The American Heart Association (AHA) has an excellent opportunity for a Government Relations Director, New Mexico in our SouthWest Affiliate office located in Albuquerque, NM.
The SouthWest Affiliate Government Relations Director, New Mexico is responsible for executing strategic plans for issue-based policy campaigns across the state of New Mexico. In particular, he or she serves as the lead for stakeholder and decision maker relationship building with a portfolio focus on AHA public policy issues, such as obesity prevention, tobacco control, and systems of care. He or she is a skilled organizer and lobbyist with experience in volunteer engagement, coalition building, and campaign planning, as well as having a strong interest in public health policy. He or she is the staff lobbyist with a state policy focus and reports to the Regional Vice-President, State and Community Advocacy. The Government Relations Director, New Mexico must reside in the Albuquerque area.
Campaign Management
- Serve as lead campaign manager for several issue-based state and local policy campaigns.
- Manage all aspects of portfolio’s strategic campaign plans, including budget, media and grassroots strategy.
- Oversee execution of portfolio’s grassroots tactics in conjunction with the Grassroots Director.
- Serve as campaign liaison to several statewide and national partner organizations.
- This person will adhere to American Heart Association policies and reporting for lobbying, advocacy, ethics reporting, as well as campaign guidelines.
- He or she will successfully pass statewide policies that further the mission of the American Heart Association and defeat those that would hinder our mission.
- He or she will generate all reports necessary to update the American Heart Association and its partners on the status of issue based policy campaigns.
Stakeholder and Community Engagement
- Cultivate relationships with stakeholders and community organizations.
- Recruit local community and civic leaders, as well as members of priority populations to participate in state policy campaigns.
- Work with field staff and coalition members to identify new opportunities to collaborate with state departments and agencies, public health officials, business leaders, universities, community-based organizations to promote campaign’s goals.
- Identify strategic alliances throughout the state of New Mexico and create synergetic relationships with them.
- Serve as the American Heart Association’s liaison to existing coalitions and community partnerships.
- This person will lead efforts to engage portfolio’s stakeholders, coalition members and volunteers working in coordination with the AR State Advocacy
- or she will successfully sustain coalitions that furthers the mission and policy agenda of the American Heart Association.
- Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Regional Vice-President, State and Community Advocacy.
- A minimum of 3 years work experience in government relations or a related field
- A minimum of 3 years of volunteer management experience
- Ability to travel at least 25% of work time across New Mexico
- Experience with strategic campaign planning practices
- Experience with key leaders, state and local government processes, community groups and influencers
- Experience with coalition development and management
- Experience managing group and individual dynamics
- Experience persuading and motivating stakeholders
- Ability to function independently with minimal supervision
- High attention to detail
- Multi-tasking ability and the proven ability to meet deadlines on a consistent basis
- Ability to work in a team environment and interact with all levels of American Heart Association staff, volunteers and the public
- Proven experience and willingness to work in an atmosphere requiring flexibility and change
- Ability to transport materials and other supplies to and from meetings and events
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and, as needed, outside standard business hours
- Ability to work evenings/weekends and travel when necessary
- Expertise in creating documents in MS Office Suite
- Must pass Criminal, Credit and DMV background checks