Iowa Associate

POSITION OVERVIEW

SUMMARY/OBJECTIVE

Cornerstone seeks a full-time professional to support our client accounts. All individuals in our Iowa office manage a variety of administrative tasks and support each other with client service activities. Additionally, administrative tasks are necessary to support both new and existing government relations clients. This position is based in Des Moines, Iowa.

This position is responsible for several client service, administrative, and direct advocacy tasks, including, but not limited to:

Client Service & Advocacy

• Support lobbying efforts by engaging with legislators on client issues.
• Build and maintain relationships with legislative staff, elected officials, and department personnel.
• Shadow senior lobbyists in meetings with legislators and staff, with the goal of gradually taking on direct advocacy responsibilities.
• Serve as a secondary team member on client accounts, assisting lead lobbyists with client management, strategy development, and legislative advocacy.
• Attend subcommittee and committee meetings during the legislative session, communicating client positions as needed.
• Draft memorandums, newsletters, bill reports, and other client-related documents.
• Attend client-related events and legislative receptions as needed.

Legislative Tracking & Reporting

• Register as a lobbyist on behalf of Cornerstone clients.
• Track legislator interactions and maintain detailed notes on outreach efforts.
• Prepare daily briefing documents for senior lobbyists.
• Draft and distribute client reports, including: weekly bill trackers during the legislative session, weekly legislative newsletters during the session, and monthly newsletters during the interim months.

Administrative & Operational Support

• Assist with scheduling meetings, organizing events, and coordinating legislative receptions (including securing space).
• Provide support with lobbying compliance and reporting requirements.
• Participate in client team calls, capturing and memorializing tasks and action items.
• Coordinate internal staff meetings and agendas, tracking follow-up items.
• Provide day-to-day operational support to maintain an efficient and organized work environment.

COMPETENCIES

Key qualities for candidates in this position include:  

• Proactiveness: Works independently in a busy environment;
• Flexibility: Able to work early mornings and late evenings;
• Dependability: Arrives to work on time, follows instructions, pays close attention to detail, responds promptly, and solicits feedback to improve performance;
• Adaptability: Able to adapt to changes in the work environment on a day-to-day basis, comfortable with ambiguity, and manage relationships with multiple client service professionals in the office;
• Time Management: Thrives in a fast-paced environment and can manage competing priorities;
• Communication: Possess strong written and verbal communication skills; and
• Teamwork: Able to work within a team, is approachable, and willing to help others.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent writing, organizational, and communication skills; 
• Ability to prioritize competing tasks, work with minimal supervision, work well under pressure, and anticipate schedule demands to meet deadlines; 
• The ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment; and 
• A basic understanding of government relations or relevant work experience in a related field; 
• Experience using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, and Excel), Microsoft Teams, and Adobe Acrobat; and 
• Proficiency with web browsers (Explorer, Chrome) and virtual platforms.