Manager, Advocacy and Outreach

Primary Responsibilities of the AARP Manager of Advocacy & Outreach are as follows: 

• Builds and maintains a strong multi-functional team, consisting of high-functioning generalists and skilled subject matter professionals in an assigned region in Illinois to implement advocacy, community impact & education, volunteer engagements, multicultural relevance, brand, and member experiences.
• Leads an approach for Community Presence/Outreach, Multicultural Member Engagement and Volunteer Management to work with team members and colleagues, and with national AARP colleagues to implement goals, campaigns, work plans and metrics.   The manager cultivates and maintains relationships, both external and internal across the AARP Enterprise, and empowers team members to do the same.

Specific Responsibilities for the Advocacy Manager & Advocacy are as follows:

• Plans and recommends strategic vision to the State Director and Executive Council for his/her geographic  area, and translates the vision and strategy into a plan that can be readily communicated and implemented with Illinois team members, volunteers and external partners.
• In conjunction with the Illinois leadership team, executes the strategic plan for the Community Presence/Outreach, Multicultural Member Engagement and Volunteer Management and assigned market to defined results, and with clear lines of accountability for staff and volunteers. Manages budget and resource allocation for assigned geographic area.
• Supervises and leads a multifunctional team of professionals in assigned region in Illinois, using best in class practices of management to motivate, support, recognize and continually improve team performance to achieve enterprise goals and a shared vision.  Develops and monitors work plans for and with staff; manages and documents staff performance and takes corrective action when necessary. Ensures that policies and procedures are carried out appropriately and identifies training/development needs of staff. Engenders results-oriented collaboration across the matrix functions and team members; and operates with transparency in decision-making and in the allocation of resources.
• Leads team in a cross-functional implementation of the state plan, incorporating specifics of demographic, cultural and economic dynamics into how Illinois’ enterprise goals are presented and perceived by the 50+ public, media and decisions makers across public, private and social sectors, to grow relevance and impact in targeted communities. The Manager helps integrate other functions to meet the goals of the market.
• Calibrates implementation of the state plan regularly, in conjunction with the Illinois Leadership team and national office, to reflect changing needs of the 50+ population, or dynamics in the environment or enterprise.
• Builds strong, collaborative working relationships with AARP Illinois Leadership Team and participates as an active member of the team with an eye to achieving statewide goals and vision.
• Represents AARP Illinois in relevant forums, serves on AARP Enterprise task forces and work groups, representing both state and national priorities.