Head of Federal Legislative Affairs

Head of Federal Legislative Affairs

Reports to: General Counsel & Head of Public Policy

Location: Washington, DC

Position Summary

The Investment Adviser Association (IAA) seeks an experienced and strategic Head of Federal Legislative Affairs to lead the Association's federal legislative affairs function on behalf of the IAA and its investment adviser members.

Reporting to the General Counsel & Head of Public Policy, the Head of Federal Legislative Affairs serves as the IAA's principal representative before Congress and a trusted resource for policymakers on issues affecting fiduciary investment advisers and their clients. The position leads the IAA's federal legislative affairs function as an integral part of the IAA's broader policy and advocacy program.

Working closely with the President & CEO, the General Counsel & Head of Public Policy, and other stakeholders, the Head of Federal Legislative Affairs leads the IAA's day-to-day congressional advocacy, helping translate the IAA’s legislative policy positions into an effective congressional strategy and engagement program.

The position is also responsible for enhancing the IAA's visibility, influence, and effectiveness on Capitol Hill, strengthening IAA-PAC through increased member participation, financial support, and engagement, and continually improving the IAA's legislative affairs function and member advocacy efforts.

The IAA's advocacy is collaborative and integrated, bringing together legislative, regulatory, and public affairs perspectives to advance the Association's policy objectives. The successful candidate will exercise substantial independent judgment, uphold the highest ethical and professional standards, and thrive in a collegial environment by working effectively with colleagues at all levels of the IAA to ensure that the Association's legislative activities remain aligned with its broader advocacy strategy and organizational priorities.

Primary Responsibilities

Legislative Affairs and Congressional Relations

• Lead implementation of the IAA's legislative policy positions and congressional engagement strategy, working closely with IAA leadership, subject matter experts, IAA members, coalition partners, and the Association's outside public policy firm.
• Serve as the IAA’s principal representative before Congress, maintain registration as the IAA's federal lobbyist, and build and maintain a strong bipartisan and bicameral network of relationships with Members of Congress, congressional staff, and other organizations involved in the federal legislative process.
• Develop and carry out strategies to enhance the IAA's visibility, influence, and effectiveness on Capitol Hill and reinforce its reputation as a trusted, constructive, and nonpartisan resource for policymakers.
• Collaborate with IAA leadership to develop legislative policy positions and congressional strategy and engagement plans, and communicate their practical implications effectively to policymakers, IAA members, and other audiences.
• Anticipate and analyze legislative and political developments affecting investment advisers, identify emerging issues and opportunities, and develop strategies to address them.
• Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of the legal and regulatory framework governing the investment adviser industry.
• Serve as the IAA's primary day-to-day liaison with its outside public policy firm, conducting congressional outreach, advocacy initiatives, legislative monitoring, reporting, and execution of the IAA's legislative strategy.
• Lead the IAA’s congressional engagement efforts in coalitions and other collaborative initiatives and help ensure that legislative advocacy is coordinated with the Association's broader advocacy priorities.

IAA Member Advocacy and Legislative Programs

• Lead the IAA's year-round IAA-member and grassroots advocacy efforts before Congress and, on occasion, state legislatures.
• Lead the IAA's principal legislative advocacy programs, including Advocacy Day, the Advocacy Council, and the legislative components of the annual Policy Forum, while continually identifying opportunities to strengthen their effectiveness, expand IAA member engagement, and increase their value to members.
• Develop legislative resources, communications, educational programming, advocacy materials, and other resources that help IAA members understand legislative developments and engage effectively with Congress, including authoring the IAA's weekly Five for Friday newsletter and other communications.
• Develop opportunities for meaningful year-round engagement between IAA members and Congress and support members in their direct advocacy efforts.

IAA-PAC

• Serve as Secretary and Treasurer of IAA-PAC, providing strategic leadership for its governance, political engagement, fundraising, IAA member participation, and overall effectiveness.
• Oversee the day-to-day administration, compliance, and operations of IAA-PAC.
• Prepare materials, reports, and recommendations for the IAA-PAC Board regarding governance, political engagement, fundraising, and political contributions.

Governance and Compliance

• Prepare materials and provide regular reports to the IAA Board of Governors and the IAA-PAC Board regarding legislative affairs activities, member advocacy initiatives, and IAA-PAC.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state lobbying disclosure, campaign finance, and related political law requirements, including registrations, periodic reports, Federal Election Commission reporting, and other required filings.

Qualifications and Personal Attributes

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or J.D. preferred.
• Approximately 8–12 years of progressively responsible experience in legislative affairs, congressional advocacy, government relations, or public policy.
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing congressional advocacy strategies and/or legislative initiatives, preferably involving financial services, securities, retirement, tax, appropriations, or related issues.
• Exceptional analytical, written, oral communication, public speaking, presentation, and organizational skills, including the ability to distill complex policy issues into clear, persuasive, and actionable messages for policymakers, IAA members, and other audiences.
• Demonstrated leadership, project management, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously, establish priorities, exercise sound professional and political judgment, and achieve results in a dynamic policy environment.
• Proven ability to build and maintain constructive bipartisan and bicameral relationships with Members of Congress, congressional staff, and others involved in the federal legislative process.
• Demonstrated integrity, professionalism, discretion, initiative, reliability, and strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust, collaborate effectively, and earn the confidence of colleagues, IAA members, policymakers, and external partners.

Preferred

• Experience working for Congress, a financial services trade association, a lobbying or public policy consulting firm, or in a legislative affairs role at a federal regulatory agency.
• Familiarity with investment advisers, securities regulation, financial markets, and financial services policy.
• Experience administering a federal political action committee.
• Experience leading member engagement, grassroots advocacy, coalition activities, or congressional advocacy programs.
• Familiarity with the Lobbying Disclosure Act, the Federal Election Campaign Act, and related lobbying and campaign finance requirements.

 About the IAA

The Investment Adviser Association is the leading association advancing the interests of fiduciary investment adviser firms. The IAA serves as the voice of the investment adviser community on key policy issues before Congress, the SEC, DOL CFTC, and other policymakers, and provides investment advisers with essential resources, connections, and opportunities to share best practices. The IAA’s member firms range from global asset managers to the medium- and small-sized firms that make up the majority of this industry.  Collectively, our members manage more than $57 trillion in assets for a wide variety of clients, including individuals, families, trusts, investment companies, private funds, pension plans, state and local governments, endowments, corporations, and other institutional clients. 

Compensation and Benefits

The compensation for this role reflects a broad range of factors, including relevant experience, expertise, and other considerations. The anticipated base salary range for this position is $250,000-$300,000 taking those factors into account. The IAA also provides a comprehensive benefits package for employees, including paid time off, paid holidays, medical, dental, and vision plans, a 401(k) plan with a generous company contribution, flexible savings accounts, long-term and short-term disability insurance, group life insurance, commuter benefits, and a hybrid work schedule. 

IAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.