What Does This Austin Government Relations Associate Job Require?

Published on: Oct 2, 2026

Apply to this Position

About 5 years of legislative, lobbying, or public affairs experience, a working command of the Texas legislative process, and the ability to register as a lobbyist with the Texas Ethics Commission. A Texas law firm's government relations practice is hiring for this hybrid, direct hire Austin role through Frontline Source Group, which backs direct hires with its 5-Year Placement Warranty. The job includes travel to Dallas and Houston and a strong benefits package.

Frontline Source Group was founded in Dallas by Bill Kasko in 2004 and now runs 32 plus offices, including an Austin office. The firm has completed 5,619 plus placements and holds a 98.94% executive retention rate and a 5.0 star Trustpilot rating across 677 plus verified reviews. It has made the Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firms list 9 years running (2018 to 2026) and ranked #148 on the 2026 Forbes Best Executive Recruiting Firms list. Frontline is also a 9-time ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both Client and Talent satisfaction, a ClearlyRated Diamond Award recipient, an Inc. 5000 honoree, an Expertise.com Best Staffing Agency, and a member of the American Staffing Association (ASA).

What does this Government Relations Associate job in Austin involve?

This is a hands-on lobbying and client service role inside a law firm's government relations practice. The associate tracks legislation, monitors news and political developments, prepares materials, attends hearings, meets with legislative offices, and keeps clients informed. The firm wants someone polished and well-spoken who is comfortable talking with legislators, legislative staff, agency officials, clients, and other stakeholders.

Who does the Government Relations Associate report to?

The associate works directly with the Managing Director of Government Affairs and is expected to be a real partner in every part of the advocacy work, not just a note-taker. That means anticipating what the Managing Director and clients will need, working independently, and sometimes representing the team in meetings without the Managing Director in the room. The associate also works with colleagues across the firm whose clients have government relations needs.

How is the work split between lobbying, client service, and research?

It depends on the calendar. During session, much of the week goes to the Capitol: hearings, office visits, testimony, and constant bill tracking. In the interim, more time shifts to research, position papers, interim hearings, client briefings, and helping the Managing Director with business development. Either way, the associate is the day-to-day point of contact for clients.

Government Relations Associate Role:

Lobbying Support and Advocacy

• Assist the Managing Director in executing legislative and regulatory strategies on behalf of clients
• Meet with legislators, legislative staff, agency officials, and stakeholders to advance client priorities, both alongside the Managing Director and independently as appropriate
• Build and maintain working relationships with legislative offices, committee staff, and agency personnel
• Help draft testimony, bill language, amendments, and position statements
• Represent the Managing Director and government affairs team professionally in meetings and discussions when appropriate
• Ensure all lobbying activity complies with Texas Ethics Commission rules and other applicable laws

Client Service

• Serve as a day-to-day point of contact for clients, coordinating communication between clients and the government relations team
• Prepare and deliver regular updates on legislative developments, advocacy efforts, and potential impacts on client interests
• Draft client-specific materials such as policy briefs, talking points, one-pagers, and legislative action summaries
• Coordinate client meetings, briefings, Capitol visits, and events
• Identify follow-up items and anticipate client and leadership needs

Research and Analysis

• Research legislative issues, policies, regulatory matters, political developments, and trends affecting clients
• Monitor relevant news and developments that may impact clients or legislative priorities
• Prepare reports, position papers, and presentations for client and legislative meetings
• Support research for prospective client pitches and proposals as requested

Legislative Monitoring

• Track bills, amendments, and rule changes relevant to client interests
• Monitor legislative calendars, committee schedules, interim hearings, agency meetings, and relevant news developments
• Attend hearings and meetings and provide timely summaries to the team and clients
• Identify legislative or political developments that require urgent attention or follow-up
• Maintain accurate records of lobbying activity, including contact lists, meeting notes, and follow-up items

Firm Collaboration

• Support colleagues across the firm's legal and advisory practices on client matters with government relations components
• Assist the Managing Director with business development efforts

What experience and qualifications does the firm require?

The firm is looking for a bachelor's degree in political science, public policy, public relations, communications, or a related field, plus approximately 5 years in a legislative, political, advocacy, government relations, lobbying, or public affairs setting. Direct experience working in or with the Texas Legislature is strongly preferred.

Why does the firm want about 5 years of experience?

Because the associate will be in front of legislators and clients, sometimes alone. Someone at the 5-year level usually knows how a bill moves through committee, who to call in a member's office, and when to push back on a client's expectations. The firm wants that political judgment and an assertive communication style, not an associate who waits for direction.

What does registering as a lobbyist with the Texas Ethics Commission involve?

