Director of Engagement

Cedar Innovation Foundation

Director of Engagement

About Cedar:

Cedar Innovation Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and engaging policymakers and the public on the promise of crypto and blockchain technologies. Cedar provides them with the tools and resources they need to serve the American people better and build the innovation economy in America.

Job Summary:

As the Director of Engagement, you will work directly with the Cedar Innovation Foundation team and the broader crypto industry to educate candidates and policymakers on crypto and blockchain technology and help position crypto as a premier political issue inside and outside the Beltway. In close collaboration with other team members, this individual will build relationships in Congress, around Washington, and throughout the industry to advance key initiatives and organizational mission imperatives. This position is based in Washington, DC. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain impactful relationships with United States Senators and Members of the House of Representatives, candidates, and their staff. 
• Stay on top of legislation and trends, keeping our leadership in the loop with dynamic updates and analyses.
• Monitor and analyze proposed legislation, assess its impact, and craft strategic responses.
• Draft impactful policy communications, including executive briefing documents, white papers, and virtual and in-person presentations.
• Develop grassroots lobbying tactics to champion our public policy goals.
• Strengthen relationships with national and local organizations. 
• Create innovative advocacy strategies that think outside of the box and push boundaries.
• Host events that convene staff, elected officials, and industry leaders.
• Manage external consultants, internal team, and support ad-hoc projects as needed.
• Support real-time rapid response communications and earned media strategy that advance the organization’s overall positioning and communications goals.
• Draft and edit policy-focused talking points, one-pagers, presentations, and other advocacy materials in coordination with key stakeholders.
• Reinforce assertive policy and political messages, storylines, and narratives in coordination with the broader CIF communications team.
• Work with the team to identify and capitalize on fast-moving opportunities to drive key messages.
• Coordinate with partners across the integrated government affairs and communications team and vendors to support lobbying, digital, content, research, event, and partnership needs.
• Monitor Congressional hearings and notable events.
• Lead critical political workstreams, including fundraising efforts, candidate education and engagement, and candidate recruitment.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Communications, Business Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4-10 years of experience on Capitol Hill or in government, strategic communications, public relations, or political campaigns and PACs. 
• Exposure reinforcing robust policy and political messages.
• Experience supporting legislative and public policy advocacy efforts.
• Experience establishing and leveraging strategic relationships with internal and external partners.
• Excellent communication skills and a proven ability to influence at multiple levels of the organization.
• Proven ability to think ahead, problem solve, engage proactively, and take initiative.
• Ability to identify, shape, and harness qualitative and quantitative research to elevate content.
• Excellent persuasive writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Established network of political contacts and relationships.
• Experience in financial services and tech policy, with an emphasis on crypto and blockchain policy.

Pay & Benefits:

This role will be compensated commensurate with experience.

General Description of All Benefits

• Paid Time Off
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Professional development assistance and more!

The Cedar Innovation Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived race (including traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hair styles), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ,ancestry, national origin (including language use restrictions), age (40 and over), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis C status, family status (including but not limited to marital or domestic partnership status), military or veteran status, use of a trained dog guide or service animal, political activities or affiliations, ancestry, citizenship, family and medical leave status, status as a victim of any violent crime, or any other characteristic or class protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. 

The Cedar Innovation Foundation is also committed to providing a safe work environment for its employees. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation in the application of the recruiting process due to a disability, please contact us at jobs@cedarinnovation.org.

Equal Opportunities for All

The Cedar Innovation Foundation is an equal-opportunity employer. 

The Cedar Innovation Foundation requires all offered candidates to pass a background check and sign a nondisclosure agreement as conditions of employment.

To be considered for this role, please submit a resume and cover letter to jobs@cedarinnovation.org.