The American Cleaning Institute (ACI)’s membership includes some of the largest and most trusted brands in the cleaning products industry, companies dedicated to improving public health and quality of life through products that are effective, sustainable, and safe for people and the environment. As Senior Vice President, Advocacy, you will serve as ACI’s senior advocacy strategist, translating industry priorities and emerging risks into holistic campaigns, identifying when to engage directly with policymakers or regulators, when to align and activate coalitions, and when to mobilize members or shape broader narratives. You will position ACI as the go-to advisor for members and an effective partner to policymakers and regulators, protecting the industry’s ability to develop new products and ingredients that contribute to a safer, healthier, and cleaner world.
Reporting directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer, you will define and lead ACI’s federal and state advocacy agenda, ensuring that each priority is advanced through the most effective combination of strategies and audiences. Leading and developing a team of four, you will build a government affairs function known for speed to action and strategic foresight, anticipating challenges, identifying opportunities, and helping members see around the corner and act.
As a member of ACI’s Executive Leadership Team, you will contribute to organization-wide decision-making and help shape ACI’s overall strategy and priorities, ensuring advocacy efforts are aligned with the organization’s long-term direction.
How You’ll Make an Impact
Success in your first 1-2 years will be demonstrated by:
- Federal and state policy and regulatory outcomes shaped by integrated advocacy strategies that accelerate growth and innovation across the cleaning products industry.
- Strengthened external positioning through effective and targeted engagement with policymakers, regulators, and stakeholders, and broad recognition of ACI as a leader in science-based advocacy and a partner in solving industry challenges.
- Improved responsiveness in the government affairs function, consistently identifying issues earlier, mobilizing members more quickly, and delivering timely, actionable intelligence that helps members stay ahead of policy, legislative, and regulatory developments.
Work Environment, Salary, and Benefits
- ACI values in-person collaboration and offers a hybrid work environment, with three days each week in our Washington, DC, office (Wednesdays plus two flex days). Recognizing that much of this role’s impact happens through external engagement, you’ll have the flexibility for regular time spent meeting with policymakers, agency leaders, and industry partners. Some overnight travel is required.
- The budgeted salary range for this position is $285K – $300K plus an annual bonus. ACI offers an outstanding benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage; a 401(k) with a 12% employer contribution; employer-funded Health Savings Accounts; life and disability insurance; generous PTO; 14 paid holidays; and two annual paid office-closure periods (December 25th – January 1st and the week of July 4th); support for professional development and professional memberships (ASAE and other job-related memberships).
Key Focus Areas
Strategic Advocacy Leadership
- Shape ACI’s organizational priorities and strategy, ensuring advocacy efforts are aligned with the organization’s goals and long-term direction.
- Define and lead ACI’s federal and state agenda, determining how best to advance priorities across legislative, regulatory, and stakeholder channels (lobbying, regulatory engagement, coalition building, member mobilization, grassroots organizing, and strategic communications).
- Integrate federal and state advocacy efforts, ensuring alignment across legislative, regulatory, and stakeholder engagement to drive effective outcomes across jurisdictions.
- Ensure the Government Affairs Committee operates as an active, high-value forum that drives strategy development, alignment, and effective member communication.
- Build direct relationships with highly engaged members to foster ongoing dialogue, exchange and refine ideas, and work through complex issues together.
- Oversee key issue portfolios (e.g., chemical regulation and safety, environmental sustainability, product transparency and labeling), establishing the most effective path forward for each and leading coordinated, strategic responses.
- Translate political dynamics and emerging issues into strategic guidance for the President & CEO, Board, and members, with an emphasis on anticipating risk and taking proactive action.
External Influence & Relationships
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior officials in Congress, federal and state agencies, the Administration, industry partners, and other organizations influencing ACI’s policy and regulatory environment, strategically engaging these stakeholders in different ways to advance ACI’s priorities.
- Represent ACI at policy discussions, coalition meetings, and external forums, maintaining ACI’s science-based, pragmatic, and solutions-driven perspective on complex issues.
Coalition & Agenda Advancement
- Convene and lead coalitions to advance shared policy objectives, aligning diverse stakeholders behind focused advocacy efforts.
- Shape policy narratives through testimony, comment letters, thought leadership, and other targeted advocacy engagements that reinforce ACI’s credibility and influence.
Team Leadership & Collaboration
- Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing government affairs team, modeling strategic, outcomes-driven advocacy and action, and fostering a culture of accountability within a supportive and inclusive work environment.
- Strengthen the team’s ability to design and execute effective advocacy strategies internally and deploy consultants strategically to supplement internal efforts or provide specialized expertise.
- Work closely with regulatory, scientific, sustainability, and communications leaders to leverage their expertise in shaping and executing advocacy strategies, ensuring efforts are well-informed, coordinated across functions, and effectively communicated to members.
Qualifications
- 15+ years of senior-level experience in government affairs, public policy, or regulatory advocacy, shaping policy and regulatory outcomes through strategic, multi-channel advocacy efforts and leading coalition-based initiatives. A bachelor’s degree in public policy or a related field is required.
- Deep understanding of federal and state legislative and regulatory processes, with established, bipartisan relationships across Congress and with relevant federal and state agencies (e.g., EPA, FDA, CPSC, OSHA, DOC).
- Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing teams, manage external advisors, and drive alignment across internal departments.
- Experience advising senior executives and boards, framing options, trade-offs, and implications to guide sound decision-making.
About the American Cleaning Institute
The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) is the leading trade association representing the $60 billion U.S. cleaning products industry—including formulators, chemical suppliers, and packaging companies that develop products used every day to ensure health, hygiene, and economic vitality. ACI and its members are dedicated to advancing science-based policies that protect people and the environment, promote innovation, and support growth across the cleaning products value chain.
Staffing Advisors is committed to reducing bias in every aspect of the hiring process. We have long recommended a competency-driven approach to hiring. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences.
