Manager of Government Relations

About Main Street America (MSA): 

Main Street America (MSA) leads an inclusive, impact-driven movement dedicated to re-energizing and strengthening downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts through place-based economic development and community preservation.  We work in collaboration with thousands of local partners and grassroots leaders across the nation who share our commitment to advancing shared prosperity, creating resilient economies, and improving quality of life.   

Since its founding in 1980, the MSA network has helped to generate over $100 billion in local reinvestment, create 700,000 new jobs, and start 160,000 new businesses in over 2,000 communities. Main Street America is a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. 

About the Team: 

MSA is a growing, geographically dispersed team. Our group is passionate about Main Street’s mission, with ambitions to significantly scale and deepen our impact in communities across the country. Staff members have deep expertise across a broad range of disciplines including economic development, historic preservation, urban planning, finance, and public affairs. They have a proven track record in helping a diverse range of communities through direct technical assistance, professional development programs, thought leadership, and targeted tools.   

We strive for a culture that is team-oriented, collaborative, high performing, and committed to equity and inclusion. MSA provides an environment in which team members can thrive in both their professional and personal lives by offering flexible work arrangements, including the option to work remotely. 

Position Overview: 

The Manager of Government Relations will advance MSA’s federal, state, and local Policy Agenda through legislative monitoring, policy analysis, coalition engagement, and advocacy training. This position ensures Main Street communities have access to capacity-building resources and policy tools while equipping local leaders to effectively advocate for their priorities.  As a member of a small, dedicated Government Relations team, the Manager uses network resources and partnerships to develop advocacy solutions to Policy Agenda goals. The ideal candidate for this role is a detail-oriented project manager with a passion for improving communities across the county through policy and advocacy. Please read the MSA 2025-2026 Policy Agenda for more information

We encourage you to apply early; applications received by October 24, 2025 will receive priority consideration.

This is a remote-first position open to applicants across the United States (except for Puerto Rico). 

Key Responsibilities: 

Coalition Building & Advocacy Training

• Lead MSA’s Advocacy Community of Practice.
• Deliver advocacy training for Coordinating Programs and local leaders.
• Represent MSA in coalition meetings, federal agency convenings, and policy events.
• Support execution of Hill Day and advocacy programming at the Main Street Now Conference.

Policy Development & Research

• Track emerging and passed federal legislation relevant to MSA and prepare policy analyses.
• Assist in implementing the MSA Policy Agenda, including dissemination to external stakeholders and MSA member engagement.
• Identify and share government funding opportunities with members and partners.
• Draft public comments, policy briefs, and research reports.

Communications

• Serve as primary contact for government relations content and external policy communications.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure coordinated messaging.
• Develop educational materials, success stories, and case studies for the MSA network.

Organizational Support

• Partner and collaborate with colleagues on long-term organizational goals.
• Participate in cross-team initiatives and contribute to strategic planning.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Top Candidates MUST HAVE the following characteristics: •

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 3-5 years of previous experience, preferably related to public policy and economic development, preferred.
• Demonstrated interest in and passion for improving social and economic outcomes in communities through issues related to MSA’s Policy Agenda.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to execute Policy Agenda-related advocacy, from writing policy memos to creating advocacy materials and meeting with legislators. Can explain complex ideas and make them relevant to specific audiences.
• Experience building relationships with constituent groups, external partners, and colleagues to advance goals. Can collect, assess, and process feedback from various stakeholders to inform department actions.
• Manages complex projects in a detail-oriented manner, connecting big picture outcomes to daily task management. Creates and improves systems to implement objectives and track outcomes efficiently.
• Strong, sound judgement while maintaining flexibility. Can adapt to changing dynamics while maintaining organizational values and personal integrity.
• Ability to work in a remote-first environment, with supervisor and colleagues located across the country. Can utilize online collaboration tools such as Teams, Microsoft products, and project management software like Asana.
• Ability to travel occasionally (approximately 1-2 engagements per quarter), including Main Street national and statewide conferences.

Extraordinary Candidates may have the following Nice to Have qualifications:

• Master’s degree in public administration, urban planning, political science, or related field.
• Professional experience with the policy-making process, whether from inside a government or legislative office or prior professional experience in a policy or advocacy role in a nonprofit organization.
• Prior experience in organizing advocacy campaigns, conducting advocacy training with groups, or managing a cohort or community of practice model.
• Prior professional experience in a role related to the built environment, economic development, or community development.
• Located in, or within easy travel distance of, the Washington, D.C. metro area.

Location, Benefits, Salary 

• Main Street America is a remote-first organization with staff working across various locations. This position offers a competitive salary range of $78,000 - $93,600 annually. 

• Benefits include: 

• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) 

• Generous paid time off, including more than 25 holidays annually 

• Flexible 35-hour workweek and "Rejuvenation Weeks" for focus and planning 

• Professional development funds and training opportunities 

• Retirement plan contributions and a pre-tax 403(b) plan option 

• Main Street America fosters a collaborative and supportive work environment, prioritizing balance, growth, and inclusivity for all team members.