Vice President, Government Affairs

Vice President, Government Affairs

Non-Profit – Northern Virginia, Virginia

Hybrid (combination of in-office and remote work)

A well-established, industry-leading trade association seeks an experienced government affairs leader to direct the association’s federal, state, and Canadian advocacy efforts. Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Vice President, Government Affairs will shape and execute legislative and public-policy strategy, manage advocacy initiatives, oversee key stakeholder relationships, and serve as a senior representative of the industry before policymakers, regulators, member companies, and coalition partners. Candidates should bring experience navigating legislative and regulatory environments, strong strategic instincts, and the ability to operate confidently in complex policy and stakeholder settings.

Key Responsibilities

Government Affairs Strategy & Advocacy

• Develop and drive the association’s federal, state, and Canadian government affairs strategy and policy agenda.
• Advocate before Congress, executive branch agencies, state legislatures, regulatory authorities, and Canadian officials on issues impacting the fragrance industry, including chemical management, ingredient disclosure, PFAS, microplastics, endocrine disruptors, consumer-product chemical legislation, sustainability policy, and trade and tariff issues.
• Monitor, analyze, and communicate legislative and regulatory developments affecting member companies, including emerging federal and state initiatives related to MOCRA implementation, ingredient safety, retailer restricted-substance policies, environmental health legislation, chemical disclosure requirements, and global regulatory developments impacting fragrance ingredients and consumer products.
• Advise members on policy implications, advocacy strategy, and compliance-related matters.
• Develop and execute strategies to oppose, amend, or support legislation impacting the industry.
• Coordinate and manage the association’s Congressional Fragrance Caucus strategy, including membership growth and leadership engagement.
• Oversee the association’s Political Action Committee.

Member Engagement & External Relations

• Manage relationships with external lobbyists, consultants, coalition partners, allied associations, retailers, NGOs, scientific organizations, and other stakeholders involved in chemical policy, consumer-product regulation, and ingredient safety issues.
• Plan and manage Capitol Hill Day, advocacy briefings, state engagement activities, and related events.
• Represent the association in meetings with policymakers, industry stakeholders, coalition partners, and international counterparts.
• Partner with leadership to prepare presentations, policy updates, communications, and Board materials.
• Staff several association committees, including the Government & Legislative Affairs Executive Committee.

Leadership & Operations

• Contribute as part of the senior leadership team, supporting organizational priorities and cross-functional initiatives.
• Manage multiple advocacy initiatives and external partners simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Work closely with Regulatory Science and Reputation & Communications teams to ensure coordinated advocacy, scientific alignment, and messaging related to ingredient safety, sustainability, consumer transparency, and fragrance-industry reputation issues.
• Support long-term strategic planning efforts tied to legislative, regulatory, scientific, and reputational priorities.

Education & Required Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in government affairs, lobbying, trade associations, public policy, or corporate government relations.
• Capitol Hill, White House, Department of Commerce, USTR, or State Department experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of federal and state legislative and regulatory processes.
• Experience with trade, chemical management, consumer-product regulation, ingredient safety, environmental health policy, scientific policy, or other technically complex policy issues strongly preferred.
• Experience managing committees, coalitions, consultants, and advocacy initiatives.
• Demonstrated project-management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Comfort working in a small, entrepreneurial organization with both strategic and hands-on responsibilities.
• Familiarity with Congressional procedures, rules, and ethics requirements.
• Self-driven with the ability to independently move initiatives and projects forward.

What You Bring

• Executive presence and the ability to confidently represent industry interests with credibility.
• Strong relationship-building and consensus-building skills across diverse stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with strong judgment and policy-analysis capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to distill complex information clearly and effectively.
• Collaborative leadership style and strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to present effectively to senior executives, Boards of Directors, policymakers, and external audiences.
• Innovative, solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to anticipate challenges and opportunities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, business-driven environment where priorities can shift quickly.
• Team-oriented mindset and comfort working cross-functionally in a lean organization.

Position Details

• Hybrid work schedule (combination of in-office and remote work).
• Ability to travel up to 20%.
• Salary range: $240,000–$260,000, depending on experience.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.