Director Government Affairs (Ground)

Director Government Affairs (Ground)

Location: Arlington, VA (Hybrid) | Full Remote Considered for the Right Candidate

The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing uncrewed systems, autonomy, and robotics. We represent corporations and professionals from more than 60 countries working across industry, government, and academia.

Our members are shaping the future of the defense, civil, and commercial sectors through innovation in drones, automated and remotely operated ground and maritime vehicles, and related technologies. At AUVSI, we are proud to be the leading voice for a rapidly growing industry transforming the way the world moves, connects, and defends.

The Opportunity

AUVSI is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Government Affairs to drive our ground advocacy efforts, including on robotics, in the legislative and executive branches. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with legislative experience and a background as a registered federal lobbyist, or a willingness to become one, to play a pivotal role in expanding AUVSI's influence on ground autonomy policy.

The Director will be responsible for fostering relationships with key Members of Congress, Congressional Committees, and their staff while working on advancing critical legislation, policies, regulations, and funding priorities for uncrewed systems. If you're a proven advocate with legislative or executive branch experience, a strong understanding of ground autonomy issues, and the ability to influence key decision-makers, we want you to join our team!

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary lobbyist for AUVSI’s Ground Advocacy Committee, representing AUVSI on Capitol Hill and within the Executive Branch.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key lawmakers, Hill committees (HASC, SASC, SST, T&I, CHS, House Energy and Commerce, Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation, etc.) and their staff.
• Track and advocate for legislation, regulations, policies, and funding related to uncrewed ground systems and priorities.
• Provide AUVSI advocacy committee members with real-time intelligence and counsel on ground domain priorities, ensuring the organization remains a key player in advancing its ground-related agenda.
• Collaborate with member companies to foster consensus-based positions on key ground autonomy policy issues.
• Respond to Congressional requests for feedback on pending or draft legislation and assist in drafting, gathering feedback on, and submitting regulatory comments.
• Support the creation and execution of strategic advocacy plans and tactics to influence decision-making and the broader ground autonomy industry.

Qualifications:

• Must be a registered federal lobbyist or willing to become one, with demonstrated experience working directly with elected officials, government agencies, and defense-related policy issues.
• Capitol Hill or other legislative experience is essential, particularly as a staffer on relevant committees or in a Member of Congress's personal office. Relevant experience in the executive branch in legislative affairs is also highly desirable.
• 8 plus years of relevant work experience in government affairs or other relevant work.
• Must be DC/DMV-based and able to regularly commute to Capitol Hill.
• Proven ability to build relationships at all levels within government and the relevant industry.
• Exceptional attention to detail, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with a keen ability to draft compelling briefs, letters, testimony, and advocacy materials.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Supervision

• None.

Work Environment

• This position will be based in our Arlington, VA office on a hybrid schedule (minimum of three days per week in the office)
• Willing to travel up to 30% of the time.

Physical Requirements

• While performing the duties of the job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, sit, walk, reach, stretch, and use manual dexterity. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to maintain focus and attention to detail in a standard office environment or while working remotely.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be asked to lift objects up to 15 lbs.

Why Join Us?

AUVSI is at the forefront of the uncrewed systems sector, and the Director of Government Affairs (Ground) will play a key role in shaping policy, legislation, and funding that impacts this growing field. This position offers the opportunity to work with high-level defense and legislative leaders, advocate for cutting-edge technologies, and influence national security and defense strategies.

If you have Hill experience, lobbying expertise, and a passion for defense advocacy, we want to hear from you!

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

As we lead our industry to new heights, our core values keep us grounded. They describe the shared beliefs and commitments that bring us together and make us a powerful advocate for autonomous technology. When we operate from our values, they inspire our daily actions, including how we work with each other and serve our members. AUVSI is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our team and partners. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status.

AI in Our Recruiting Process

AUVSI is committed to a fair, transparent, and efficient hiring experience. To support our recruiting team, we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools at various stages of the hiring process. These tools may assist with:

• Resume screening – AI may help identify candidates whose qualifications align with the role's requirements.
• Interview scheduling – Automated systems can coordinate and confirm interview logistics.
• Candidate communications – Some outreach or status update messages may be generated or facilitated by AI.
• Assessments – If applicable, AI-assisted tools may be used to evaluate skills or responses in a structured assessment.

Human oversight is central to our process. All meaningful hiring decisions — including whether to advance or select a candidate — are made by our recruiting and hiring team members. AI is used only as a supporting tool, never as the sole decision-maker.

We take your privacy seriously. Any personal data processed through AI tools is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.

If you have questions about how AI is used in our hiring process or would like to request a human review of any AI-assisted evaluation, please contact us at HR@auvsi.org.

Join us at AUVSI and help shape the future of defense innovation.

Apply today at careers@auvsi.org and be part of the team advancing uncrewed systems and autonomy worldwide.