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Vice President, National Security Policy

To learn more about AIA, please visit: https://www.aia-aerospace.org/about-aia/

Reports To Eric Fanning, President and CEO Job Level Vice President
Department National Security Policy FLSA Status Exempt
Location  Arlington/Hybrid Position Type Full-Time

Position Summary:

The Vice President for National Security Policy (‘VP’) is responsible for developing AIA’s national security agenda, and for planning and executing advocacy efforts to support it.  The VP supervises the Senior Director for Acquisition Policy, Manager for Acquisition Policy, and Director, Defense Security and Policy Integration; and manages all aspects of the National Security Policy Division’s (‘NSP’) human and material resources.  The VP is frequently called upon to represent AIA’s CEO, and AIA broadly, in direct engagements with AIA member companies, senior government officials, Congressional offices, the media, and outside organizations.  The VP also represents AIA positions at conferences and seminars, and at major public policy events and venues.

The VP reports directly to AIA’s President and CEO, and manages a staff of three.

Key Responsibilities:  

This is a leadership position.  The VP is expected to demonstrate vision (anticipating challenges and identifying opportunities), creativity (considering various outcomes and alternative paths to them), and drive (managing time, people and other resources to accomplish the mission).

The VP engages with and seeks input from member companies primarily by coordinating and otherwise assisting NSP councils and committees, and is responsible for monitoring, analyzing, recommending, and advocating AIA positions concerning defense acquisition and procurement-related policies and legislation and their implementation, the aerospace and defense industry’s relationship to military strategy and requirements, and other related areas.  The VP must coordinate and collaborate with other policy divisions as needed and work closely with the Communications and Legislative Affairs Division to ensure successful industry advocacy and outreach.

The VP cultivates relationships with senior government officials and representatives in the Department of Defense (DOD), including the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Services, the Joint Staff, the Unified Combatant Commands, and various DOD agencies; with other Executive Branch entities; with Congressional staff, in coordination with AIA Legislative Affairs; and with the media, in coordination with AIA Communications.

Additional related duties include:

  • analyzing significant industry problems and synthesizing the concepts and ideas coming from both industry and government contacts and council, committee and working group activities into cohesive patterns and trends;
  • providing insights into future defense developments to prompt deliberations and actions;
  • building industry consensus among member companies on relevant issues, maintaining liaison with other internal and external groups dealing with related issues;
  • overseeing arrangements for periodic council and committee meetings, including agenda development, arranging for speakers and other participants, assembling background information and materials, supervising and executing meeting administration and logistics, and preparation of meeting summaries;
  • assisting with the planning and execution of major AIA events, including routine Executive Committee and Washington Representatives meetings, semi-annual Board of Governors meetings, and occasional CEO-level gatherings with senior officials; and
  • other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience:

  • The Vice President for National Security Policy must be a known and respected practitioner in the defense acquisition community, with a deep understanding of U.S. national security policy, and relevant professional experience with organizations such as the Department of Defense, the defense industry, Congressional defense committees, major policy institutions, other trade associations, the media, or academia.
  • Focused experience with DOD contracting organizations, policy and practices
  • Familiarity with the U.S and international defense business environment
  • S/he must have demonstrated excellent research, writing and speaking ability, and superior attention to detail.
  • Ability to work within large and diverse groups to build consensus and unity
  • While a Bachelor’s degree and Master of Arts degree with national security concentration are preferred, meaningful work experience is the most important qualification for this position.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AIA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace, committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity/expression or veteran status.

Vice President, Legislative Affairs

To learn more about AIA, please visit: https://www.aia-aerospace.org/about-aia/

Reports To Office of the President Job Level Vice President
Department Legislative Affairs FLSA Status Exempt
Location  Arlington/Hybrid Position Type Full-Time

Position Summary:

The Vice President, Legislative Affairs will lead the development and implementation of AIA’s comprehensive legislative strategy to support the association’s policy, industry advocacy and membership goals. The incumbent will communicate the industry’s interests to members of Congress, White House and Administration officials, state and local leaders, and inform AIA members of key legislative policy developments and impacts.  The Vice President is responsible for defining, shaping, and tracking legislation of interest to the aerospace industry; communicating legislative developments to members; presenting industry views and positions to Members of Congress and their staff; developing an engagement plan for the President and CEO, and serving as the principal staff contact for other organizations with overlapping legislative objectives. In this role the Vice President will manage AIA’s development and execution of our industry positions, strategies, and programs on all matters related to building and supporting a dynamic future workforce for the aerospace and defense industry and our member companies. The ideal leader in this role will have the ability to focus and refine a legislative strategy while emphasizing the professional development of the staff.

