Director, Government Affairs

The role

The Director, Government Affairs will lead and expand engagement across Congress, the U.S. Department of Defense, and national security stakeholders. This person will drive policy, partnership, and congressional advocacy strategies to support Vast's commercial space station initiatives.

What you will do

• Develop and execute a comprehensive DoD and national security engagement strategy.
• Collaborate with internal teams including Legal, Programs, Engineering, and Business Development.
• Build and maintain relationships with the Department of Defense, U.S. Space Force, Air Force, SDA, and DIU.
• Engage with relevant Congressional committees and staff.
• Coordinate with the NSC, OMB, and other Executive Office of the President entities.
• Monitor, analyze, and interpret U.S. defense and national security policy and legislation.
• Prepare policy briefs, talking points, and legislative summaries.
• Develop recommendations for defense-related RFIs, trade reports, and industry-government engagements.
• Support DoD-related contracting opportunities and partnerships with the business development team.
• Provide policy support for defense-related technology initiatives and regulatory engagement.

Required qualifications

• 8+ years of professional experience in government affairs, defense policy, congressional affairs, and/or national security space.
• Experience engaging Congress on defense, national security, or space-related policy and funding priorities.
• Current registered lobbyist or willingness and ability to register as a lobbyist, as required.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.
• Ability to obtain appropriate security clearance to support DOD space programs.

Nice to have

• Experience working on DOD space programs and policies
• Experience with government contracting and government procurement
• Experience with Congressional appropriations and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) process
• Proven ability to adapt to rapidly changing priorities and schedules with ease and grace
• Ability to simplify complex concepts into straightforward and concise explanations
• Comfortable operating outside of areas of expertise and in new territory
• Excellent communication, analytical, collaboration, and interpersonal skills
• Self-starter with excellent time-management and prioritization skills

Benefits

• company equity
• medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents
• up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff
• up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually
• paid parental leave
• short and long-term disability insurance
• life insurance
• access to a 401(k) retirement plan
• ClassPass credits
• personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health
• snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge
• lunch subsidized

Before you apply

• Ability to obtain appropriate security clearance to support DOD space programs

About the company

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, the company has more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital.