Comms, Government Relations Assistant, GR

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is a 501(c)3 grantmaking foundation that receives an annual Congressional appropriation in excess of $310 million and is governed by a private, bipartisan Board of Directors. This unusual arrangement positions NED to play a unique role as America’s leading foundation for freedom, empowering the institution to be nimble, innovative, and risk-taking in support of democratic activists, civil society organizations, independent media, and the NED family core institutes (the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, the Center for International Private Enterprise, and the Solidarity Center).

We seek a motivated, energetic, organized, and resourceful Comms/Government Relations Assistant, (GR) who is a mission-oriented team player, and who would be excited to join a fast-paced Comms/GR team. This position is based in Washington, D.C.

Position Summary:

The Comms/Government Relations (GR) Assistant will be an integral part of both the Comms and GR teams’ efforts in event planning, external engagement and outreach. This position will support the production of NED external communication products; hold responsibility for administrative, financial, and logistics support functions for the Comms team; and support planning and coordination for NED internal and external events. The Comms/GR Assistant will also provide support to the GR team’s Congressional engagement and advocacy efforts with policy/legislative research, scheduling support, and assistance as needed to fulfill Freedom of Information Act requests.

NED is not just another non-profit organization in Washington, DC. This is an opportunity to join an ambitious institution and team committed to the cause of our time. The ideal candidate will be energized by the idea of being part of an expanding team to help tell the stories of our brave partners on the frontlines of the fight for freedom and democracy around the world and to help NED maintain beneficial, bipartisan relations with NED’s primary funder, the U.S. Congress

Responsibilities:

• Provide administrative and logistical support to Comms team  
• Support Comms team with research, drafting, and editing of Comms products
• Assist with public event coordination, run of show, registration, event room setup, and day of event logistics as needed, including support for the Penn Kemble Forum on Democracy.
• Assist with travel, catering, scheduling, financial paperwork, and other team production needs
• Scheduling for grantees, fellows, Program staff as appropriate with Hill and USG
• Building and update of GR invitation lists for NED events
• Research Congressional positions, media, legislation, policy statements, for statements
• Logistics and scheduling support for heavy engagement periods (e.g. Appropriations push)
• Support to FOIA Officer in document gathering and review to fulfill requests
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree with relevant coursework from accredited university required
• Relevant internship, temp experience, and/or coursework preferred
• Broad understanding of democracy support space, U.S. government, foreign policy, communications, and related topics
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for different audiences and platforms
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Adept at technology
• Ability to work both independently and as part of the team while juggling multiple projects
• Great attitude
• Collaborative team player
• Experience with nonprofit or international affairs organizations is desirable
• Strong skills in Microsoft Office products, including Excel and PowerPoint
• Highly organized to manage multiple production timelines, meet deadlines, and achieve goals
• Effective written and oral communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to connect goals and priorities with a variety of both technical and non-technical staff members
• Self-motivated and self-directed creative thinker
• Excellent judgment and problem-solving skills
• Collegial team player

This position is part of the NED Bargaining Unit.   

To Apply:

Applications must include a cover letter, resume, desired salary, and contact information for three professional references, of which one should be a supervisor. Please, no phone call inquiries.

Located in Washington, D.C., the salary range for this role is $ 45,500 – 60,625 USD, plus benefits. The final offer for a successful candidate will be determined by a combination of factors, including, but not limited to, skill set, level of experience, education, and market considerations.

At NED, we recognize that our most important asset is our people. We value the diversity of skills and perspectives our team brings to our work. We believe an inclusive and supportive work environment fosters a culture of respect and appreciation for all individuals. NED is committed to creating a workplace that allows everyone to be their authentic selves and make meaningful contributions to our organization, our grantees, and our world.

NED strives to create a work experience that supports the well-being and healthy work-life balance of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package offers health insurance (includes no copay for mental health services), a generous retirement savings plan, paid parental, vacation, and sick leave, a hybrid workplace model, flexible work schedules, and wellness initiatives to ensure a positive work-life balance.

NED is dedicated to creating an environment of respect and collaboration where everyone is encouraged to participate and take ownership of their work. We offer flexible work schedules and, for most positions, the opportunity for weekly telework days. This hybrid approach allows our employees to balance their work and personal lives while still participating in the collaborative process at the heart of our mission.

The NED is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics covered by applicable law. The NED is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for all qualified individuals and bases all employment decisions on qualifications, merit, and business need. The NED believes that diversity and inclusion among our team members are critical to our success as an organization operating globally and seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

For more information, please visit our website at www.ned.org  or careers@ned.org.