Description
The AAUP is a union and membership association of faculty and other academic professionals. Headquartered in Washington, DC, we have members and chapters based at colleges and universities across the country.
The mission of the AAUP is to advance academic freedom and shared governance; to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education; to promote the economic security of faculty, academic professionals, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and all those engaged in teaching and research in higher education; to help the higher education community organize to make our goals a reality; and to ensure higher education’s contribution to the common good. Founded in 1915, the AAUP has helped shape American higher education by developing the standards and procedures that maintain educational quality and academic freedom in this country’s colleges and universities.
The American Association of University Professors (AAUP), an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), AFL-CIO, is seeking a full-time Senior Federal Lobbyist. Based in Washington, D.C., with a hybrid telework option, this union-represented role serves as the primary legislative liaison to Capitol Hill and federal executive agencies, defending higher education, protecting academic freedom, and securing federal research funding.
Overview
Salary: $125,000.00 – $165,000.00 annually, plus a comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, vision, paid leave, and 401k).
Job Type: Full-time, Exempt (Designated as a Senior Program Officer and part of the staff union bargaining unit).
Location: Washington, D.C. (Office-based with part-time telework options).
Application Deadlines: Submit by November 10, 2026 for full consideration; rolling applications accepted until November 26, 2026.
Key Responsibilities
Federal Advocacy: Serve as the principal registered lobbyist before Congress, engaging key committees (e.g., Senate HELP, House Education & the Workforce, Appropriations) and influencing federal agency rulemaking (Dept of Ed, NLRB, DOL, NSF, NIH).
Communications & Policy Analysis: Draft highly precise legislative briefs, congressional testimony, administrative comments, and background memos while translating complex statutory details for the broader membership.
Coalition Leadership: Represent the AAUP within national labor, higher education, and civil rights coalitions to run joint advocacy campaigns.
Event Coordination: Lead the strategic planning, scheduling, and execution of the AAUP’s annual Capitol Hill Fly-In & Lobby Day.
Compliance: Maintain meticulous compliance records to ensure 100% adherence to the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) and federal ethics rules.
Requirements & Qualifications
Experience: 5–10 years of progressive experience in federal government relations, senior congressional staff roles (e.g., Legislative Director, Committee Staff, Counsel), higher education policy, or labor advocacy.
Core Skills: Uncompromising attention to detail in statutory review, a strong background in federal budget/appropriations cycles (e.g., Higher Education Act), and experience managing large-scale fly-in events.
Attributes: Out-of-the-box strategic thinking, collaborative team player, and high interpersonal diplomacy.
Mission Alignment: Deep commitment to labor rights, collective bargaining, academic freedom, and tenure.
Education: Bachelor’s degree required in Political Science, Public Policy, Law, or a related field; Master’s, J.D., or Ph.D. is strongly preferred.
How to Apply
Applications must include a cover letter, resume, and three references submitted via the online portal. Finalists will be required to complete a role-specific writing assessment.