Senior Director, Federal Affairs

Job Description

The Senior Director, Federal Affairs will lead and execute the company's federal government affairs strategy, advancing policy priorities that support business objectives and long-term growth. This role serves as a key liaison between the company and federal policymakers, agencies, and industry stakeholders-translating legislative and regulatory developments into business insights and coordinated advocacy strategies.

The Senior Director will partner closely with internal stakeholders across Policy, Regulatory Affairs, Legal, and Commercial teams to ensure alignment on advocacy priorities, messaging, and engagement efforts. The Director will develop and support strong relationships with industry associations, non-governmental organizations, coalition partners and academia to align and execute policy outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Federal Advocacy & Strategy
  • Develop and execute federal government affairs strategies aligned with enterprise policy priorities and commercial objectives
  • Identify legislative risks and opportunities; advise leadership on potential business impacts
  • Shape and advance company policy positions on key issues (e.g., energy markets, environmental policy, customer choice, grid modernization)
• Relationship Management
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with Members of Congress, federal agencies, committees, and relevant staff
  • Represent the company in meetings, briefings, hearings, and industry forums
  • Serve as a trusted external representative advancing the company's credibility and influence
• Policy Analysis & Insights
  • Monitor federal legislative and regulatory developments; provide timely analysis and strategic recommendations
  • Translate complex policy developments into clear implications for internal stakeholders, and internal priorities and objectives into clear and politically viable policy asks
  • Support scenario planning and policy forecasting to inform business strategy
• Advocacy Execution
  • Develop advocacy materials including briefing documents, talking points, position papers, and testimony
  • Coordinate engagement strategies, including coalition participation and trade association alignment
  • Partner cross-functionally to ensure consistency in messaging and leverage relationships across federal, state, and regulatory channels
• Cross-Functional Partnership
  • Collaborate with Regulatory Affairs, Legal, External Affairs, and Commercial leaders to align advocacy efforts
  • Support enterprise-wide policy strategy by connecting federal developments to broader regulatory and market considerations
  • Demonstrate strong business acumen, executive presence, and the ability to operate effectively within a large, matrixed corporate environment
  • Translate policy priorities into enterprise value and engage credibly with senior leaders across the business

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Government, or related field preferred (advanced or JD preferred)
• 10+ years of experience in government affairs, public policy, or related fields engaging with federal legislative bodies, agencies, or political stakeholders and legislative and regulatory processes.
• Government affairs experience in a large, complex energy, infrastructure or regulated industry organization strongly preferred; candidates should understand how enterprise decision-making, governance, risk management, and cross-functional alignment work in practice
• Strong leadership capabilities and a proven ability to lead directly and through influence to deliver results, and the judgement and ability to advise senior leaders on high-stakes policy and business issues
• High-agency, strategic operator with the judgement and initiative to anticipate business needs, shape policy solutions that advance commercial objectives, and independently drive priorities from concept through execution.
• Strong, broad relationships with federal policymakers in Congress, agencies and the Administration, as well as non-government organizations, industry organizations and key customers
• Proven ability to synthesize complex policy issues into actionable business insights
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills

NRG Energy is committed to a drug and alcohol-free workplace. To the extent permitted by law and any applicable collective bargaining agreement, employees are subject to periodic random drug testing, and post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing. EOE AA M/F/Protected Veteran Status/Disability. Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills.

EEO is the Law Poster (The poster can be found at http://www.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf)

Official description on file with Talent.