About the Organization
Americans for the Arts (“AFTA”) builds recognition and support for the extraordinary and dynamic value of the arts by leading, serving, and advancing networks of organizations and individuals who cultivate the arts across the nation. By connecting ideas and leaders from regionally diverse communities, Americans for the Arts ensures that every American has access to the transformative power of the arts.

Key Responsibilities Include:

Government Affairs Strategy

• Lead the development of a cohesive government affairs strategy and national arts policy agenda for Americans for the Arts, establishing clear policy pillars, priorities, and appropriate operational distinctions.
• Serve as the senior strategist for advancing federal policy priorities while modernizing advocacy and influence approaches across affiliated entities.
• Where appropriate, provide strategic leadership and oversight in partnership with the Arts Action Fund, ensuring alignment across advocacy and strategy while maintaining clear governance and compliance boundaries.
• Partner closely with the CEO on political judgment, positioning, and high-level external engagement.
• Advise organizational leadership, Boards, funders, and partners on strategy, advocacy priorities, and risk management in a dynamic and evolving policy environment.

Federal Advocacy & Bipartisan Engagement

• Build, maintain, and strengthen high-trust, bipartisan relationships with Members of Congress, key committee leadership, senior congressional staff, and federal agencies.
• Shape and execute legislative strategies that advance core federal funding priorities while identifying and responding to emerging policy opportunities.
• Ensure advocacy efforts are aligned with diverse constituencies and stakeholders.

Movement-Building, Organizing & Influence

• Design and help implement a national advocacy infrastructure that serves as the backbone of a growing movement, building upon existing programs and partnerships to connect and align engagement across regions, states, and local communities.
• Apply organizing principles to build, mobilize, and activate advocates, coalitions, and partners nationwide, expanding the movement’s base and converting supporters into coordinated constituencies for action.
• Strengthen and expand influence strategies that integrate grassroots advocacy, digital engagement, online organizing programs, and political accountability tools, giving the movement a diverse set of levers for impact.
• Collaborate with the Action Fund to activate and grow its national membership base in meaningful, strategic ways that fuel long-term movement power and drive sustained policy change.
• Cultivate a shared movement identity and narrative that unites advocates, organizations, artists, and partners around common goals and values, amplifying the sector’s collective voice.

Innovation & Organizational Leadership

• Lead, inspire, manage, and grow a talented government affairs team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
• Maintain a visible, hands-on leadership approach, supporting staff across a wide range of experience levels and contributing directly to priority initiatives as needed.
• Conduct regular assessments of the government affairs function, including structure and workflows to ensure effectiveness and create additional efficiencies, where possible.
• Oversee and manage advocacy-related budgets, resources, and external consultants in support of organizational priorities.

Cross-Organizational Collaboration

• Partner with research, communications, and program teams to translate data, tools, and narratives into compelling advocacy, which is effectively amplified for critical stakeholders and constituencies, while also collaborating across teams on joint initiatives that advance organizational strategies.
• Coordinate with and manage external advisors to advance strategic priorities and organizational change.
• Partner with state and local arts organizations and advocacy groups to support the development of model legislation, policy frameworks, and adaptable advocacy pathways.
• Strategically incorporate expert awareness of state and local advocacy dynamics to support local engagement in federal mobilization efforts.