The American Heart Association (AHA) has an excellent opportunity for a State Government Relations Director in Virginia .
In order to be considered for this role, you must live in the state and be within commute of the State Capital.
The State Government Relations Director is responsible for serving as the primary representative of the AHA to the assigned state legislature and relevant state agencies to generate awareness and support for the AHA’s public policy agenda. You will strategically coordinate and oversee efforts to further the state public policy priorities of the American Heart Association (AHA). Additionally this role is responsible for working with AHA staff, volunteers, coalitions and partner organizations to build support for AHA policy issues and to integrate advocacy messaging into relevant AHA programs and events.
- Strategically coordindate and oversee all elements of succssful public policy priority campaigns.
- Meets one on one with members of the state legislature, their staff, and other state government officials to gain support for the AHA’s advocacy issues.
- Monitors and engages on state-level 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, recruitment of spokespersons, preparation of testimony, and other activities as needed to advance the AHA’s legislative agenda.
- Participates in coalition building efforts and collaborative partnerships to leverage opportunities that advance the AHA’s advocacy issues.
- Recruits membership for and provides staff support to volunteer state advocacy committee(s). Collaborates with the committee to develop an annual state legislative agenda.
- Provides strategic direction on statewide grassroots and key contact, recruitment, retention and mobilization efforts. Provides strategic direction and support materials for state lobby days and/or local in-district meetings.
- Collaborates with communications staff partners on development and timing of media advocacy efforts.
- Prepares required reporting information including local, state and/or federal lobbying reports and other reporting as necessary.
- Provides advocacy presentations and training opportunities to volunteers and staff as needed.
- Attends and participates in relevant AHA meetings throughout the year, including national and affiliate staff trainings, affiliate and state-level meetings with staff partners, and metro board meetings.
- Minimum of three (3) years of:
- Experience and success in legislative and regulatory lobbying .
- Experience building and managing issue advocacy coalitions.
- Experience developing and implementing grassroots and media advocacy tactics.
- Possess 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.
- Understanding and appreciation for the use of technology and information systems.