Director, Federal Affairs
Washington, DC
Market Development /
Full-time /
Remote
About Us
Highland Electric Fleets is a comprehensive turnkey solutions provider that delivers electric school buses (EVSB) to school districts and third-party managed fleet providers (3PMs).
We offer a model involving financing, infrastructure, vehicle deployment, and maintenance in an easily digestible, economic format that enables EVSB acquisition at traditional diesel cost of ownership.
Our mission is to eliminate the barriers to better student health and cleaner air.
We aim to mitigate risk for our customers, increase EVSB market penetration, and deliver positive impacts across a broad spectrum of stakeholders: students, communities, school districts, fleet operators, manufacturers, and utilities.
· Reports to the Vice President, Market Development
· Location: Remote – Washington, DC
· Travel: 40%
· Employment: Full-Time
· Compensation: Salary + Bonus + Benefits
The Director, Federal Affairs will be at the forefront of Highland’s presence in Washington, DC and will represent Highland’s interests on legislative concerns before the U.S. Congress. The Director is responsible for fostering and leveraging federal relationships that benefit the company, identifying opportunities and risks for the company stemming from federal legislative activity, and leading legislative initiatives that support Highland’s goals and programs. In partnership with Highland’s Market Development and Marketing teams, the Director, Federal Affairs will organize campaigns in key states to build support for relevant legislation at the federal level.
Key Responsibilities
· Organize campaigns to create Congressional and in-district, ground-level support for Highland’s activities, with a particular focus on the Southeastern and Midwestern United States
· Research and monitor legislative developments that could impact Highland’s business model
· Advocate for federal policies that align with Highland’s business interests
· Build and maintain strategic, collaborative relationships with members of federal legislative bodies
· Coalition-build with businesses and advocacy organizations (e.g., trade associations, think tanks, etc.) with complementary objectives
· Oversee federal lobbying resources and partner with public affairs agencies in support of federal goals and legislative initiatives
· Help develop messaging for Highland’s offerings with attention to broad appeal, focusing on economic development, innovation, and public-private partnerships
Desired Qualifications
· 10-12+ years of experience in public affairs, political campaign organizing, lobbying, or related roles
· Bachelor’s degree in a related field
· Significant experience organizing and managing campaigns
· Strong network of established government relationships, especially at the federal level
· Ability to inspire and galvanize others to action, particularly through outstanding public speaking skills
· Some experience with marketing and/or communications is strongly preferred
· Ability to independently strategize, develop, and execute initiatives
· Highly collaborative, with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
· Interest in or prior knowledge of electric vehicles (BEVs), clean transportation and infrastructure
· Relevant master’s degree a plus
What You Can Expect from Highland:
· Competitive base salary and performance-based bonus program
· A supportive, highly collaborative, team-oriented environment
· Opportunities to make a difference, be heard, add value, and be recognized
· Growth and development with a leader in this new and exciting industry
· Ability to work with bright, innovative, and forward-thinking colleagues
· Health, Vision, and Dental coverage for employees & their dependents
· Life insurance, public transportation assistance
· Generous Paid Time Off
· 401(k) program and company match
Highland Electric Fleets provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Highland Electric Fleets complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