This position is also responsible for ensuring the association’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements related to federal lobbying.  This includes, but is not limited to, a leadership role in staff training and education as well as review of the association’s quarterly reports under the Lobbying Disclosure Act.

In addition, the Vice President will develop the annual strategic objectives for legislative affairs, working closely with AIA senior leadership to ensure that strategy aligns with AIA’s mission, strategic plan, and specific objectives, in coordination with other departments.  We’re looking for someone to ensure that AIA takes proactive actions to stay ahead of critical regulatory and legislative issues affecting our industry. It is expected that this position will involve registration and reporting as a federal lobbyist, as required by law, but not registration as a lobbyist before any state.

This position reports directly to the President and CEO and will be a strategic partner alongside all other Vice Presidents to support our mission.  The incumbent currently manages a staff of one Senior Director, one Director, two Managers and one shared Coordinator with the Communications Division.

Key Responsibilities:

The Vice President of Legislative Affairs is responsible for developing and implementing AIA’s comprehensive legislative strategy to support the association’s policy, industry advocacy, and membership goals.

   Define, shape, and advocate for legislation of interest to the aerospace and defense industry (30%)

  • Effectively communicate legislative developments to AIA members and present industry views and positions to Members of Congress and their staff.
  • Develop and lead an engagement plan for the President and CEO, serving as the principal staff contact for other organizations with overlapping legislative objectives.
  • Focus and refine a legislative strategy while emphasizing the professional development of the staff.

   Lead the development of the annual strategic objectives for legislative affairs (35%)

  • Work closely with AIA senior leadership to ensure that strategy aligns with AIA’s mission, strategic plan, and specific objectives, in coordination with entire organization.
  • Take proactive actions collaborate across AIA policy divisions to stay ahead of critical regulatory and legislative issues affecting the aerospace and defense industry.
  • Direct the monitoring and shaping of Federal legislation of interest to AIA and its members.
  • Advise the President and CEO, member company Chief Executive Officers, and Washington Representatives on legislative matters and coordinates presentations to Congress advocating the AIA position and industry’s viewpoint.
  • Seek active participation of industry executives and their government relations staff to formulate positions, prepare hearing testimony, and brief witnesses.

   Build and maintain key relationships across Capitol Hill and Washington, DC (15%)

  • Maintain and grow a network of contacts among Members of Congress and staff.
  • Represent AIA on continuing and ad hoc coalitions of organizations and groups that collaborate to present a unified position to Congress on issues of mutual interest.
  • Inform AIA members of developments of broad industry appeal through company government relations staff, periodic reports to the Board and its Executive Committee, presentations before the various division councils and committees, and through periodic gatherings of member company executives, Washington government relations staff, members of Congress and the Executive Branch personnel to discuss matters of mutual interest.

   Grow AIA value proposition to members and prospective members (10%)

  • Lead the planning and execution of CODEL events associated with the international air shows. Ensures that all necessary briefing, background material, and Ethics Committee paperwork is prepared to support the CODEL.
  • Drive excellence in AIA events by obtaining key Congressional participation in AIA strategic calendar events, including international air shows, AIA Board of Governors meetings, and Congressional informational briefings or receptions both in D.C. and nationwide.
  • Manage site visits to highlight efforts of our Member companies and to gain broader industry insights in support of our advocacy role.

   Manage and oversee AIA’s entire legislative portfolio and team (10%)

  • Manage the workload and delegation of legislative issues including national security policy, civil aviation, space, and workforce to ensure appropriate coverage.
  • Develop and manage the Legislative Affairs annual operating budget.
  • Working with the VP-Finance and other AIA staff, help ensure the association’s ongoing compliance with legal and regulatory requirements related to federal lobbying, including review and approval of the association’s quarterly lobbying reports to Congress.
  • Staff of 5: Senior Director of Legislative Affairs, Director of Legislative Affairs, (2) Managers of Legislative Affairs, and the shared support of a Coordinator. 

