Senior Government Relations Professional

Senior Government Relations Professional

MARYLAND / DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

ABOUT THE FIRM

Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc. (Cornerstone) is a full-service, bipartisan consulting firm specializing in federal and state government relations, public affairs and strategic communications, and business advisory services. Utilizing a shared vision, philosophy, and complete team approach, Cornerstone - with 16 offices and over 200 professionals - stands as one of the industry's most effective and respected consulting firms. We are proud of our professional standards and team culture that provide clients with the full depth and breadth of our expertise, experience, and relationships, resulting in meaningful and highly valuable partnerships.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Cornerstone seeks a full-time, team-oriented individual to join our firm as a senior member of our Mid-Atlantic State Government Relations team. In this position, the senior professional will assist with overall client service activities for the firm's Maryland and District of Columbia clients, including leading client engagements and managing communications, workflow, and accountability. This team member may be based in Cornerstone's Annapolis, Maryland, or Washington, D.C. office.

This position is responsible for several client service and administrative tasks, including, but not limited to:

Client Service & Advocacy

• Serve as a day-to-day point of contact for assigned clients, providing timely updates, strategic insights, and responsive support.
• Develop and execute advocacy strategies aligned with client goals, including legislative engagement, regulatory monitoring, and stakeholder outreach.
• Attend client meetings, drafting agendas, summaries, and follow-up recommendations as needed.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with state agency officials, legislators, legislative staff, and relevant external partners in Maryland and/or the District of Columbia.
• Coordinate with team members to prepare presentations, talking points, and briefing materials for client and legislative meetings.
• Track and anticipate policy developments affecting client interests and provide actionable analysis.

Legislative Tracking & Reporting

• Monitor Maryland General Assembly and Council of the District of Columbia activity, including bill introductions, hearings, committee updates, and floor action.
• Draft policy summaries, bill tracking reports, and real-time legislative updates for clients and internal teams.
• Analyze legislation and prepare summaries identifying potential impacts, opportunities, and risks.
• Attend legislative hearings, briefings, and relevant stakeholder events as needed.
• Maintain accurate and organized legislative tracking tools throughout the session.

Administrative & Operational Support

• Prepare high-quality written materials, including memos, reports, hearing testimony, and correspondence.
• Support scheduling and coordination of team/client meetings, including collecting agenda items and producing follow-up notes.
• Assist with document management and maintaining accurate client files.
• Contribute to firm-wide initiatives and culture/engagement activities as appropriate.
• Uphold Cornerstone's internal standards for client communication, confidentiality, and professionalism.

Business Development & Firm Growth

• Support team members with proposal drafting, background research, and preparation for business development meetings.
• Identify opportunities to expand existing client engagements or pursue new clients aligned with Maryland's and/or the District of Columbia's policy landscape.
• Assist in the preparation of marketing materials, thought leadership, and strategic outreach efforts.
• Represent Cornerstone at external events, coalition meetings, conferences, and community engagements.

COMPETENCIES

Key qualities for candidates in this position include:

• Proactiveness: Works independently in a busy environment
• Flexibility: Able to work early mornings and evenings during Legislative Session
• Dependability: Arrives to work on time, follows instructions, pays strong attention to detail, responds promptly, and solicits feedback to improve performance
• Adaptability: Able to adapt to changes in the work environment on a day-to-day basis, manage relationships with multiple client service professionals in the office, and juggle schedules to organize competing priorities
• Time Management: Thrives in a fast-paced environment and can manage competing priorities
• Communication: Possess strong written and verbal communication skills; and
• Teamwork: Able to work within a team, is approachable, and willing to help others.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience in Maryland and/or District/DC local government, state, or federal governments, campaigns, public policy, trade associations, think tanks, non-profits, or government affairs offices;
• Extensive and deep-rooted relationships within D.C. and Maryland governments, specifically with the Mayor's office, DC agencies, and the City Council, and the ability to effectively influence and manage those connections;
• A keen interest in and understanding of politics and the policymaking process;
• Excellent track record in synthesizing complex policy issues and distilling information for different audiences;
• Ability to lead and evaluate issues independently and in a collaborative, team-oriented, fast-paced environment;
• Excellent personal, political, analytical, and communications skills and high attention to detail; and,
• Experience writing and preparing written material for internal and external distribution.
• Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Communications, or related field required.
• 5-7+ years of relevant experience in government, government relations, legislative affairs, or public policy (Maryland experience strongly preferred).
• Proven ability to manage client relationships or support client-facing work.
• Excellent writing, organizational, and communication skills;
• Experience using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, and Excel), Microsoft Teams, and Adobe Acrobat;

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience working in or around the Maryland General Assembly and/or the Council of the District of Columbia.
• Experience drafting legislative summaries, testimony, or policy memos.
• Prior experience in lobbying, consulting, or advocacy roles.
• Ability to manage simultaneous projects with competing timelines.

Benefits

Base salary for this position shall be based on experience and level of education and range from $140,000 to $220,000. Employees are eligible for annual performance-based bonuses as well as full coverage of medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance premiums. In addition, employees are eligible to receive a 401(k) employer match and shares in the firm's employee stock ownership plan upon entering the plan. Employees are eligible for paid time off and additional fringe benefits to perform their job duties (e.g., parking, cell phone coverage).