State Government Affairs Director (Southeast)

OVERVIEW

The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) is hiring a State Government Affairs Director (Southeast) to own our government affairs work across Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, and South Carolina. In this role, you’ll build the legislative strategy for each state, cultivate the relationships that move bills, and shepherd FGA’s reform priorities through the 2027 sessions.

You’ll drive FGA’s agenda in your states and become the go-to strategist for the lawmakers who decide which bills move. When a legislative fight heats up, you run the war room: set the strategy, rally the partners, and get the reform passed.

The ideal candidate brings at least five years in state government affairs, policy advocacy, or related political work, with a track record of winning tough policy fights. This role is remote, and we strongly prefer candidates who live in Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, or South Carolina. Expect regular travel across these four states, with the heaviest stretches during session.

CULTURE AND FIT

The people who consistently succeed at FGA are those whose actions and behavior reflect our five Core Values. If you adhere to these values and answer “yes” to each of the following questions, you may be a fit.

1) Candid to Solve: Being willing to have tough conversations in order to solve issues and build trust.

· Do you seek out constructive feedback—and provide it to others—to solve issues and build trust with coworkers?

2) Grow or Die: We don’t have a neutral gear; we must consistently challenge ourselves and each other to grow in our talents and skills.

· Are you aware of your strengths and weaknesses, and do you seek out complementary skills and growth in order to mitigate your weaknesses?

3) Politically Savvy: Policy doesn’t change in a vacuum, but in a political reality that we must understand and account for.

· Do you agree that embracing the realities of politics is necessary to change public policy?

4) Partnership-Oriented: Internal and external relationships are not transactional. That starts with our team members and the perspective that we need the rest of the team to succeed in order to win personally.

· Are you comfortable creating your own structure for work, such as setting work hours, your own priorities, and creating clarity and a work plan from a broad goal?

5) Bought in to Win: We’re at FGA because we want to change policy. No one is counting hours or widgets. We are here to get results, and sometimes, that will require going the extra mile or doing a job that isn’t technically ours.

· Do you fully support FGA’s mission and believe that lives are improved through work, not welfare, and that free markets create more freedom and opportunity than government control?

The vast majority of those who don’t get hired (or don’t last) at FGA are due to a lack of fit with these values. Be prepared to have very candid conversations about them in our interview process.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As State Government Affairs Director (Southeast), you will have four primary areas of responsibility:

1) Build and Execute State Strategy

· Create and own the strategy for each state in your portfolio, evaluating the political environment, identifying the policy openings, aligning stakeholders, and mapping the path for every reform priority.

· Shepherd FGA’s priorities through the 2027 legislative sessions by securing sponsors, managing collateral needs, and tracking initiatives from introduction through final passage.

2) Cultivate Relationships with Policymakers and Allies

· Become the trusted resource for governors’ offices, legislators, legislative and executive staff, agency leaders, and allied third-party groups across all four states.

· Conduct in-person stakeholder meetings throughout the portfolio and represent FGA in briefings and small-group settings.

3) Manage FGA’s In-State Contractors

· Set goals with each in-state contractor, keep a clear communication cadence, and hold them accountable for the state agenda.

· Put your contractors’ relationships to work opening doors with key decision-makers.

4) Serve as FGA’s Internal Point Person for the Southeast

· Own the flow of information between your states and FGA’s Federal Affairs, Development, Policy and Research, and Communications teams.

· Use Basecamp to file clear requests, answer internal questions quickly, and bring colleagues into state trips and lawmaker meetings with enough lead time to be useful.

REQUIREMENTS

🔹Five or more years of experience in state legislative, government affairs, campaign, or public policy roles.

🔹Strong preference for candidates who reside in Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, or South Carolina, plus regular travel throughout the portfolio that lightens in the off-season.

🔹Deep understanding of state legislative and executive policymaking, with the political judgment to identify the decision-makers and influencers who move legislation.

🔹Exceptional communicator with the organization to quarterback legislative calendars, hearings, policymaker communications, and collateral needs across four states at once.

🔹Fluent with technology and AI tools, including platforms like Basecamp and Quorum, to track data, manage projects, and speed up research and drafting.

🔹Match FGA’s Core Values (described above).

TIMING, LOCATION, AND COMPENSATION

FGA is seeking to fill this position as soon as possible. Beyond travel across your portfolio, expect legislative fly-ins and quarterly team meetings.

FGA’s headquarters are in Naples, FL, but nearly all of our staff work remotely from across the country. We build our systems and culture around clarity, flexibility, and strong communication. Key elements include:

· Quarterly in-person team meetings at which you’ll build deeper relationships, set clear goals aligned with FGA’s big vision, and brainstorm how to seize new opportunities

· An intensive 90-day orientation to familiarize you with the FGA team, our policies, and how we operate

· Home office setup, including equipment and communication tools you need to hit the ground running

FGA offers a competitive salary between $100,000–$130,000, depending on experience and qualifications, along with a benefits package that includes a six percent retirement match, health benefits, and generous paid leave.