The American Heart Association (AHA) has an excellent opportunity for a Community Advocacy Director in Ohio (Multi-Market) .
The Community Advocacy Director is responsible for coordinating and overseeing strategy and efforts to further the public policy priorities of the American Heart Association (AHA) in the assignedcommunity. You will also be responsible for serving as the primary representative of the AHA to community level public officials and relevant community public agencies to generate awareness and support for the AHA’s public policy agenda. Additional responsibilities include building and managing teams of AHA staff, volunteers, coalitions and partner organizations to build support for and integrate advocacy issues messaging into all other AHA programs/events.
- Strategically coordinates and oversees all elements of successful public policy priority campaigns at the assigned market level.
- Meets one on one with elected community officials, their staff, and other community government officials to gain support for the AHA’s advocacy issues.
- Monitors and engages on legislative and regulatory issues of concern to the AHA and apprises appropriate AHA volunteers and staff of emerging advocacy issues.
- Provides policy research, development of support materials, recruiting of spokespersons, preparing testimony, and other activities as needed to advance the AHA’s community public policy agenda.
- Participates in coalition efforts and other collaborative partnerships to leverage opportunities that advance the Association’s public policy priorities.
- Recruits membership for and provides staff support to a volunteer community advocacy committee. In collaboration with the committee, and with strategic direction from the Association’s advocacy program develops a community legislative agenda.
- Provides strategic direction on community grassroots and key contact, recruitment, retention and mobilization efforts.
- Collaborates with communications staff partners on development and timing of media advocacy efforts.
- Assurances compliance with lobbying requirements and prepares all necessary reporting.
- Provides advocacy presentations and training opportunities to volunteers and staff as needed.
- Attends and participates in relevant AHA meetings throughout the year.
- Minimum of three (3) years of:
- Experience and success in legislative and regulatory lobbying
- Demonstrated experience building and managing issue advocacy coalition(s)
- Experience developing and implementing grassroots and media advocacy tactics
- Policy analysis and technical (legislative and regulatory) writing skills
- Ability to simultaneously manage multiple, complex projects in varying stages of development under time constraints
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of strategic planning, budgeting, and managing work
- Exceptional oral and written communications skills.
- Must be able to travel overnight approx. 25% of the time.
Here are some of the preferred skills we are looking for:
- Knowledge of voluntary health organizations or nonprofit organizations
- Experience working in health care policy
- Experience in volunteer management
- Demonstrated understanding and appreciation for the use of technology and information systems.