Chief Counsel

Our nation’s 100,000 dedicated 9-1-1 professionals—serving communities large and small, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year—deserve innovative tools and forward-thinking leadership to support their lifesaving work. The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International (APCO) empowers and advocates for these professionals working in over 4,500 emergency communication centers across the country.

As Chief Counsel, you will play a pivotal role in shaping APCO’s legislative and regulatory strategy. Reporting directly to the CEO, you will oversee two direct reports—Government Relations Counsel and Senior Counsel and structure the team to effectively support APCO’s strategic goals. Combining sharp legal expertise with a passion for building coalitions and external engagement, you will position APCO as a proactive and trusted voice in key areas, including Next Generation 9-1-1 infrastructure and cybersecurity, spectrum allocation of the 4.9 GHz band for public safety, improving emergency communications resiliency, the reclassification of frontline public safety telecommunicators, and more. Balancing legal precision with strategic communication, you’ll serve as the primary legal adviser to the CEO and execute consistently high-quality, accurate work in developing APCO’s response to regulatory filings, public comments, and official submissions.

A large part of your work will be externally facing, representing APCO on the world stage. You’ll build relationships with Congress, federal agencies, the Administration, industry leaders, and national public safety and governmental organizations to advocate for policies, regulations, and legislation that benefit our members and the public. You’ll also engage directly with our membership through outreach programs and grassroots advocacy initiatives, uncovering the issues that matter to them most and translating complex legal developments into strategies they can take action on. Your ability to communicate tactfully with a range of stakeholders—from heads of federal agencies to emergency communications directors—and foster conversations focused on solutions will be central to your success.

How You’ll Make an Impact

Your work will build a bridge between policy, technology, and the needs of frontline public safety communications professionals, amplifying APCOs’ influence and relevance while helping members navigate the complex network of laws, regulations, and evolving technology standards. Key focus areas include:

• Advocating on the Hill and at the FCC. Prepare to move quickly on priority legislative issues, including NG9-1-1, reclassification (9-1-1 SAVES/Enhancing First Response Act), and health and wellness (PROTECT 9-1-1). Prepare for APCO’s response to FCC notices, including NG9-1-1 interoperability, Multilingual Wireless Emergency Alerts, 9-1-1 outage notifications, and pending FCC action on 6 GHz/4.9 GHz bands.
• Governance and Coalition Leadership. Lead the Public Safety Next Generation 9-1-1 Coalition. Serve as staff liaison to the Bylaws Committee. Monitor the Standard Occupational Classification revision process in partnership with the SOC Policy Committee.
• Team Leadership and Government Relations Office Goals. Mentor and lead GRO staff in successfully executing key initiatives, including webinars, the APCO Fly-In, APCO 2025 conference sessions, professional development training on law enforcement and fire rescue issues, and toolkit development for visiting an ECC. Foster professional growth and continuous improvement while strategically allocating team efforts to maximize mission impact.
• Strategic Partnerships and External Relationships. Develop a strong network of influential federal leaders committed to fulfilling APCO’s mission; build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including lawmakers, government agencies, advocacy groups, and industry coalitions, to position the association as a trusted resource and advocate.

Work Environment, Salary, and Benefits

• You’ll join APCO’s leadership 5 days weekly in our Alexandria, VA, Executive Offices for real-time collaboration and timely response on critical public safety initiatives.
• The budgeted salary range for this position is $270K – $310K with an outstanding benefits package, including 13 paid company holidays, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with HSA option, disability, basic life and AD&D insurance, 401(k) with 8% match, and more.
• You will enjoy working with dedicated, passionate, mission-oriented elected leaders who share a passion for public service and are committed to making a difference in the world.

Responsibilities

• Direct APCO’s legislative and regulatory affairs, advising CEO/Executive Director as to the potential impact of federal legislative and regulatory developments.
• Monitor political, legislative, and regulatory issues at the federal level and assess the impact on APCO; provide regular status reports and recommendations.
• Interpret and disseminate information on legislative and regulatory matters.
• Lead APCO’s response to public comments, regulatory filings, and other official submissions impacting public safety communications policy.
• Protect and influence the interest of public safety at the federal level through APCO’s legislative and regulatory policies.
• Identify federal legislative opportunities to provide funding and technical assistance to public safety communications programs.
• Coordinate the interaction between state and federal government officials and APCO membership concerning the interests of APCO and the functional impact of proposed legislation and regulation; suggest modifications as appropriate.
• Establish and maintain contacts with outside organizations and other institutions to aid and foster government relations activities.
• Recommend operational initiatives necessitated by legislative mandates; suggest alternative policies and procedures to enable APCO to accomplish its objectives.
• Represent the association in public hearings, legislative sessions, and regulatory meetings. Provide testimony or speak at events to advocate for the association’s positions on key issues.
• Develop an annual budget and work plan for the Office of Government Relations and direct various personnel functions.
• Develop, maintain, and coordinate a proactive communications strategy with APCO’s Marketing and Communications Department, as well as updating information for APCO’s websites, social media, newsletters, emails, and other forms of communications.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to the Government Relations team, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture.
• Develop professional growth opportunities for team members through training, coaching, and hands-on experiences that enhance their legal, advocacy, and policy expertise.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) with bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction and 6–10 years of experience in government relations, regulatory affairs, or legislative activity related to public safety communications.
• Deep knowledge of FCC regulations impacting public safety, including spectrum management, cybersecurity, video communications, and Next Generation 9-1-1 standards. Strong experience in federal legislative processes and advocacy.
• Exceptional writing skills with the proven ability to produce high-caliber regulatory filings, legislative responses, and other formal documents with precision and clarity.
• Skilled in delivering compelling presentations and testimony in public forums, regulatory hearings, and legislative sessions. Demonstrated ability to engage and build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• A record of success in building and leading teams, setting clear goals, and aligning departmental objectives with an organization’s strategic plan.

About Us

Founded in 1935, APCO is the world’s largest organization of public safety communications professionals. APCO’s 35,000+ membership includes those who manage, operate, build, and support public safety communications systems for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, and other public safety agencies. The association supports its members – and the general public – by providing industry expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy, and outreach. APCO’s 64-person professional staff is unparalleled in their commitment, work ethic, and productivity. Our incredible staff expertly leads a diverse portfolio of responsibilities, from advocating for public safety at the federal level and delivering high-quality training curriculum to planning and executing the premier public safety communications conferences and events in the country – while always aligning their exceptional service ethic to our long-range strategic plan and goals.

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.