Associate, External Affairs

The Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games will be hosted in Los Angeles, California in 2028, returning to the United States for the first time in over 30 years. 2028 will be the first time LA hosts the Paralympic Games, creating an opportunity to expand awareness, understanding and inclusion of people with disabilities.

LA28, the organizers for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, is on a mission to create an unparalleled Games experience for athletes, fans, partners, our community and our people. Our vision is to collectively create what’s next through sport, community and the power of our differences.

The 2028 Olympics and Paralympics will represent LA and leverage the strength of our community’s diversity and creativity as we collectively work to design a Games that we all want to be a part of. We do this by focusing on people and by inviting everyone into the story of the LA28 Games.

The LA28 organizing committee is an independent, non-profit organization that is privately funded and governed by a board of directors. 

Our Vision is to collectively create what’s next by harnessing sport, community and the power of our differences. Our Mission is to create an unparalleled Paralympic and Olympic Games for athletes, fans, partners, our community and our people.

Values and Behaviors:

• Optimism – Embody a positive, enthusiastic, and solution-oriented attitude in everything we do; challenge the status quo, inspire and support one another to achieve our best; have our eyes on the future and believe we can make a meaningful impact
• Integrity – We communicate openly and honestly, listen, and respectfully value multiple perspectives; we do what we say and are accountable for everything we do; we do the right thing, always. Even when it isn’t easy
• Excellence – We hold ourselves to the highest standard and expectations; we live our values and truths and persevere through challenges; we are continuous learners and adapt and pivot with speed to meet changing needs
• Inclusion – We seek to represent, include, empower and level the playing field; our work reflects the communities we serve and the world in which we live; we leverage our platforms to bring awareness to issues relevant to who we are
• Co-Creation – We are authors of a shared story. Everyone contributes their unique voice to our shared mission; we share pride in our accomplishments and ownership of our shortcomings
• Boldness – We embrace creativity, courage and outside-the-box thinking; we are unafraid to take risks, explore unconventional solutions, and learn from the process; we are innovators, disruptors, and challengers of the status quo

Associate, External Affairs:

The External Affairs team is responsible for creating and maintaining LA28’s remarkable reputation and relationships with and support from key external stakeholders and for using the convening power of the Games to leave a positive impact on the people of Los Angeles. It is comprised of interconnected functional areas, including Government Relations, Impact & Community Relations, Sustainability, and more.   

Living LA28’s value of co-creation, the External Affairs team engages regularly with a wide range of stakeholders, including elected and appointed officials and their staff at the international, federal, state, and local levels; community, labor and non-governmental leaders and organizations; advocacy groups and associations; private sector partners; and many others. In addition, team members work across the LA28 organization and the broader U.S. and international Olympic and Paralympic Movements.  

The Associate, External Affairs will report to LA28’s Senior Associate, Government Relations and will support the day-to-day engagement with our internal and external stakeholders across these many categories, including through coordinating, providing briefing materials for, tracking, and following up on the Senior Executive’s extensive meeting and travel schedule. They must be a proactive and detail-oriented professional with a passion for external affairs and government relations and the ability to work in a fast-paced, evolving environment under tight timelines.  

They will be responsible for working closely with the External Affairs team to help design and drive strategies and initiatives that enhance our relationships, secure necessary support, and allow us to leave a lasting legacy. The ideal candidate will have some prior experience working in government and/or government relations. The incumbent must be very organized and adept at multitasking; able to handle many diverse projects at once and meet tight deadlines. Working in our Los Angeles office, they will collaborate with myriad team members to help drive the overall success of the LA28 Games.  

