Description

Director of Government Relations

Dental Trade Alliance (DTA)
Location: Hybrid – Arlington, VA
Travel: Approximately 30% outside the DC Metropolitan Area
Salary Range: commensurate with experience $85,000-$110,000

Position Overview

The Director of Government Relations serves as a member of the Dental Trade Alliance’s Leadership team and is a key connector between the organization’s members and the public policy environment that affects their businesses and professions. This role is responsible for ensuring that member perspectives meaningfully guide the organization’s advocacy priorities, and that members are engaged, informed, and empowered participants in government relations efforts.

The ideal candidate is a relationship-driven leader who understands healthcare and business policy, brings prior government or congressional experience, and excels at working across diverse stakeholder groups. Success in this role requires the ability to collaborate with team members, translate policy into relevance, create pathways for member engagement, and represent the organization with credibility and warmth. This is a Hybrid role, team members will be in the office 2-3 days per week.

Key Responsibilities

Government & Policy Leadership

      Develop and execute a government relations strategy grounded in member interests and organizational priorities

      Monitor federal, state and international legislative developments impacting healthcare and business sectors

      Translate policy developments into clear implications and recommended actions for members and leadership

      Develop a Political Action Committee for DTA, if applicable

      Lead DTA’s federal affairs committee

Relationship & Stakeholder Management

      Build and maintain strong relationships with DTA members

      Build and maintain relationships with existing allied organizations and cultivate relationships with other like-minded organizations

      Partner with consultants to develop relationships with Members of Congress and federal agencies 

      Represent DTA in meetings, coalitions, and external forums, ensuring member voices are accurately reflected

      Navigate and balance diverse stakeholder perspectives while maintaining alignment with organizational goals

Communications & Internal Collaboration

      Partner with internal teams to align advocacy messaging, member communications, and engagement strategies

      Prepare member-facing materials such as policy summaries, briefings, FAQs, and advocacy guides

      Brief leadership and member committees on policy developments and engagement outcomes

Events & Programming (Plus)

      Plan and support member-focused advocacy events, including Hill days, policy roundtables, receptions, and educational sessions

      Coordinate logistics, content, and stakeholder participation to ensure high-quality member experience

Requirements

Qualifications

Required

      5+ years of experience in government relations, public policy, advocacy, or a related field

      Strong understanding of healthcare and business policy issues

      Prior experience in government, on Capitol Hill, or in a government-facing role

      Demonstrated ability to engage and manage relationships with diverse member groups

      Excellent communication skills with an ability to make policy accessible and relevant

      Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience

      Understanding of Political Action Committees 

Preferred

Experience working or partnering with a trade association or membership-based organization

Experience developing a Political Action Committee 

Event planning or advocacy programming experience

Core Competencies

      Member-centric mindset

      Relationship building and trust development

      Political and organizational fluency

      Clear, compelling communication

      Collaboration across functions and constituencies

      Include language for writing competency