As VP, Government Relations, you will define and lead Apex's government engagement strategy across federal, state, and local stakeholders. This role will be responsible for building and managing relationships across the U.S. Government ecosystem to advance Apex's strategic priorities, support customer engagement, and help shape the regulatory and policy environment surrounding the next generation of space infrastructure.
This is a highly cross-functional, externally facing leadership role that sits at the intersection of government, business development, policy, and strategy. You will work closely with executive leadership, business development, legal, and engineering teams to drive coordinated engagement across civil, defense, and regulatory stakeholders.
The ideal candidate brings deep experience navigating government organizations, exceptional relationship-building skills, and strong strategic judgment.
Responsibilities- Develop and execute Apex's government relations strategy across federal, state, and local government stakeholders in alignment with company priorities.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with key government officials, agency leadership, legislative staff, regulators, and industry partners across defense, civil, and commercial space sectors.
- Support customer engagement and strategic growth initiatives by coordinating closely with business development and executive leadership teams.
- Monitor and analyze legislative, regulatory, budgetary, and policy developments relevant to Apex's business and customer base.
- Help shape policy positions, messaging, and engagement strategies related to national space initiatives, commercial space infrastructure, and related aerospace priorities.
- Coordinate and support executive engagement with government stakeholders, including meetings, site visits, industry events, conferences, etc.
- Represent Apex within relevant trade associations, industry groups, and government-facing forums.
- Support strategic expansion initiatives, including engagement with state and local governments related to facilities, incentives, workforce development, and regional partnerships.
- Prepare briefing materials, talking points, white papers, and executive-level communications to support government engagement efforts.
- Advise company leadership on political engagement strategy, including the direction and priorities of Apex's PAC, to support long-term business and government affairs objectives.
Requirements- 15+ years of experience in government relations, legislative affairs, public policy, business development, or related roles within aerospace, defense, national security, or adjacent industries.
- Experience across government, with depth of experience across HAC-D / SAC-D / HASC / SASC / HPSCI / SSCI and/or the Executive Branch with emphasis on acquisitions
- Strong understanding of U.S. Government budgeting, acquisition, and policymaking processes, particularly across defense and space-related organizations.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain senior-level relationships across government and industry stakeholders.
- Experience developing and executing engagement strategies that support business growth and long-term strategic objectives.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing executive-facing and government-facing materials.
- Strong strategic thinking, judgment, and ability to navigate complex organizational and political environments.
- Comfortable operating in a high-growth, fast-paced startup environment with significant ownership and ambiguity.
- Willingness to travel as needed for customer, government, and industry engagements.
- U.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export-controlled data.
- Active TS/SCI security clearance or the willingness to apply for one.
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