Chief Public Affairs Officer

Position: Chief Public Affairs Officer
Organization: National Association of Counties (NACo)
Location: Washington, D.C.
Reports To: CEO / Executive Director 

About NACo:  

The National Association of Counties (NACo) is a mission-driven national association focused on strengthening America’s county governments in the pursuit of public service excellence. The Association is uniquely distinguished by our membership of general-purpose county governments, led by nearly 39,000 publicly elected officials and supported by a dedicated professional county government workforce of more than 3.6 million public servants. America’s county governments currently budget and invest more than $750 billion each year. 

The Association plays a vital leadership role within the intergovernmental framework of the United States. Our nation’s unique federalism-based system emphasizes the balance, division, and sharing of power and responsibilities among federal, state, local, and tribal government officials.  

Founded in 1935, the Association brings county officials together to: (1) Advocate county priorities in federal policy making (2) Promote exemplary county policies and practices (3) Enhance leadership skills and expand knowledge networks (4) Optimize county and taxpayer resources and cost savings, and (5) Enrich the public’s understanding of county government. 

Position Overview:  

The Chief Public Affairs Officer (CPAO) is a senior executive responsible for leading NACo’s public affairs. This role involves overseeing a broad portfolio of functions and initiatives to advance the Association’s mission on behalf of county governments nationwide. The CPAO serves as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team, providing strategic leadership and execution on branding, communications, media relations, member engagement (including membership and conferences), corporate sponsorships, and overall public and civic engagement. 

This position requires a deep understanding of intergovernmental relations, public policy, and strategic collaboration. The position focuses on building meaningful member, intergovernmental and cross-sector partnerships to support the priorities and practices of NACo and America’s county government officials. Base Salary Range: $215,000-$225,000 

Key Responsibilities: 

1. Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive public affairs vision and strategy aligned with NACo’s mission, strategic plan, and biennial Objectives and Key Results (OKRs).
• Serve as a member of the executive leadership team, leading and advising on public affairs functions, including daily management of branding, public policy messaging (with government affairs team), membership services and marketing, conferences and event planning, media and social media, County News, and other related activities.
• Monitor trends in public policy, media, and public opinion to ensure the Association’s positioning remains timely and impactful.
• Track public policy, media, and opinion trends to keep the Association impactful.

1. Advocacy and Communications:
   • Develop, coordinate and execute ONE NACo public affairs strategies to enhance the Association’s branding, communications, marketing, outreach and partnerships.
   • Oversee the development and maintenance of NACo’s brand identity, ensuring consistent messaging and alignment with organizational value and values.
   • Lead NACo’s crisis communications efforts, ensuring timely, transparent, and effective responses during sensitive situations.
   • Direct print and digital communication strategies, including social media, website content, multimedia production, and County News (newspaper and online).
   • Act as a spokesperson for the organization, as appropriate, and build media relationships. 

1. Membership and Partner Engagement:
   • Develop initiatives to increase membership engagement and relationship building, as well as communicate the value of NACo’s programs and services.
   • Partner with NACo teammates as a senior-level liaison to strategic partners (including state associations and affiliates), ensuring effective communication, collaboration, and mutual benefit, and
   • Provide executive level support for the CEO with overall relationship building and strategic outreach.

1. Team Leadership, Collaboration and Development:
   • Advance the Association’s understanding, recognition and leadership in intergovernmental affairs through membership, partnership and civic engagement
   • Manage the public affairs team, providing coaching, support and professional development opportunities. 

• Foster a collaborative and innovative environment that encourages creativity, aligns priorities, resources and talent, and optimizes impact, and
• Manage budgets and resources related to public affairs functions and activities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent lived experience in public relations, communications, public administration, public policy, political science, or a related field.
• Advanced degree or equivalent level experience is preferred.
• Proven ability to develop and implement strategic public affairs strategies.
• Minimum 10 years of senior leadership and team management experience.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, team building and presentation skills.

Preferred Competencies and Skills:

• Strategic thinker with a passion for advancing public service and local government.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Inspirational leadership attributes and a high level of emotional intelligence to inspire and guide a diverse team.
• Adaptable, resourceful, and capable of navigating complex challenges.
• Proficiency in leveraging digital tools and platforms for communications and engagement.
• Solid network of contacts across federal, state and local levels.
• Strong understanding of the functions and needs of counties and local governments.
• Experience in managing large-scale events and communications, ideally within a non-profit or governmental context.

Why Join NACo:

• Opportunity to lead impactful, mission-oriented public affairs efforts at a national level.
• Work alongside a dedicated team committed to helping county government officials in the pursuit of excellence in public service, ultimately helping people and places to thrive.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

Location:

This position is based in Washington, D.C., with opportunities for travel to conferences, meetings, and partner engagements. The Association currently offers hybrid workplace options, based on job function and performance, with an emphasis on leadership and teammate engagement and performance.