Legislative Director

Overview

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name.

As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest-circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin.

AARP’s Community, State and National Affairs (CSN) Group includes Government Relations, Programs, Volunteer Engagement, Community Outreach and Advocacy at the federal, state and local levels. It delivers on AARP’s social mission by educating and engaging people 50-plus and their families, strengthening communities, and championing issues that help give people financial and health security.

The Legislative Director for Housing, Transportation, and Broadband serves as AARP’s federal lobbyist, leading advocacy efforts to advance policies that help people live where they choose, stay connected to their communities, and thrive as they age. This role ensures that AARP’s housing, transportation, and broadband federal advocacy reflects and supports the organization’s extensive state and local work, translating community priorities and on-the-ground experiences into effective federal legislative and regulatory strategies.

You will own and manage an established and emerging portfolio of issues, build and maintain strong relationships with policymakers and stakeholders, and drive policy outcomes that reflect the needs of older Americans.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a point of contact on a specific portfolio of issues.
• Interacts with federal and state elected officials and staff members in a lobbyist capacity.
• Research and identify public policy issues of interest to the organization and prepare summaries and reports on the facts and issues.
• Analyzes federal and state legislative and regulatory proposals, communicates regularly with state office staff regarding the organization’s policy goals, and contributes to internal and external advocacy materials.
• Builds strong relationships with members of Congress, federal or state officials, internal and external stakeholders, professional associations, and coalitions to achieve the organization’s public policy agenda.
• Identifies and recommends opportunities to advance the organization’s priorities.
• Works closely with colleagues in States, Campaigns, Policy Development, Programs, Office of Inclusive Impact, and other departments across AARP to drive robust and proactive advocacy on their portfolio of issues for Americans 50 and older.
• Serves as a spokesperson with press and with legislative and non-legislative audiences on a specific portfolio of issues as they relate to older adults to position the organization as a credible source of information on legislative and regulatory issues.
• Identifies, supervises and works with outside consultants and issue experts to advance the organization’s advocacy agenda.

Qualifications

• B achelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Law, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 8+ years of progressively responsible federal legislative, agency, or lobbying experience, such as direct lobbying before Members of Congress and congressional staff, serving in a federal agency role, or working in a congressional office as a Legislative Assistant, Legislative Director, committee staff, or in a comparable role.
• Demonstrated understanding of the connection between federal, state, and local advocacy, with experience translating community-level priorities into effective federal advocacy strategies.
• Strong understanding of how Congress operates, including legislative strategy, committee processes, timing considerations, political dynamics, and the exercise of sound political judgment.
• Federal legislative experience, with the ability to adapt quickly across a range of policy areas, strategically navigate changing congressional priorities and emerging policy opportunities, respond effectively to shifting priorities and emerging issues, and a passion for learning new issues.
• Experience analyzing federal legislation and regulations; drafting and presenting policy materials such as issue briefs, comment letters, testimony, and formal statements; and translating policy analysis into actionable advocacy strategies.
• Proven ability to work in a non-partisan and inclusive manner, building trust and credibility with diverse stakeholders and facilitating collaboration on complex or sensitive issues.
• Preferred: Experience supporting or advancing federal legislation related to housing or transportation and the interest in learning broadband and other issues as assigned.
• AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position.
• Additional Requirements
• Regular and reliable job attendance.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships.
• Independent judgement in evaluation options to make sound decisions.
• In office/open office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate noise.
• Hybrid Work Environment
• AARP observes Mondays and Fridays as remote workdays, except for essential functions. Remote work can only be done within the United States and its territories.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a point of contact on a specific portfolio of issues.
• Interacts with federal and state elected officials and staff members in a lobbyist capacity.
• Research and identify public policy issues of interest to the organization and prepare summaries and reports on the facts and issues.
• Analyzes federal and state legislative and regulatory proposals, communicates regularly with state office staff regarding the organization’s policy goals, and contributes to internal and external advocacy materials.
• Builds strong relationships with members of Congress, federal or state officials, internal and external stakeholders, professional associations, and coalitions to achieve the organization’s public policy agenda.
• Identifies and recommends opportunities to advance the organization’s priorities.
• Works closely with colleagues in States, Campaigns, Policy Development, Programs, Office of Inclusive Impact, and other departments across AARP to drive robust and proactive advocacy on their portfolio of issues for Americans 50 and older.
• Serves as a spokesperson with press and with legislative and non-legislative audiences on a specific portfolio of issues as they relate to older adults to position the organization as a credible source of information on legislative and regulatory issues.
• Identifies, supervises and works with outside consultants and issue experts to advance the organization’s advocacy agenda.

Qualifications

• B achelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Law, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 8+ years of progressively responsible federal legislative, agency, or lobbying experience, such as direct lobbying before Members of Congress and congressional staff, serving in a federal agency role, or working in a congressional office as a Legislative Assistant, Legislative Director, committee staff, or in a comparable role.
• Demonstrated understanding of the connection between federal, state, and local advocacy, with experience translating community-level priorities into effective federal advocacy strategies.
• Strong understanding of how Congress operates, including legislative strategy, committee processes, timing considerations, political dynamics, and the exercise of sound political judgment.
• Federal legislative experience, with the ability to adapt quickly across a range of policy areas, strategically navigate changing congressional priorities and emerging policy opportunities, respond effectively to shifting priorities and emerging issues, and a passion for learning new issues.
• Experience analyzing federal legislation and regulations; drafting and presenting policy materials such as issue briefs, comment letters, testimony, and formal statements; and translating policy analysis into actionable advocacy strategies.