Qualifications and Experience:

  • Executive in a company or association, with specific expertise in federal legislative advocacy or relations;
  • 15+ years’ supervisory experience in government, an association, or aerospace-defense related corporation with responsibility over multidisciplinary functions;
  • Experience in developing and managing departmental budgets;
  • Superb interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work collegially with others and with the highest standards of integrity;
  • First-rate personal, political, analytical and organizational skills;
  • Creativity and ability to quickly get up to speed on complex technical and regulatory issues;
  • Excellent communicator with great interpersonal and presentation skills, both for policy experts and the layperson;
  • Ability to work independently as well as a team player in a multi-task work environment while producing the highest caliber work product in a timely manner;
  • Self-starter with a sense of humor and the ability to thrive in a fast moving and high pressure environment.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AIA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace, committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity/expression or veteran status.

Senior Coordinator, Civil Aviation & Engineering & Technology

To learn more about AIA, please visit: https://www.aia-aerospace.org/about-aia/

Reports To Vice President, Civil Aviation Engineering & Technology Job Level Senior Coordinator
Department Civil Aviation and Engineering & Technology FLSA Status Exempt
Location  Arlington/Hybrid Position Type Full-Time

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Position Summary:

The Senior Coordinator, Civil Aviation and Engineering & Technology, serves as the focal point for critical functions within AIA. Reporting to the Vice Presidents of the Civil Aviation and Engineering and Technology Divisions, the Senior Coordinator provides proactive and high-quality support for all initiatives underway in these organizations, to include program, technical, and business operations.  This position routinely engages at the highest levels of industry, the U.S. government, foreign governments, and other relevant stakeholders. This is a unique opportunity to work with dynamic, high-functioning teams as they develop and implement policies that will ensure the continued growth of the global aerospace industry.

The ideal person for this position is an exceptionally well organized, proactive, collegial, customer service-oriented problem solving professional with excellent communication skills and attention to detail. The position requires a strong history of stakeholder engagement, reliability, excellent operations skills, and outstanding oral and written communication ability. The incumbent must be able to quickly switch between near- and long-term tasks, and balance that against supporting strategic planning and execution demands for each division. Managing relationships, complex schedules, streamlining day-to-day operations, maintaining excellent records, and meeting constantly changing deadlines and requirements is essential to the position.

Key Responsibilities:

This position is primarily responsible for program and operational support to the Civil Aviation and Engineering and Technology division Vice Presidents and their respective division operations. Responsibilities include but are not limited to meeting planning, engagement, and coordination with internal/external stakeholders, division-wide near and long-term planning activities, schedule and calendar maintenance, travel arrangements and expense filing, and other responsibilities as directed by the Vice Presidents. The incumbent will also lead and support overall division tasks, including assisting with council, committees and working group actions, preparing, and disseminating documents for member company distribution and/or AIA leadership, preparing policy summaries for AIA leadership and Members, and collaborating on Association-wide flagship events.

These primary responsibilities will be accomplished through actions such as:

Operational Management for Division Leadership (50%)

  • Regular interaction with each Vice President and internal/external stakeholders on division tasks with a customer service-oriented, responsive, project manager, and attention-to-detail approach.
  • Administrative support to include scheduling, meeting logistics, expense reports and travel arrangements.
  • Serve as the key point of contact for communication for each division with internal/external stakeholders, including coordinating team engagements, tracking internal/external deadlines, and anticipating internal/external requirements.
  • Maintain, update, and provide management of division-wide electronic filing systems using the Microsoft suite of programs (e.g., SharePoint, Project, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
  • Track division processes/projects and lead on process improvement opportunities leading towards improving divisional efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Assist with preparing and maintaining division budgets, as well as monitoring/tracking division expenditures against approved allocations during the year.
  • Ensure timely and accurate receipt, processing and verification of division invoices utilizing organizational financial systems.

