Director of Government and Public Affairs (Job ID: 2024-3568)

Overview

Join one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks!

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level.

 

We bring together leading experts in government and academia from all over the world, rooted in open-minded inquiry and representing diverse points of view, who provide the highest quality research, policy recommendations, and analysis. Research topics cover a full range of public policy issues in economics, foreign policy, development, governance and metropolitan policy.

 

With fair and transparent business practices, clear communication, mutual respect, and a collaborative atmosphere that offers both professional and personal development opportunities, Brookings offers an inclusive and welcoming workplace that values the efforts of all contributors.

 

The Office of Communications is a centralized service unit that develops effective communications products and strategies to empower and share impactful scholar messages to wide audiences. The Office of Communications meets the daily needs of the institution through web development and publication support, convening and event support, multimedia services like video, animations, and podcasting, governance of visual design and brand systemts, social media management, and institutional brand and media communications. 

 

Position Location: This position is hybrid. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC office with the option of at least two days of remote work each week.  

Responsibilities

Ready to contribute to Brookings success? 

 

The Director of Government and Public Affairs plays a pivotal role in facilitating the Institution's engagement with policymakers and decisionmakers in the public, private, and civic sectors through data-informed decision making and strategic leadership. Reporting to the Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs, the Director will foster productive relationships between Brookings and government bodies and stakeholders in all sectors. Additionally, the Director will develop strategies for measuring and tracking impact.

 

Strategy Development and Execution (65%)

• Collaborate with Central Communications and Program Communications team members to develop strategies to reach key stakeholders with Brookings broadly disseminated work, including policymakers, industry leaders, and decisionmakers, including events, briefings, testimony, interviews, digital communications, collateral, etc.

• Serve as a trusted liaison between Brookings and government stakeholders at all levels, broadly disseminating Brookings’ evidence-based work to inform solutions to pressing policy challenges.

• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on engagement opportunities and brand management within governmental and other external spheres.

• Identify and develop relationships with points of contact in the Washington D.C. public policy community, including the White House, U.S. Congress, Executive Branch Agencies, state and local associations, think tanks, trade associations, NGOs, and relevant stakeholders.

• Work with internal, cross-functional teams to integrate public affairs priorities and audience insights into overall organizational objectives.

• Collaborate with Brookings scholars and research programs communications staff to support the broad dissemination of their research and recommendations effectively contributing to public discourse.

• Guide optimization of audience outreach strategies across all channels, including digital and multimedia.

Research & Analytics Leadership (20%)

• Develop frameworks measuring impact of public affairs work.

• Collaborate with various teams to help them understand and identify their target audiences and the most effective ways to connect with them.

• Oversee the coordination and tracking of official testimony.

• Integrate insights gained from monitoring policy developments at global, national, and subnational levels into strategy.

• Identify emerging opportunities and platforms for engagement with key audiences, particularly decisionmakers.

Team Management & Internal Support Strategies (15%)

• Collaborate with peer directors across Communications and Public Affairs to ensure cohesive strategy implementation to ensure communications work is high-impact internally and externally.

• Collaborate with internal teams to identify oppo