Director of State and Local Affairs

American Hotel & Lodging Association

. Develop and execute state and local government affairs strategies advancing AHLA's public policy priorities and supporting its membership .

Posted 10/7/2026full-timeWashington • Washington • United StatesLead💰 $110,000 - $130,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in developing and executing government affairs strategies, legislative advocacy initiatives, and coalition building. Proficient in stakeholder engagement and mobilizing grassroots advocacy networks to advance public policy priorities.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Legislative Advocacy InitiativesCoalition DevelopmentStakeholder EngagementPolitical Campaign StrategyGovernment Affairs Experience

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Public PolicyAdvocacyPolitical CampaignsLegislative AnalysisIssue Campaigns

Soft Skills

Relationship BuildingCommunicationStrategic ThinkingCollaboration

Tools & Technologies

Microsoft Office Suite

Industry Keywords

State Government AffairsLocal Government AffairsLodging IndustryGrassroots MobilizationPolitical Environment

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop and execute state and local government affairs strategies advancing AHLA's public policy priorities and supporting its membership
Identify, monitor, and analyze state and local legislation, regulations, and emerging policy issues affecting the lodging industry
Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, government staff, policymakers, business leaders, community stakeholders, and industry partners
Track political, legislative, and regulatory developments to anticipate challenges and identify engagement opportunities
Communicate legislative developments, policy updates, and advocacy opportunities to members and stakeholders
Build, lead, and sustain diverse local coalitions
Develop and execute targeted state and local issue campaigns, including strategy, stakeholder mapping, message development, coalition outreach, and advocacy tactics
Mobilize grassroots and grasstops advocacy networks
Coordinate campaign plans integrating direct lobbying, coalition engagement, stakeholder communications, public affairs, and member activation
Establish campaign goals, monitor progress, and assess outcomes
Identify and cultivate local allies and third-party validators
Coordinate with communications, membership, federal government affairs, and other teams
Monitor political developments, local elections, and changes in political leadership
Represent AHLA in meetings, coalition convenings, industry events, and external engagements
Develop relationships with national organizations representing governors, state legislators, attorneys general, municipal officials, and other stakeholders
Support the Senior Vice President in broader government affairs strategies and organizational initiatives
Support membership engagement, development, and retention initiatives

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in political science, public policy, communications, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
Minimum of 5–7 years of experience in state or local government affairs, public policy, advocacy, political campaigns, or a related field
Demonstrated experience developing and executing legislative advocacy initiatives, issue campaigns, political campaigns, or other strategic public affairs efforts
Experience building coalitions and working with diverse stakeholders to achieve shared objectives
Demonstrated understanding of state and local legislative processes and political environments
Experience working directly with city and local government officials, elected representatives, and their staff
Political campaign experience is strongly preferred, particularly experience involving campaign strategy, coalition development, stakeholder engagement, grassroots mobilization, or issue advocacy
Experience working with business associations, trade associations, or industry coalitions is a plus
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
Significant annual travel, approximately 50%
Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends as required

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Employer-paid disability and life insurance
401(k) retirement plan with an employer match
Generous paid time off and holidays
Tuition reimbursement and professional development support
Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)