Government Relations Associate

Description Merchant McIntyre & Associates is a midsize federal grants and government relations firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., supporting nonprofit clients from higher education, healthcare, and local government sectors reach their federal funding and legislative advocacy goals. The Government Relations Associate is an early-career professional role responsible for supporting federal appropriations, grant development, and legislative efforts across multiple clients. Success in this role requires strong interpersonal skills, professionalism, adaptability, and the ability to build trusted working relationships with team members and clients. Core Responsibilities Federal Appropriations & Grant Support • Support the development of congressional appropriations requests, including Congressionally Directed Spending (earmarks), by assisting with research, data gathering, and draft preparation • Analyze federal grant solicitations to assess alignment with client priorities and summarize key requirements, deadlines, and evaluation criteria • Track federal agency budget proposals, appropriations cycles, and legislative developments relevant to client funding strategies • Draft grant proposal components, including background sections, need statements, data summaries, and supporting documentation at the direction of client leadership • Maintain internal tracking tools, databases, and calendars related to federal funding opportunities Research & Policy Analysis • Conduct research on federal policy trends, programs, and funding mechanisms across key client sectors • Monitor congressional activity, including hearings, markups, and legislative action, and prepare concise summaries for internal teams • Synthesize complex legislative or funding materials into clear briefing memos and internal reference documents • Research congressional districts, committee jurisdictions, and member priorities to support advocacy strategies Client & Project Support • Support client project teams by preparing briefing materials, agendas, and background documents for client calls and meetings • Assist with scheduling, logistics, and preparation for client visits to Washington, D.C., including congressional and agency meetings • Draft internal and external communications, including client updates and legislative summaries, under supervision to • Participate in client meetings and calls to gain exposure to client engagement and consulting best practices Team Collaboration & Professional Development • Collaborate firm-wide to deliver high-quality work products across client engagements • Incorporate feedback to improve research quality, writing clarity, and analytical rigor • Participate in internal trainings and knowledge-sharing initiatives • Build foundational expertise in federal appropriations, grant development, and legislative processes Requirements Ideal candidate qualifications include: • Bachelor’s degree required • At least 1 year of full-time relevant experience in government relations, public policy, federal grants, or related fields required • Familiarity with the federal budget and appropriations process, including experience with agency discretionary spending (federal grants) • Competitive candidates will have prior experience working with federal discretionary grants, and/or other public sector funding (Federal Agency, Capitol Hill, nonprofit organization, and/or private sector) • Competitive candidates will have prior experience working with grant-funded projects (federal, state, local, and foundation funding) • Strong research, writing, and editing skills • Ability to synthesize complex information accurately and efficiently • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail • Professional verbal and written communication skills • Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment Compensation & Benefits • Full-time, salaried position based in Washington, D.C., with opportunity for travel. • MM's benefits package includes the opportunity to participate in a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA), retirement benefits with a generous match, monthly transportation benefits, an annual professional development allowance, a flexible PTO policy including 13 federal holidays, and more. • Compensation range: $55,000-$75,000, commensurate with experience