You are a strategic advocate and relationship builder who turns complex policy priorities into advocacy strategies that move people and create measurable impact. You have the strategic instincts, political insight, and presence to earn trust with legislators, senior leaders, physician advocates, coalition partners, and industry stakeholders. You are ready to set a bold national advocacy agenda, lead a high-performing team, shape persuasive communications, and represent AAOS with confidence in high-profile settings. If you want to use your influence and expertise to strengthen the voice of the orthopaedic community and expand the impact of Orthopaedic PAC, this is the opportunity to lead at a meaningful scale.

If this sounds like you, please read on!

In this role, you will direct AAOS priorities and positions across federal and state legislative activity, strategically manage its presence in both arenas, and develop integrated advocacy and political strategies. As a registered lobbyist, you will work closely with the federal, regulatory, and state legislative affairs team to connect regulatory, political, and advocacy agendas into coherent strategies that advance the AAOS advocacy agenda.

You will oversee grassroots strategy; staff responsible for the Political Action Committee of the AAOS; and all political advocacy activities. You will arrange AAOS volunteer visits to Washington, DC, and execute in-district fundraising, meet and greets, and site visits. You will also oversee legislative materials for internal and external audiences, lead quality control for all Office of Government Relations materials, partner with the Communications lead to keep public-facing materials—including the website—updated, coherent, consistent, and professionally presented, oversee budget and target spreadsheets for PAC receipts and disbursements, plan and execute all materials related to political activities, and ensure the Quorum tool is used appropriately across PAC, grassroots, and advocacy functions.

What You’ll Lead

• Government affairs strategy: Lead AAOS federal and state lobbying, advance policy priorities, guide legislative strategy, and build senior-level relationships with Congress. Primary committee focus includes House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; Senate Finance; Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; House and Senate Appropriations; and House and Senate Judiciary, with secondary responsibility for House and Senate Armed Services.

• Political and PAC strategy: Set political and PAC giving strategy, represent AAOS at political events, and prepare leaders and fellows with effective talking points and materials.

• Coalitions and advocacy: Direct coalition participation, grassroots advocacy, Congressional Ambassadors, and member alerts while aligning AAOS messaging with industry groups and other stakeholders.

• Team and issue leadership: Supervise lobbying staff, monitor and interpret priority federal activity, set expectations, evaluate performance, and provide team support.

• Legislative communications: Oversee legislative tracking and audience-specific updates, including fact sheets, articles, letters to Congress, Legislative Alerts, and other analytical communications.

• BOC and BOS support: Lead federal affairs support for the BOC, BOS, their committees, and related boards. Serve as lead staff for the BOC Committee on Economic Issues, providing policy analysis, strategy, guidance, materials, updates, memoranda, budget management, position statements, advisory statements, and articles for AAOS publications.

Political Action Committee Leadership

• Grow fundraising and engagement: Lead the Advisor’s Circle and soft-dollar program, develop new funding sources, attract donors, oversee the PAC mobile program, and explore new technologies, big data, and social channels. Coordinate volunteer participation in Congressional retreats, fly-ins, fundraisers, Washington events, convention, presentations, webinars, travel, and monthly Advisor’s Circle calls to support Orthopaedic PAC’s self-sufficiency.

• Direct PAC operations: Set the dollars-out strategy, assign staff to Congressional Members and fundraisers, manage RSVPs and the PAC events calendar, oversee contributions and attendee lists, and coordinate with fundraisers, state orthopaedic societies, PAC members, specialty societies, and other medical organizations.

• Represent and promote AAOS: Attend fundraisers, coffees, candidate interviews, and meet and greets with Members of Congress and staff. Build relationships with national party committees, Congressional staff, fundraisers, the physician PAC community, MaDPAC, and the Annual Physician PAC Forum to advance AAOS priorities and visibility.

• Lead events and field engagement: Manage AAOS-hosted fundraisers and check-delivery events, including promotion, attendance, and strategy. Oversee the traveling PAC booth and represent OGR and Orthopaedic PAC at Grand Rounds, member practices, state and specialty society meetings, and other events while soliciting contributions and hosting fundraisers.

• Drive PAC communications: Promote PAC activity, results, and performance through the website, quarterly PAC Newsletter, PAC Annual Report, AAOS Now, Advisor’s Circle, Advocacy Now, AAOS In-the-States, the AAOS Resident Newsletter, and other political advocacy materials.

• Align strategy and quality: Connect regulatory, political, and advocacy priorities; maintain quality control across OGR materials; partner with Communications to keep public-facing content current, consistent, and professional; and ensure Quorum is used effectively across PAC, grassroots, and advocacy functions.

Travel:

• Up to 60 days per year

Qualifications:

Required: 

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree

• Six years of government relations experience

• Experience running a PAC through at least two election cycles

• Supervisory experience

• Skilled at networking and negotiating

• Association management experience

• Knowledge of the legislative process and grassroots advocacy

• Experience managing multiple projects, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail

• Ability to convey concepts clearly and write effectively for a range of publication styles, including issue papers, web pages, newsletters, advocacy action alerts, fundraising appeals, year-end reports, event promotions, advertising copy, and others

• Strong interpersonal, writing, and oral communication skills

• Proficiency in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Desired:

• Corporate fundraising experience

• Database management ability

• Experience with industry-specific PAC and grassroots software programs

• Familiarity with the medical PAC community

• Contacts on the Hill and with Members of Congress

Salary Range: $176,000-$192,000, depending on qualifications and experience. 

Ready to lead with influence? If you are a strategic, relationship-driven government affairs leader who can connect policy, advocacy, political engagement, and PAC growth, we want to hear from you. Apply today and help advance the voice and priorities of the orthopaedic community.

Please share the following: 

• Clearly communicate why you are the ideal candidate for this role, providing specific examples and experiences as proof points. 

• Resumes must be accompanied by a cover letter with salary expectations to be considered. 

Please note: This hybrid position is based in Washington, DC and requires the ability to commute to the office at least twice per week. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for current or future employer sponsorship. AAOS does not sponsor, and will not sponsor, applicants or employees for purposes of obtaining or maintaining work authorization.

JOB CODE: 1000174