Director, Federal Government Affairs

Position Summary:

The Director will report to the Vice President, Federal Government Affairs (VP, FGA) and will work in conjunction with Entertainment Software Association (ESA) Legal and Communications & Public Affairs teams to execute the public policy strategic initiatives that have been directed by ESA members and the ESA senior leadership team. The Director will coordinate all work through the VP, FGA, to ensure alignment with the broader ESA goals.

The Director will help shape ESA’s federal public policy agenda and will be responsible for the development and execution of legislative strategies to achieve those goals. The Director will work closely with member company executives and colleagues to represent ESA in discussions with policymakers, including Members of Congress and staff, Administration officials, and state- and local-level officials. The Director will also collaborate with industry associations and coalitions and engage with other non-governmental stakeholders.

This position is based in Washington, DC. ESA employees are in the office Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and may work remotely Monday and Friday, unless work-related matters require a physical presence.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategy/Program Management

• Builds and cultivates strong relationships with federal policymakers whose activities impact the industry.

• Provides strategic vision and leadership for developing and executing program frameworks to achieve public policy and/or political goals.

• Works to implement the ESA public policy agenda on Capitol Hill, which includes identifying and monitoring legislation of interest to the video game industry; enhancing the organization’s presence and influence in Congress; meeting with Members and representing ESA’s positions on the industry’s priority issues.

• Helps form ESA’s public policy agenda and political positions on a broad range of issues, including designing and executing strategic campaigns and identifying strategic opportunities to advance the long-term goals of ESA’s member companies.

• Maintains relationships with key office staff to better understand issues affecting ESA member companies' long-term objectives.

• Collaborates with coalitions and relevant interest groups to achieve desired outcomes and to ensure that regulations and legislation positively impact ESA member companies; reports on congressional hearings and markups for ESA and its member companies.

• Formulates creative approaches to increase the prominence of the video game industry, the ESA, its members, and their products to policy makers, thought leaders, and third-party allies.

• Develops strategies to leverage partnerships with external partners and key influencers to significantly impact the advancement of ESA’s policy and/or political agenda.

Communication Skills

• Drafts policy and legislative updates to ESA personnel and member companies on legislation and strategic opportunities to further ESA’s public policy goals.

• Drafts position papers on ESA‘s priority legislative issues; helps prepare briefing materials and background memos for ESA and legislators on key issues important to ESA member companies

• Responsible for proactively reporting to ESA leadership and relevant working groups on issues and project developments as well as responding to ESA member company requests and inquiries.

• Conducts basic and customary administrative tasks associated with the position.

• Drafts presentations on public policy issues to member companies, policymakers, and thought leaders.

• Coordinates and oversees federal consultants and advises them on the execution of strategic plans.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree as minimum requirement.

• Must have understanding of legislative policymaking at the federal level.

• 5 or more years of appropriate experience in legislation, regulation, or government relations, such as staff positions on Capitol Hill, with federal agencies, the White House, relevant trade associations, and/or a corporate government affairs office.

• Existing relationships with Members of Congress, their staffs, and/or the Administration and other key organizations expected.

o Experience with Senate Democrats – and particularly with tech and IP-related committees or with leadership -- preferred

• Experience developing policy in the fields of telecommunication, entertainment, technology, artificial intelligence, and/or intellectual property.

• Political Action Committee (PAC) experience a plus.

Skills & Abilities:

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, while maintaining strict attention to detail and meeting tight deadlines; ability to collaborate with colleagues, members, and other partners to complete projects.

• Exemplary communication skills, including exceptional oral and written skills, and persuasive public speaking.

• Proven capacity to network and build coalition support.

• Must possess strong sense of ethics.

• Ability to travel at moderate levels.

• Strong computer skills, including working with Microsoft PowerPoint.