You do not need to be registered today, but you need to be able to register and keep up with reporting. Under rule changes the Texas Ethics Commission adopted in May 2026, effective June 7, 2026, registration is required once a person receives more than $1,200 in compensation or reimbursement in a calendar quarter to lobby, or spends more than $650 on lobbying in a calendar quarter. The 2026 registration fee is $750 for most registrants. Experience filing lobby activity reports is a plus.

Background Requirements (must-have):

• Bachelor's degree in political science, public policy, public relations, communications, or a related field
• Approximately 5 years of experience in a legislative, political, advocacy, government relations, lobbying, or public affairs environment, calibrated closer to the 5-year level than to an entry-level hire
• Strong working understanding of the Texas legislative process and the political judgment needed to work effectively with clients and stakeholders
• Working knowledge of the Texas legislative process, including bill filing, committee procedures, hearings, legislative calendars, and interim activity
• Experience tracking legislation and monitoring political, legislative, regulatory, and relevant news developments
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, accurate, client-ready materials on tight deadlines
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple clients, issues, and priorities at once, particularly during session
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and anticipate needs rather than wait for direction
• Confident and appropriately assertive communication style, with the ability to provide opinions, recommendations, and pushback when necessary
• Ability to work as part of a small, collaborative team in a busy environment
• Ability and willingness to travel as required
• Ability to register as a lobbyist with the Texas Ethics Commission and comply with all applicable reporting requirements
• Discretion in handling confidential client and political information

Preferred (strongly preferred):

• Direct experience working in or with the Texas Legislature, such as legislative staff, committee staff, agency professionals, lobby teams, or government affairs professionals
• Experience in both the public and private sectors

Why does the 2027 Texas legislative session matter for this hire?

Timing. The firm is hiring heading into a session year, and the person in this seat will be tracking bills for clients from the first day bills can be filed.

When does the 90th Texas Legislature convene?

Bill prefiling opens November 9, 2026, and the 90th Legislature convenes January 12, 2027. The regular session is scheduled to end May 31, 2027, with March 12, 2027 as the last day to file bills. The Texas Legislature meets in regular session for 140 days in odd-numbered years, with 31 senators and 150 House members, so an associate who already knows committee procedures and legislative calendars can contribute right away.

Is the role hybrid, and how much travel is involved?

The position is based in Austin and runs on a hybrid schedule that flexes around travel, legislative activity, and business needs. Travel to Dallas and Houston is required as requested or as client needs dictate, and additional travel may come up based on legislative, business, and client needs. Frontline Source Group has offices in all three cities, including Austin, Dallas, and Downtown Houston.

What benefits come with this direct hire government relations job?

The package is strong: a profit sharing 401(k), 3 weeks of vacation that grows with tenure, paid parental leave, and an HSA with employer contributions, along with several extras you do not always see, like identity protection and a concierge health advocate.

Benefits:

• Profit Sharing 401(k)
• Paid parking or mass transit subsidy
• Paid time off: 3 weeks of vacation per year, increasing with tenure, plus 10 holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Healthcare and wellness plans
• HSA with employer contributions
• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid short-term and long-term disability
• Paid identity protection service
• Employee Assistance Program
• Concierge health advocate service

What happens after you apply through Frontline Source Group?

Every candidate applies through the Frontline Source Group application page. After you apply, you may get a call from Lexi Reed, Frontline's AI recruiter, who conducts phone interviews with applicants to support the recruiting team. A Frontline recruiter then reviews your background against what the Managing Director needs.

Frontline's professional search team includes Cassidy Jacobs, a Senior Executive Staffing Specialist whose coverage includes legal, operations, and administrative roles. Candidates who move forward receive interview instructions before meeting the firm. You can also look through recent placements to see the kinds of roles Frontline fills.

Why do Texas law firms and public affairs teams hire through Frontline Source Group?

Law firms, corporate legal departments, and government affairs teams use Frontline for legal staffing, legal executive search, and broader executive search, on a contract, contract-to-hire, or direct hire basis. A role like this one sits at the intersection of law, policy, and client service, which is why fit matters as much as resume.

What does the 5-Year Placement Warranty mean for an employer?

Most staffing agencies stand behind a direct hire for 90 days. Frontline backs its direct hire placements with a 5-Year Placement Warranty, 20 times longer than that 90-day industry standard guarantee. For a government relations practice, where an associate's relationships at the Capitol build up over several sessions, that long view matters.

How open is Frontline about what it charges?

Frontline publishes its engagement models on its pricing page, which is rare in this industry. Direct hire is a contingent fee based on first-year base salary, and contract staffing is billed hourly. You can see what clients and candidates say on the testimonials page and review the firm's staffing awards. Employers with an opening can start through the employer request form or the contact page.

Apply to this Position

Frequently Asked Questions: Government Relations Associate Job in Austin, TX

---