Support to Policy and Advocacy Activities (25%)

  • Prepare and disseminate highly accurate, timely information to AIA/division councils, committees and working groups.
  • Support division colleagues on tracking and recording relationships and member engagement for all councils, committees, and working groups in the Association’s database (Membercast)
  • Prepare initial drafts of policy and advocacy documents for member company and/or AIA leadership.
  • Prepare summaries of AIA council, committee, and working group meetings
  • Monitor and prepare summaries of outside policy events (e.g., Congressional hearings, think tank discussions, etc.) for AIA leadership and Members.

Enterprise-wide Collaboration (25%)

  • Provide support to AIA-wide flagship events, including bi-yearly meetings, quarterly executive meetings, monthly industry-wide interactions, and international air and trade shows.
  • Collaborate with other division Coordinators/Senior Coordinators on organization-wide needs on an as needed basis, to include planning/execution of meetings or events led by other parts of AIA.
  • Participate in special projects, focus groups, and other assignments as needed.

Qualifications and Experience

Minimum Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree or five to eight years demonstrated experience in a relevant field (e.g.) political science, public affairs/public policy/public administration, innovation and technology, business/economics, journalism, history, project management, etc.) preferred.
  • Native understanding and extensive work within the Microsoft Office environment (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, SharePoint) is required.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills (concise, timely, positive nature)
  • Ability to work under time pressure to meet deadlines and capability to quickly flex to changes in priorities.
  • Strong people skills with an ability to interface at all levels of an organization, with all levels of leadership, in an all-inclusive work environment.
  • Organized, attentive to details, ability to independently prioritize, timely, and ability to multi-task duties. In addition, possesses well-developed interpersonal and time management skills.
  • Analytical, flexible thinker with the ability to prioritize, multitask, and collaborate across AIA.
  • Natural desire to take ownership to contribute to the broader team.
  • Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism, maturity, and trust.
Desired Skills/Experience:

  • Two to four years of relevant operations experience and project management is required.
  • Demonstrated writing proficiency for executive level staff, including the ability to develop background and talking points quickly and in a concise manner. Highly desired.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AIA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace, committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity/expression or veteran status.

Coordinator, Communications & Legislative Affairs

To learn more about AIA, please visit: https://www.aia-aerospace.org/about-aia/

Reports To Alison Lynn, Vice President, Communications Job Level Coordinator
Department Communications FLSA Status Exempt
Location  Arlington/Hybrid Position Type Full-Time 

Position Summary:

The Coordinator, Communications and Legislative Affairs, serves as the operational backbone for two critical divisions of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). Reporting through senior directors to the division vice presidents, the coordinator supports the strategic and tactical goals of AIA’s advocacy and outreach teams — key functions of the leading trade association for the American aerospace and defense industry.

The ideal candidate is exceptionally organized, discreet, collegial, and customer service-oriented, with excellent communication and writing skills, ability to multi-task, and attention to detail. They must be able to quickly switch between near – and long-term tasks and balance that against supporting strategic planning and execution demands for each division. Managing complex schedules, streamlining day-to-day operations, maintaining excellent records, and meeting constantly changing deadlines and requirements is essential to the position. Experience on Capitol Hill or in a comparable legislative role and/or in communications or media is a plus.

Key Responsibilities:

This position will have primary responsibility for operational support of both the Communications and Legislative Affairs division teams, including schedule and calendar maintenance, expense filing, coordinating team meetings, engagement with internal/external stakeholders on behalf of each leader, division-wide near- and long-term planning activities, and other responsibilities as directed by the Vice Presidents.

The coordinator will also support overall division tasks, including assisting with council, committees and working group actions, preparing, and disseminating initial drafts of documents for member company distribution and/or AIA leadership, preparing policy summaries for AIA leadership and members, and collaborating on Association-wide flagship events.

This position is responsible for performing a variety of administrative activities and functions. In this capacity, the coordinator will be responsible for a wide range of daily and long-term projects.

