Senior Director, Federal Affairs

Position Summary

The Senior Director, Federal Affairs will lead and execute the company’s federal government affairs strategy, advancing policy priorities that support business objectives and long-term growth. This role serves as a key liaison between the company and federal policymakers, agencies, and industry stakeholders—translating legislative and regulatory developments into business insights and coordinated advocacy strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Federal Advocacy & Strategy
• Develop and execute federal government affairs strategies aligned with enterprise policy priorities and commercial objectives
• Identify legislative risks and opportunities; advise leadership on potential business impacts
• Shape and advance company policy positions on key issues (e.g., energy markets, environmental policy, customer choice, grid modernization)
• Relationship Management
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Members of Congress, federal agencies, committees, and relevant staff
• Represent the company in meetings, briefings, hearings, and industry forums
• Serve as a trusted external representative advancing the company’s credibility and influence
• Policy Analysis & Insights
• Monitor federal legislative and regulatory developments; provide timely analysis and strategic recommendations
• Translate complex policy developments into clear implications for internal stakeholders
• Support scenario planning and policy forecasting to inform business strategy
• Advocacy Execution
• Develop advocacy materials including briefing documents, talking points, position papers, and testimony
• Cook up engagement strategies, including coalition participation and trade association alignment
• Partner cross-functionally to ensure consistency in messaging and leverage relationships across federal, state, and regulatory channels
• Cross-Functional Partnership
• Collaborate with Regulatory Affairs, Legal, External Affairs, and Commercial leaders to align advocacy efforts
• Support enterprise-wide policy strategy by connecting federal developments to broader regulatory and market considerations
• Demonstrate strong business acumen, executive presence, and the ability to operate effectively within a large, matrixed corporate environment
• Translate policy priorities into enterprise value and engage credibly with senior leaders across the business

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Government, or related field preferred (advanced or JD preferred)
• 10+ years of experience in government affairs, public policy, or related fields engaging with federal legislative bodies, agencies, or political stakeholders and legislative and regulatory processes.
• Government affairs experience in a large, complex energy, infrastructure or regulated industry organization strongly preferred; candidates should understand how enterprise decision-making, governance, risk management, and cross-functional alignment work in practice
• Strong leadership capabilities and a proven ability to lead directly and through influence to deliver results, and the judgement and ability to advise senior leaders on high-stakes policy and business issues
• High-agency, strategic operator with the judgement and initiative to anticipate business needs, shape policy solutions that advance commercial objectives, and independently drive priorities from concept through execution.
• Strong, broad relationships with federal policymakers in Congress, agencies and the Administration, as well as non-government organizations, industry organizations and key customers
• Proven ability to synthesize complex policy issues into actionable business insights
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Government, or related field preferred (advanced or JD preferred)
• 10+ years of experience in government affairs, public policy, or related fields engaging with federal legislative bodies, agencies, or political stakeholders and legislative and regulatory processes.
• Government affairs experience in a large, complex energy, infrastructure or regulated industry organization strongly preferred; candidates should understand how enterprise decision-making, governance, risk management, and cross-functional alignment work in practice
• Strong leadership capabilities and a proven ability to lead directly and through influence to deliver results, and the judgement and ability to advise senior leaders on high-stakes policy and business issues
• High-agency, strategic operator with the judgement and initiative to anticipate business needs, shape policy solutions that advance commercial objectives, and independently drive priorities from concept through execution.
• Strong, broad relationships with federal policymakers in Congress, agencies and the Administration, as well as non-government organizations, industry organizations and key customers
• Proven ability to synthesize complex policy issues into actionable business insights
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills

Benefits

NRG Energy is committed to a drug and alcohol-free workplace. To the extent permitted by law and any applicable collective bargaining agreement, employees are subject to periodic random drug testing, and post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing. EOE AA M/F/Protected Veteran Status/Disability.