Salary : $99,534.03 - $174,184.61 Annually
Location : FX. CTY. GOVERNMENT CENTER, 12000 GOVERNMENT CENTER PKWY., FAIRFAX (EJ32), VA
Job Type: FT Salary W BN
Job Number: 26-01372
Department: County Executive
Opening Date: 09/05/2026
Closing Date: 9/18/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S32
Posting Type: Open to General Public

Job Announcement

The Government Relations office is seeking an experienced government affairs professional with extensive experience in local government policy issues and demonstrated success in legislative advocacy at either the state or federal levels. Along with the legislative director, this staff is responsible for the development and implementation of the Board of Supervisors' state and federal legislative programs. Additional duties include coordinating information between congressional and state delegation offices for analysis, testimony, visits by governing body members or executive staff, or similar activities. This position is expected to successfully resolve problems in a team-based environment, balance multiple priorities and tasks to meet established deadlines, and perform duties under limited supervision.

Further duties include:

• Along with the director, provides ongoing legislative advice and updates to relevant county staff on critical legislative developments, ensuring that all parties are informed and able to respond to emerging legislative issues in a timely manner.
• Along with the director, advises the Board and county department directors on all matters pertaining to the Virginia General Assembly, leading the development of the county's legislative strategy.
• Represents the county at the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond, Virginia and testifies before various committees and subcommittees of the state legislature.
• Represent the county's interests in meetings, hearings, and discussions with state and federal stakeholders.
• Coordinates with senior leadership to assess the policy impact of, and response to, proposed legislation affecting the county in coordination with county agencies.
• Researches, analyzes and evaluates issues and prepares reports on all assigned federal and state legislation or studies, to provide recommendations and guidance for consideration by the Board.
• Provides detailed information on the county's position regarding pending legislation and works closely with legislators to ensure that state laws are consistent with county policies whenever possible.

The successful candidate must possess:

• Ability to foster partnerships with other local governments, municipal associations, and regional organizations to support shared legislative goals.
• Extensive knowledge of how to promote legislative or public policy interests with legislative and/or executive officials.
• Knowledge of how to assess operational or fiscal aspects of public policy issues.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, regional and/or local legislative processes, including structure and operation.
• Ability to work with diverse groups, with competing interests to develop collaborative positions, and to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to conduct high quality, detailed work in a fast-paced environment on short timeframes.
• Experience crafting clear communications for different audiences.

NOTE: The assigned functional areas for the position are: public policy, communications, and government affairs.
Illustrative Duties
(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)

Directs and manages long-term, large-scale, high-priority, sensitive programs/projects that are multi-disciplinary and involve multiple agencies;
Manages a group of professionals engaged in diverse administrative and management support activities;
Directs research and evaluation of trends in applicable areas of responsibility;
Develops long- and short-term goals, objectives and solutions for division;
Interfaces with central County staff departments (such as DMB, DHR, Finance, Purchasing and Supply Management) for seamless collaboration;
Provides consultation on strategic planning, organizational development and redesign projects;
Prepares for and presents to County Board of Supervisors (or Committee) regarding areas of expertise and responsibility.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities
(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list).

Extensive knowledge of the mission, goals, objectives, funding sources, organizational structure, workload, and staffing of the organizational unit or program to which incumbent is assigned;
Extensive knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques relating to the functional area of business operation;
Extensive knowledge of statutory and regulatory requirements governing application of program funding, execution of program activities, and achievement of program outcomes;
Knowledge of the legislative and executive decision making processes;
Knowledge of the project management life cycle and its supporting phases;
Ability to identify organizational problems, evaluate possible solutions, and select and implement the most advantageous course of action;
Ability to identify and determine appropriate methods for gathering data;
Ability to make oral presentations to department management, other departments, or the public;
Ability to write detailed, accurate reports, grants, or solicitations for pertinent areas of administration;
Ability to manage professional and paraprofessional employees including coaching, counseling, training, and evaluation.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in fields related to the assigned functional areas; PLUS Five years of professional work experience within more than one of the assigned functional areas.
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Lobbyist (state or federal registration. State registration within 90 days' start of employment.)

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check to the satisfaction of the employer.
• This position requires extensive travel. Due to the nature of the facility's operations and the responsibilities associated with the position, this position requires extensive travel during the General Assembly session to Richmond, VA, potentially on a weekly basis. Additional statewide travel is required to cover statewide events.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain collaborative and effective working relationships with Fairfax County staff, elected and appointed officials, regional and state transportation agency representatives, citizens, and other stakeholders
• Experience with state level elected officials, local and state governments, boards, authorities, commissions, and transportation agencies, including working with elected and appointed officials.
• At least four years of experience administering/coordinating the following: reviewing legislation, planning events, proofreading documents, drafting correspondence, position papers, memoranda, legislative advocacy, and staff supervision.
• Working knowledge and experience of state/local government as well as federal.
• Excellent written and oral communication and organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal, analytical, organizational, and time management skills
• Ability to learn new information quickly and synthesize it into understandable talking points.
• Working knowledge of local land use issues, taxation, environment, energy, public safety, human services, FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), technology, labor, and/or federal interaction at local level.
• Proficient with software applications: Microsoft office, Publisher, and Canva.
• Experience utilizing a database management software.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Duties are generally sedentary; ability to stand, stoop, bend, stretch, walk, climb, sit, type on a keyboard, and lift up to 20 pounds. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.

#LI-JY1
Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click for a summary of our benefits.

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:

For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

1. Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.
   • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
   • Flexible Spending Program
   • Deferred Compensation
2. Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
   • No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03

Please indicate all major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Public policy
• Political science
• Public administration
• Legal
• Communications
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not Applicable

04

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".
05

Do you currently possess a State or federal registration as a lobbyist?

• Yes
• No

06

How many years of full-time equivalent professional experience do you have within more than one of the assigned functional areas: public policy, communications, and government affairs?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine or more years

07

How many years of full-time equivalent professional experience do you possess working with state level elected officials, local and state governments, boards, authorities, commissions, and transportation agencies, including working with elected and appointed officials?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine or more years

08

Do you have at least four years of full-time equivalent professional experience in administering or coordinating work in any of the following areas? Check all that apply.

• Reviewing legislation
• Planning events
• Proofreading documents
• Drafting correspondence, position papers, memoranda
• Legislative advocacy
• Staff Supervision
• None of the above