State Government Affairs Associate (West)

OVERVIEW

The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) is hiring a State Government Affairs Associate (West) to keep our reform campaigns moving across our Western states. In this role, you’ll work alongside our State Government Affairs Directors to track bills, manage follow-up with lawmakers, and build materials for the 2027 sessions.

This role is built for someone who wants to win policy fights in more than one state at a time. You’ll have a hand in every Western portfolio, from digging into bill data to pitching legislators in statehouses across the region.

The ideal candidate brings three to five years in state government affairs, campaigns, or policy work. This role is remote and reports to the Senior Director of State Affairs for the Western states. Expect frequent travel, especially 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?

These values shape how we hire and how we work together. Expect to talk about them openly during the interview process.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

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

1) Support the State Government Affairs Directors

· Manage bill tracking, meeting follow-up, and back-end data.

· Build and send the materials directors need for lawmakers and partners.

2) Represent FGA in the States

· Join stakeholder and committee meetings at the direction of the Senior Director of State Affairs to advance FGA’s reforms.

· Travel with directors on state trips to meet lawmakers and present FGA’s reforms.

3) Work with FGA’s In-State Contractors

· Build working relationships with the in-state contractors in each director’s portfolio.

· Join update and strategy calls and manage the follow-up.

4) Build State Plans and Session Reports

· Work with the directors on pre-session plans for each state.

· Draft post-session reports once the 2027 sessions close.

REQUIREMENTS

· Three to five years in state government affairs, campaigns, or policy work.

· Working knowledge of how bills move through a statehouse, from committee to the governor’s desk.

· Strong communicator with lawmakers, partners, and teammates.

· Comfortable using AI to speed up research, drafting, and data work. Quorum or other bill tracking experience a plus.

· Live in or near the Western states region for frequent travel, especially during session.

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

TIMING, LOCATION, AND COMPENSATION

FGA is seeking to fill this position as soon as possible. Beyond travel to the states, 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 $90,000–$120,000, depending on experience and qualifications, along with a benefits package that includes a six percent retirement match, health benefits, and generous paid leave.