U.S. Congressional Liaison Officer

Location: Washington, D.C.
Work Arrangement: Full-time, on-site
Clearance: ACTIVE SECRET CLEARANCE FROM U.S. OR NATO MEMBER NATION REQUIRED
Travel: Up to 30 days annually

Ironclad Defense Works is seeking a U.S. Congressional Liaison Officer to support NATO Allied Command Transformation in Washington, D.C. This position will serve as ACT’s forward presence on Capitol Hill, helping NATO monitor U.S. legislative developments, build and maintain relationships with Members of Congress and congressional staff, and anticipate political, strategic, and budgetary developments that could affect NATO transformation priorities.

This role requires a professional who will combine congressional affairs, government relations, defense policy, and international security expertise with the ability to independently represent NATO ACT across the U.S. legislative and policy community. The candidate must understand the congressional authorization and appropriations process, synthesize complex defense and foreign-policy developments into actionable advice, and establish trusted relationships with senior policymakers and external stakeholders.

• Monitor and analyze the U.S. defense budget process and identify implications for NATO.
• Track congressional defense reforms and assess their potential impact on NATO transformation.
• Monitor congressional debates and decisions concerning Ukraine and broader Euro-Atlantic security.
• Analyze issues related to U.S. force posture in Europe and burden-sharing.
• Assess political dynamics surrounding defense legislation, including key congressional influencers, priorities, and agendas.
• Monitor hearings, committee activity, legislation, and other congressional developments relevant to NATO.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with Members of Congress and congressional staff.
• Provide tailored briefings on NATO ACT priorities to legislators, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
• Plan and conduct informal congressional engagements, meetings, and other relationship-building activities.
• Coordinate messaging and engagement with U.S. executive agencies, NATO missions, Allied embassies, and other stakeholders.
• Produce regular reports for SACT and the Political Advisor on congressional trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Support ACT delegations, SACT visits, Flag Officer engagements, and congressional interactions.
• Support NATO engagement with Washington-area think tanks, academia, and policy communities.
• Facilitate ACT participation in hearings, conferences, policy events, and professional networks.

• At least two years of experience working with or within the U.S. Congress, particularly on defense, appropriations, or foreign-policy issues.
• Demonstrated success in a government-relations role, including management of a legislative portfolio and navigation of the congressional process.
• Strong knowledge of the U.S. congressional authorization and appropriations cycles.
• Strong expertise in defense policy, international security, and political-military affairs.
• Demonstrated ability to monitor and interpret complex political, legislative, and budgetary developments and convert them into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with elected officials, policymakers, congressional staff, federal officials, and senior leaders.
• Experience representing organizational policy positions to Congress, the Executive Branch, think tanks, or comparable external stakeholders.
• Ability to develop and execute short- and long-term engagement plans supporting organizational priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain…