Director – Government Relations

Hidden Level

. Lead congressional engagement with Members of Congress, congressional offices, authorization and appropriations committees, congressional leadership, caucuses, and key staff .

Posted 11/7/2026full-timeUnited StatesLead💰 $143,000 - $225,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in federal government relations, particularly within defense and national security sectors, with a strong ability to navigate congressional appropriations and authorization processes. Proven track record in building bipartisan relationships and translating complex technical issues into actionable policy recommendations.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Federal Government RelationsCongressional Appropriations ProcessesBipartisan Relationship BuildingDefense and National Security PolicyLobbying Disclosure Act Compliance

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Legislative Strategy DevelopmentPolicy TranslationFunding Request PreparationCoalition BuildingStakeholder EngagementBudget ManagementGovernment Relations StrategyCongressional EngagementProgram ExecutionPolitical Judgment

Soft Skills

Exceptional Communication SkillsProactive ApproachEntrepreneurial MindsetDiscretionSound Political Judgment

Certifications & Qualifications

U.S. Government Security ClearanceLobbyist Registration

Industry Keywords

National SecurityDefense TechnologyCounter-UASAirspace SecurityPublic Safety PolicyHomeland SecurityTransportationCongressional LeadershipAppropriations CommitteesExecutive Branch

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead congressional engagement with Members of Congress, congressional offices, authorization and appropriations committees, congressional leadership, caucuses, and key staff
Establish and maintain bipartisan relationships across defense, homeland security, transportation, aviation, public safety, critical infrastructure, and national security missions
Increase congressional awareness of Hidden Level and establish the company as a trusted resource on airspace awareness, counter-UAS, and related policy issues
Identify emerging legislative, political, and budgetary opportunities
Lead annual and multi-year appropriations and authorization strategies
Identify and pursue funding opportunities based on federal programs, appropriations accounts, budget lines, congressional priorities, and agency requirements
Develop and advance appropriations requests, authorization provisions, report language, programmatic funding, plus-ups, and other legislative mechanisms
Track federal funding from the President’s Budget Request through congressional consideration, enactment, and agency execution
Partner with Business Development and company leadership to connect advocacy efforts to executable federal opportunities and measurable business outcomes
Monitor and engage in federal policymaking related to defense, homeland security, aviation, transportation, counter-UAS, public safety, and critical infrastructure
Identify legislative, regulatory, and administrative barriers and develop strategies to address them
Translate complex technical and operational issues into policy recommendations for congressional and executive branch audiences
Build coalitions with industry partners, trade associations, think tanks, customers, and other stakeholders
Represent Hidden Level before congressional and executive branch officials and at policy forums, industry events, and association meetings
Prepare executives for government engagements, including meetings, briefings, hearings, and other events
Coordinate congressional Member and staff visits to Hidden Level facilities and leadership engagements on Capitol Hill
Establish stakeholder maps, engagement plans, legislative calendars, appropriations timelines, meeting preparation, follow-up, and outcome tracking
Develop congressional and policy materials, including funding requests, authorization proposals, legislative language, white papers, testimony, talking points, and executive briefings
Establish progress measures and communicate outcomes, opportunities, risks, and recommendations to executive leadership
Manage outside government relations consultants and advisors within agreed priorities and budgets
Partner with Legal to ensure advocacy activities comply with lobbying disclosure, ethics, and legal requirements
At Vice President level, set company-wide government relations priorities, advise executive leadership, shape market priorities and product direction, lead consequential government relationships, evaluate advocacy opportunities, and define function structure, budget, staffing, and external support

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
10+ years of relevant experience in Congress, federal government relations, national security policy, the Executive Branch, or comparable defense or national security industry roles
Significant experience working on or with Capitol Hill, preferably in senior congressional staff positions or roles directly managing congressional relationships and legislative strategies
Deep knowledge of House and Senate appropriations and authorization processes, with demonstrated success producing tangible policy or funding outcomes
Strong understanding of how congressional action connects to agency budgets, program execution, acquisition, and business opportunities
Experience with defense and national security policy and familiarity with relevant committees, agencies, and stakeholder communities
Established bipartisan relationships and demonstrated success building coalitions and navigating complex stakeholder environments
Ability to understand complex technology and translate capabilities into compelling policy, mission, and budget narratives
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, sound political judgment, and discretion
Proactive, entrepreneurial approach and ability to drive execution independently while balancing immediate opportunities and multi-year objectives
Ability to travel approximately 25% or as business needs require
Expected to require individual lobbyist registration under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
Must currently possess or be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance, as required
Vice President consideration: experience setting government relations strategy and serving as a principal advisor to senior executives
Vice President consideration: record of influencing corporate priorities, market strategy, or investment decisions through government relations expertise
Vice President consideration: experience defining and managing a function’s budget, external resources, and organizational needs
Vice President consideration: demonstrated accountability for sustained policy and funding outcomes with material business impact across multiple legislative or budget cycles
Preferred experience with House or Senate Appropriations Committees, Armed Services Committees, relevant subcommittees, homeland security, transportation, aviation, congressional leadership offices, senior national security or defense legislative positions, relevant federal agencies, counter-UAS, airspace security, aviation, defense technology, critical infrastructure, public safety policy, or government relations within a high-growth defense or national security technology company
Only U.S. citizens can be considered for this position

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance
Paid parental leave
Flexible time off
401(k) with employer contributions
Life insurance
Disability insurance
Potential equity participation
Potential stock options