Government Relations Specialist

Position Summary

The Government Relations Specialist supports National 4-H Council's (Council) efforts to strengthen relationships with federal and state policymakers, Congressional 4-H alumni, and other key stakeholders. This position plays a strategic role in advancing Council's and Cooperative Extension’s (the nationwide system through which 4-H is delivered) government relations strategy by leading engagement activities, creating youth voice opportunities, providing communication, administrative, and project management support. Reporting directly to the Chief of Staff & Government Relations, the Specialist helps ensure that advocacy, partnership, and stakeholder engagement efforts are organized, responsive, and impactful while elevating the experiences and perspectives of young people involved in 4-H.

Essential Functions

• Initiate, cultivate, and maintain relationships with government officials, Congressional staff, 4-H alumni, and other stakeholders.
• Monitor and analyze federal and state legislative, regulatory, and policy developments affecting 4-H, Cooperative Extension, and youth development.
• Proactively maintain engagement records and contact databases, and lead research to identify 4-H alumni in public service to support strategic relationship-building and outreach efforts.
• Conduct research on sector best practices to provide recommendations for improving Government Relations and Stakeholder Relations approaches.
• Plan and execute Citizenship Washington Focus Hill Day, Congressional 4-H Week activities, and Congressional 4-H alumni engagement initiatives.
• Develop written communications to strengthen relationships with 4-H alumni on Capitol Hill to keep them informed of ongoings and encourage participation in the 4-H program.
• Lead pre-meeting preparation (creating pre-read materials, research, and engaging stakeholders ahead of time) for congressional & alumni engagement, prioritizing requests and focusing on stakeholder project momentum, engagement and execution.
• Maintain accurate records of stakeholder interactions and engagement history.
• Support the development and execution of opportunities for youth to engage with policymakers and share their 4-H experiences and perspectives.
• Support state 4-H and Cooperative Extension partners for State Legislative Days and advocacy efforts in partnership with Extension leaders and Extension Relations Team.
• Develop and track project timelines, deliverables, and partnership activities to ensure initiatives are completed effectively and on schedule.
• Develop communications, presentation materials, and key messages for legislative briefings.
• Provide general operational support including preparing expense reports, processing payment requests, and general reports to support Government Relations function.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of relevant work experience and training.
• 3+ years of progressively responsible experience, including events, project management, government or relevant work experience.

Required Qualifications

• Experience planning events of large size and scope, managing projects, or timelines.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects across various deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams.
• Experience planning and facilitating virtual meetings and trainings using Teams, Zoom, or other virtual platforms.
• Experience managing multiple tasks, deadlines, projects, and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with legislative processes, political acumen, and government relations.
• Knowledge of the Cooperative Extension System and 4-H.
• Proficiency with CRM or stakeholder management systems.
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment while maintaining high responsiveness and accountability.
• DMV based applicants preferred.