Legislative Affairs Specialist (ARPA-H)

Job Code: PRO-PR-03

Location: Client Site, One Franklin Square, Washington D.C.

Employee Type: Exempt, Full-time Regular

Telework: Hybrid in office, some travel anticipated

Clearance: Public Trust

Salary Range: $74,891.27 - $86,124.96 per year

Citizenship: U.S. citizen as required by client

Are you passionate about advancing a mission through strategic legislative communication and outreach?

As a Legislative Affairs Specialist within the Division of Government Relations and Strategy in the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), you will play a pivotal role in supporting Congressional affairs for our client! Your work will directly impact Congressional understanding of the ARPA-H mission and vision. Additionally, you will keep ARPA-H staff and leadership informed of key legislation relevant to ARPA-H activities.

While not an exhaustive list, the key duties for this position include:

Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze key legislative and Congressional updates; synthesize, summarize, and present to agency leadership by drafting reports on Congressional and legislative priorities and/or potential opportunities for ARPA-H, as required

• Identify members of Congress with interests relevant to ARPA-H programs 

• Support in the planning of Congressional briefings, visits, and other events 

• Research, identify, and track legislation relevant to ARPA-H activities and keep ARPA-H staff informed of legislative developments, while ensuring the quality of work products and deliverables prior to use by senior leadership
• Consistently communicates effective through creation of presentations and talking points for ARPA-H leadership and staff that communicate agency priorities and objectives by ability to understand complex instructions and adapt communication style for speaker or audience, as appropriate

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree (BA/BS) in relevant field with at least 4 years of professional experience, including
• 2+ years of experience working in Congressional Affairs with members of Congress on the Hill
• 2+ years of experience in a legislative affairs, policy, or lobbying role

Basic Requirements

• Experience with government in-person, hybrid, and/or virtual event planning activities to include scheduling, preparation of materials, monitoring registration, and responding to attendee inquiries
• Experience interacting and communicating with senior-level executives, including SES or GS-15 

• Advanced experience in Microsoft Office programs: Excel, Word, and PowerPoint 
• Intermediate experience with Microsoft Office productivity software and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams and SharePoint. 

• Experience operating independently within a fast-paced, start-up environment 

Skills That Set You Apart

• Intermediate knowledge of AI tools, including their limitations and risks, and how they can be applied to support analytical tasks.
• Experience with policy topics related to science, health, or research and development. 

About Ripple Effect

Ripple Effect is a woman-owned, 200-person company of communicators, scientists, researchers, and analysts. Established in 2003, and named as one of the “Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” in 2024 and 2025 by the NABR, Ripple Effect has earned acclaim for delivering unparalleled consulting services and top-tier talent across federal, private, and non-profit sectors.

Benefits

Compensation and Benefits

At Ripple Effect, we reward our employees for their contributions to our mission. Our comprehensive total rewards package includes competitive pay, exceptional benefits, and a range of programs that support your work/life balance and personalized preferences.

Learn more about our benefits and culture here.