Key Responsibilities:

Stakeholder Management  

• Facilitate ongoing stakeholder engagement through meetings, conference calls, and written correspondence 
• Maintain and build databases for managing and tracking outreach and engagement activities and stakeholder contacts, ensuring compliance with government regulations and policies
• Liaise with key colleagues/functional units at various stakeholder bodies 
• Continually seek and research pertinent information/news/data/public policies relative to LA28 stakeholders; analyze stakeholder interests, concerns, and expectations to inform strategic decision-making  

Project Coordination  

• Design and deliver project management plans, under the direction of External Affairs Leadership 
• Develop, organize, and track comprehensive meeting and project agendas, materials, and follow-ups, proactively monitoring and managing action items from internal and external stakeholders, including consultants, to ensure precise project execution and accountability 
• Draft and compile look-ahead and retrospective reports, briefings, and presentations for LA28 executive leadership, government bodies, and other stakeholders 
• Prepare activity reports and metrics for measuring program success; assist in managing projects ensuring timelines and deliverables are met within internal teams and external consultants 
• Help ensure all External Affairs efforts serve to achieve immediate and long-term goals, and support all improvements for processes and tracking to key performance indicators (KPIs) 

Executive Support  

• Provide high-level administrative support managing calendars and expense reports, and fostering collaboration between internal teams 
• Aid in the planning and management of meetings, events, conferences, etc. by identifying, assembling, and coordinating requirements and staffing on-site  
• Arrange and coordinate travel logistics for domestic and international travel for select team members, including reservations, compiling trip calendars and materials, coordinating with on-the-ground points of contact, and any necessary travel documentation 
• Assist with onboarding new External Affairs team members  

Background & Qualifications:

• 2+ years of direct experience in government, community relations, external relations or other related fast-paced field managing and leading people and initiatives  
• Skilled in working with senior executives and colleagues across multiple functional areas 
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging 
• Clear understanding of how LA28 and the Games impact LA’s diverse communities
• Passion for fostering, building, and maintaining relationships with key external and internal stakeholders 
• Excellent presentation preparation and writing skills and ability to work successfully with varied audiences (colleagues, business partners, collaborators, customers, and senior members of the organization)  
• Extremely detail-oriented with excellent organizational, operational and program execution skills  
• Strong communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills  
• Well-developed problem-solving skills and ability to work independently, while also knowing when to seek feedback and buy-in 
• A high energy level, entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to thrive through a period of change and growth 
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and contribute under pressure, see a project through to completion, and meet tight deadlines 
• Hands-on experience managing relationships with strategic partners  
• Commitment to understanding the stakeholder landscape, including political and community trends 
• Fluency working with Office suite products, with demonstrated ability to utilize advanced features/functions in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, and an ability to adapt rapidly to new organizational tools as they are integrated by LA28 
• The ability to balance a strategic mindset with tactical demands is a must; clear ability to think, organize and passionately lead project teams 
• Excitement for the role and opportunity to help shape the future of Los Angeles and the Olympic and Paralympic Movement 
• Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion 
• Availability to work in-person five days a week in a Los Angeles-based office and, as required, to attend in-person meetings and events all across the County and region   

Preferred Qualifications  

• Familiarity with government relations, advocacy, and trip-planning logistics (e.g., “fly-ins”)  
• Experience working for and/or with the federal government
• Knowledge of legislative and regulatory processes; experience researching and writing background papers and briefings for Senior Leadership 
• Experience in travel coordination and project management 
• Working knowledge of CRM software (Salesforce, etc.) and project management Software (Smartsheet, Asana, etc.)  

Expectations:

• Innovative Approach – Ability to identify opportunities, develop new ideas and execute on creative concepts while managing to a budget  
• Influencing Skills – Ability to drive organizational alignment through collaboration  
• Flexible Approach – Ability to roll with the transitional nature of the organization as it grows and evolves over the next 4+ years  
• Challenger Mindset – Inclination to drive ongoing improvement in people and process

Education:

• An undergraduate degree in public policy, political science, or related field  or equivalent work experience 

The annual base salary range for this position is $70,000.00 - $75,000.00. The pay scale provided is the range that LA28 reasonably expects to pay as starting base compensation for this role. All LA28 compensation remains subject to final determination based on individual candidate qualifications, experience, or other reasonable criteria consistent with LA28’s operational business needs and applicable law.

LA28 does not provide relocation assistance.

LA28 is committed to operating fair and unbiased recruitment procedures allowing all applicants an equal opportunity for employment, free from discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, color, ethnic or national origin, or any other classification as may be protected by applicable law. We strive to build a team that is diverse, inclusive and encourages qualified candidates of all backgrounds, perspectives, and identities to apply. We will consider all qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with local law. We assess applications based on relevant skills, education, and experience a candidate can add to our team.