverage 100% employer paid
• Vision benefits: individual and dependent coverage 100% employer paid
• Basic Life & Accident insurance: employee coverage 100% employer paid
• Supplemental Life & Accident insurance, including spouse & dependent child(ren) coverage
• Disability insurance:  employee coverage 100% employer paid
• Healthcare, Commuter & Dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Vacation: 15 days annually
• Generous holiday leave: 14 paid days of significance; includes one week closure at the end of December
• Personal leave: 4 days annually
• Volunteer leave: 1 day annually
• Sick leave: 10 days annually
• 10 weeks employer-paid family leave
• College tuition reimbursement plan
• Job related seminar & continuing education
• Training and professional development; access to LinkedIn Learning on-demand courses
• Employee Assistance Program
• Mindfulness Meditation: live and on-demand classes

The American Physical Society is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of American Physical Society not to discriminate or allow the harassment of employees or applicants on the basis of race, religious creed, alienage or citizenship, religion, color, ethnicity, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, familial status, protected veteran status, protected military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, predisposing genetic characteristics, ancestry, domestic violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by law with regard to any employment practices, including recruitment, advertising, job application procedures, hiring, upgrading, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, job assignments, benefits and/or other terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, provided the individual is qualified, with or without reasonable accommodations, to perform the essential functions of the job. This policy applies to all jobs at APS. The American Physical Society is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact APS Human Resources at hr@aps.org. 

All APS Employees must be vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination via our secured vaccination portal Safeter upon hire, unless they have an HR approved medical or religious exemption. The APS has a “remote first” concept that promotes equal treatment and equal access, independent of physical work location, with a majority of staff working primarily from remote work locations. We welcome you to apply today!