Support for Advocacy and Outreach Activities (45%)

  • Responsible for the generation and distribution of daily media clips that provide senior leaders and the AIA team strategic insight on priority issues and developments impacting the aerospace and defense industry.
  • Supports maintenance of critical AIA advocacy and outreach email lists, including for media, Hill, AIA members, and others as necessary.
  • Manage and update communications’ team’s project management tool including adding relevant information, following up on task status, and archiving past-due tasks into tracking spreadsheet and serves as a key liaison to senior staff on team activities.
  • Provide research assistance to support the team’s advocacy and outreach efforts.
  • Support the drafting of key advocacy materials, including for letters, fact sheets, blog posts, and reports.
  • Monitors and provides readouts and summaries of key AIA engagements, including Capitol Hill roundtables and member events, as well as key hearings.

Operational Management (45%)

  • Supports AIA’s member database (Microsoft Dynamics): record maintenance, making amendments and changes to member companies, creating/ending system relationships, pulling committee lists for divisions, maintaining committee list updates for divisions, general data cleanup/entry.
  • Supports the planning of meetings and events, including divisional meetings (Council, Committee and Working Group events, internal, external, and member-facing meetings).
  • Supports preparation of materials for both divisions’ councils and committees as needed; collects and collates department summaries of meeting presentations; maintains collections of meeting briefing books; distributes meeting notices and materials to member company representatives, collects and tracks proxy forms.
  • Edits, transmits, and electronically files a variety of documents, including: correspondence, agenda, minutes, listings, summaries or reports, charts and tables.
  • Track division processes/projects and lead on process improvement opportunities leading towards improving divisional efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Assist with preparing and maintaining division budgets, as well as monitoring/tracking division expenditures against approved allocations during the year.
  • Ensure timely and accurate receipt, processing and verification of division invoices utilizing organizational financial systems.
  • Prepares individual expense reports for senior staff.
  • Performs general clerical duties including, but not limited to, copying, scanning, mailing (physical and electronic), and filing.
  • Provides regular front desk coverage especially for Communications and Legislative lead events.
  • Supports staff in assigned project-based and organizational work.

Enterprise-wide Collaboration (10%)

  • Provide support to AIA-wide flagship events, including bi-yearly meetings, quarterly executive meetings, monthly industry-wide interactions, and international air and trade shows.
  • Collaborate with other division Coordinators/Senior Coordinators on organization-wide needs on an as needed basis, to include planning/execution of meetings or events led by other parts AIA.
  • Participate in special projects, focus groups, and other assignments as needed.

Qualifications and Experience

Minimum Requirements:

  • College or associate degree, or equivalent work experience, ideally in a relevant field such as political science, public affairs/policy, business/economics, journalism/communications, English, etc.
  • Excellent oral and written communications skills (concise, timely, positive nature)
  • Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint
  • Strong organizational skills, including an ability to multi-task, prioritize, work independently, and demonstrate a strong attention to detail
  • A team player attitude, with dynamic customer service, and proven ability to respond to internal and external requests, from all levels of leadership, for assistance promptly, professionally, and effectively
  • Proactive, analytical, flexible thinker with the ability to work under time pressure to meet deadlines, capability to quickly flex to changes in priorities, and take ownership to contribute to the broader team
  • Motivated, “can-do” attitude that contributes to the mission of the organization and the industry
  • Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism, maturity, and trust

Desired Skills/Experience:

  • 1-2 years’ of relevant operational, administrative, or project management experience
  • Interest and experience with Capitol Hill and the legislative landscape and/or a strong background in communications/public relations/public affairs
  • Knowledge of the media landscape and an eye for breaking, relevant news
  • Experience with PhotoShop, Canva, or other design programs
  • Experience conducting and presenting research
  • Experience managing to a principal and/or senior leadership
  • Passion for the American aerospace and defense industry

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AIA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace, committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity/expression or veteran status.

How To Apply

Send us your resume and cover via email. Be sure to include your contact information and the title of the role you’re applying for. If we determine you might be a good fit for the role, an AIA representative will reach out to you.

 

Equal Opportunity

AIA is proud to be committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity/expression or Veteran status. Consistent with these policies, we strongly believe that diversity contributes to a broader collective perspective that will consistently lead to a better organization and better results. We are working hard to increase the diversity of our team wherever we can, and we actively encourage everyone to consider becoming a part of it.

1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1700
Arlington, VA 22209-3928
703.358.1000