Principal Associate, Government Relations (Strategic Initiatives)

Application Deadline: Thursday, July 10, 2025

Government Relations 

Government Relations (GR) seeks to advance Pew’s nonpartisan policy and research goals at all levels of government, in the United States and internationally.  We focus on sharing the organization’s research and fact-based recommendations, shaping pragmatic strategies to achieve program objectives, and building relationships with key government officials to forge compromise and consensus on issues that make a difference to the public. 

Position Overview 

The principal associate, government relations will report to the senior vice president (SVP), GR and assist the SVP in preparing policy, legislative, and political research; drafting briefing memos; preparing presentations; and coordinating with Pew’s programmatic staff. The position will be charged with leading the collaboration on various internal- and external-facing initiatives and will be required to have the necessary substantive and political judgement to identify problems, recommend solutions, and help and/or lead the execution of solutions. 

The principal associate will also partner with the SVP and the GR senior director for strategy and operations to support external and internal relationship- and team-building initiatives. In addition, they will – from time to time – represent GR at internal meetings when the SVP is not available. When time allows, the position will support the GR senior director for environment and the GR senior director for government performance on policy research and writing.  

Located in Pew's Washington, DC, office, this position will participate in Pew’s core in-office days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and will have flexibility to work from home the remainder of the week.  

Responsibilities 

• Provide substantive research for the SVP on Pew’s broad-based public policy and civic engagement initiatives. Such research will focus on policy, legislative, and political issues. Provide public policy and political guidance, analysis, and recommendations on the same. 

• Draft memos and other briefing documents that prepare the SVP and other GR team members for meetings with international, federal, state, and local lawmakers and for internal meetings with Pew’s programmatic staff. 

• Prepare PowerPoint presentations, draft talking points, and overview materials for the SVP for external and internal presentations and high-level meetings. 

• Gain a general understanding of Pew’s policy, legislative, regulatory, and technical assistance strategies and tactics. 

• Spearhead and project manage various special projects for the SVP and GR team. 

• Develop an understanding of the international, federal, and s