Looking to join a leading organization that has been advocating for the American aerospace and defense (A&D) industry for over a century?

Based in Rosslyn, VA, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is at the forefront of shaping national policy to enhance air transportation safety, drive innovation, and sustain a strong industrial base.

AIA is seeking a passionate and driven individual to join our legislative affairs division. The Vice President, Legislative Affairs will manage a dynamic portfolio of legislative initiatives and contribute to shaping AIA’s advocacy efforts.

The Vice President of Legislative Affairs will report directly to the Senior Vice President of External Affairs and serve as a strategic partner to fellow Vice Presidents in advancing our organizational mission. This leadership role oversees a team that includes two Senior Directors, one Manager, and a shared Coordinator in collaboration with the Communications Division.

Position Summary:

The Vice President, Legislative Affairs will lead the development and implementation of AIA’s comprehensive legislative strategy to support the association’s policy, industry advocacy and membership goals. The incumbent will communicate the industry's interests to members of Congress, White House and Administration officials, state and local leaders, and inform AIA members of key legislative policy developments and impacts. The Vice President is responsible for defining, shaping, and tracking legislation of interest to the aerospace industry; communicating legislative developments to members; presenting industry views and positions to Members of Congress and their staff; developing an engagement plan for the President and CEO, and serving as the principal staff contact for other organizations with overlapping legislative objectives. In this role the Vice President will manage AIA’s development and execution of our industry positions, strategies, and programs on all matters related to building and supporting a dynamic future workforce for the aerospace and defense industry and our member companies. The ideal leader in this role will have the ability to focus and refine a legislative strategy while emphasizing the professional development of the staff.

This position is also responsible for ensuring the association’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements related to federal lobbying. This includes, but is not limited to, a leadership role in staff training and education as well as review of the association’s quarterly reports under the Lobbying Disclosure Act.

In addition, the Vice President will develop the annual strategic objectives for legislative affairs, working closely with the SVP of External Affairs and other AIA senior leadership to ensure that strategy aligns with AIA’s mission, strategic plan, and specific objectives, in coordination with other departments. We’re looking for someone to ensure that AIA takes proactive actions to stay ahead of critical regulatory and legislative issues affecting our industry. It is expected that this position will involve registration and reporting as a federal lobbyist, as required by law, but not registration as a lobbyist before any state.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Executive in a company or association, with specific expertise in federal legislative advocacy or relations.
• 12+ years’ supervisory experience in government, an association, or aerospace-defense related corporation with responsibility over multidisciplinary functions.
• Experience in developing and managing departmental budgets.
• Superb interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work collegially with others and with the highest standards of integrity.
• First-rate personal, political, analytical and organizational skills.
• Creativity and ability to quickly get up to speed on complex technical and regulatory issues.
• Excellent communicator with great interpersonal and presentation skills, both for policy experts and the layperson.
• Ability to work independently as well as a team player in a multi-task work environment while producing the highest caliber work product in a timely manner.
• Self-starter with a sense of humor and the ability to thrive in a fast moving and high pressure environment.
• Adept in motivating teams, fostering a positive organizational culture and employee engagement.

To Apply, please send the following documents to jobs@aia-aerospace.org:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.