Date Posted:
October 1, 2026
Position Title:
Senior Director, International Affairs
Office/Company:
Aerospace Industries Association (AIA)
Party:
N/A
Office Code:
Job Number:
HC-13285
Reports To:
Location:
Washington, DC
Contact:
Salary:
Primary Role
Secondary Role:
Job Type:
Full Time
Description:
AIA’s International Division at AIA is responsible for promoting domestic and international policies and practices that help American companies compete in the global marketplace and cooperate with our allies and foreign partners. This position is responsible for providing analysis, policy, legislative, and communications recommendations on international affairs issues impacting the aerospace and defense industry. These topics include but are not limited to defense trade, regional security issues, relationships with U.S. government and foreign governments, and regulations/policies made by U.S. and foreign governments. Activities may be related to any area of the International Division portfolio but are expected to focus primarily on U.S. and international regulatory policy. Likely issue areas include: defense trade (foreign military sales and direct commercial sales), offset policies, multilateral agreements, and the foreign regulatory environment. This position will also provide division leadership at the direction of the Vice President, International Affairs. This position reports to the Vice President, International Affairs.
Responsibilities:
• The Senior Director, International Affairs will be responsible for AIA’s overall defense trade agenda by developing policy recommendations, advocacy strategies, and communications and legislation recommendations on defense trade policy, FMS, DCS, global defense industrial base cooperation, exportability, multilateral security partnerships, defense trade treaties, and other policy aspects. The incumbent will be responsible for leading AIA committees and subcommittees focused on defense trade, interacting with AIA leadership, members, and outside industry and government stakeholders, and other key personnel to advance the Association’s defense trade program. As the staff lead for AIA’s defense trade policy agenda, this position is a critical element of the division’s overall international affairs policy and advocacy program.
• In addition to the policy and regulatory portfolio, the Senior Director, International Affairs will be responsible for assisting the Vice President, International Affairs with day-to-day operations of the division and, as needed, the strategic direction of the international advocacy portfolio. They will also serve as the primary backup to Vice President when that person is unavailable to represent the division or the Association on international issues.
• Direct Policy and Advocacy Development in Defense Trade and Related Issues (35%)
• Serve as the primary staff liaison to, and independently manage, AIA’s Defense Trade Committee, Offsets Subcommittee, and any other ad hoc working groups for policy development, outside stakeholder convening, and advocacy strategy development
• Draft, edit, and develop defense trade-related materials for AIA leadership, members, and outside stakeholders, including policy memos, meeting minutes, remarks and talking points, meeting agendas, letters, background materials, and white papers
• Interface, build, and maintain relationships with U.S. government defense trade agencies, including the State Department’s Regional Security and Arms Transfer (RSAT) bureau, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and the Defense Department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)
• Monitor government Federal Register Notices (FRNs) related to U.S. defense trade impacting the aerospace/defense industry
• Maintain AIA International Affairs defense trade-related committee and working group materials and ensure timely distribution of meeting notices to members and invited guests
• Conduct Policy Analysis and Provide Action Recommendations (25%)
• Research, monitor, maintain, and provide updates on changes in defense trade-related policy regulations and legislation, multilateral security partnerships, and defense trade treaties
• Provide expert analysis and recommendations on strategy, positions, and actions for AIA leadership and members on defense trade-related matters, multilateral security partnerships, and defense trade treaties, exportability, etc. to include consensus-based responses to Federal Register Notices (FRNs) and any pending legislation
• Member Management and Stakeholder Engagement (20%)
Qualifications:
• Minimum Requirements:
• The Senior Director, International Affairs must be a known and respected practitioner in the defense trade community, with focused experience in defense FMS, DCS, and technology security.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., international affairs, political science, public affairs/public policy/public administration, business/economics, etc.) is required. Master’s degree or commensurate work experience is preferred.
• Minimum 10 years work experience with a knowledge of international trade and regulatory issues, particularly as they relate to U.S. industry and/or defense trade policy.
• Ability to quickly analyze defense trade policy issues and synthesize the information for senior AIA leadership and members.
• Native understanding and extensive work within the Microsoft Office environment (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, SharePoint) is required.
• Strong oral and written communication skills (concise, timely, positive nature).
• Ability to work under time pressure to meet deadlines and capability to quickly flex to changes in priorities.
• Strong people skills with an ability to interface at all levels of the organization, with all levels of leadership, and work within a diverse organization.
• Organized, attentive to details, ability to independently prioritize, timely, and have the ability to multi-task duties.
• Must possess well-developed interpersonal and time management skills.
• Analytical, flexible thinker with the ability to prioritize, multitask, and collaborate across AIA.
Instructions:
Apply here
Other:
AIA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace, committed to non-discrimination regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity/expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.
This job description is not intended to be a complete statement of all duties, which may be assigned by the supervisor according to varying business needs.
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