Policy Director

The Center Forward Policy Director leads the organization’s policy portfolios, which include a range of issues, among them energy, financial services, healthcare, innovation, and trade.

This role is responsible for identifying and addressing programming opportunities and educational material, while building and leveraging strong relationships with Center Forward stakeholders and policy thought leaders on Capitol Hill. The Policy Director will also manage Center Forward’s legislative tracking to ensure timely, strategic insights that guide the organization’s priorities and engagement. This role focuses extensively on policy education, events, and programming, and stakeholder management.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as direct supervisor to all policy track program managers and coordinators; overseeing day-to-day operations, troubleshooting challenges, hosting regular one-on-one check-ins, editing and approving communication materials, conducting reviews, managing budgets, and more 
• Organize and execute programming for individual policy tracks when the primary staff role is vacant
• Establish a tracking mechanism to more closely track the legislative successes that are a result of Center Forward’s work and programming
• Serve as the forecaster of legislative activity to help direct CF programming, such as significant reauthorization bills
• Build a working knowledge of existing and upcoming federal legislation across issue areas and be prepared to advise the team and leadership as needed
• Serve as primary liaison with other team leads to coordinate programming and outreach for policy tracks
• Lead development (conception, drafting, and editing) of issue briefs, long-form papers, policy memos, and other educational materials
• Maintain ongoing situational awareness of congressional activity, major policy debates, and emerging trends relevant to Center Forward stakeholders
• Build, maintain, and leverage strong bipartisan relationships with congressional offices, committees, industry partners, trade associations, and thought leaders in and outside of Washington, D.C
• Represent Center Forward in meetings, briefings, conferences, and stakeholder discussions
• Work collaboratively with the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Director, Advisory Board, and communications team to align policy work with organizational strategy
• Support the development and execution of Center Forward congressional staff delegations, roundtables, and educational programming
• Assist in fundraising-adjacent efforts by providing policy context for membership engagement and programming value
• Work collaboratively with other bipartisan groups in Washington, D.C. by participating in panels, coordinating strategy, and aligning efforts
• Be equipped to understand the nuances of legislation and where various stakeholders may stand on the issues in order to prevent internal conflicts with CF programming and educational materials

Are you someone who:

• Is a passionate and creative problem solver?
• Is a collaborator and team player?
• Is an excellent communicator – written and verbal?
• Is detail-oriented while remaining flexible?
• Is excited by a fast-paced work environment?
• Is able to persevere through difficult situations with composure and humor?
• Is eager to learn and grow?

If so, we want to discuss the Policy Director role with you. Additional qualifications include:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills 
• Expertise in GSuite, including Docs, Sheets, and Slides
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Five or more years of Capitol Hill, government affairs, policy research, or legislative experience
• Demonstrated ability to manage, mentor, and motivate a team
• Strong policy judgment and familiarity with congressional procedures, committee operations, and legislative strategy
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to brief senior leaders, Members, staff, and external partners
• Ability to quickly learn and represent Center Forward’s mission, style, and priorities across issue areas
• Proven track record of building and maintaining bipartisan relationships with congressional and policy stakeholders
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to conceptualize, develop, and run external affairs events (salon dinners, conferences, etc)
• Creative problem-solver with the ability to anticipate issues and adapt to fast-changing policy environments
• Commitment to a collaborative, team-oriented work culture and ongoing professional development
• Experience with legislative tracking tools, policy research platforms, and data-driven analysis
• Familiarity with healthcare, financial services, energy, innovation, or trade policy is a plus
• Understanding of the perspectives and needs of Center Forward’s membership base (industry, trade groups, and bipartisan Hill staff) is beneficia

To apply, please submit a resume and a 1-page cover letter as one document in PDF format. Applicants can submit application materials to jobs@center-forward.org with the subject line “Policy Director.” 

We are looking to fill this role as quickly as possible. The interview process will consist of an initial screening, a panel interview, and a final interview.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Center Forward is an organization that believes work and life should be in balance. We offer transparency about pay ranges and competitive benefits.
• The salary range for the Policy Director position (salaried, exempt) is $130,000 – $140,000 USD.
• Generous contribution (80% of monthly premium) to a co-pay healthcare and (100% of monthly premium) to a co-pay dental and vision plan
• Matching retirement/IRA contribution equal to 100% of the employee’s salary deferral contributions up to the first 5%
• Hybrid and flexible work schedules 
• Flexible paid vacation leave (PTO) and liberal leave schedules
• Performance-based bonuses
• Student loan repayment
• Transit benefits
• And other benefits, further details provided upon request

Organization Summary:

Center Forward brings together members of Congress, not-for-profits, academic experts, trade associations, corporations, and unions to find common ground. Our mission is to give centrist allies the information they need to craft common-sense solutions and provide them with the support they need to turn those ideas into results. 

To meet our challenges, we need to put aside the partisan bickering that has gridlocked Washington and come together to find common-sense solutions.

For more information, please visit www.center-forward.org. 

Center Forward is an equal opportunity employer. Our jobs are open to all applications regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, disability, military status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.