The American Heart Association (AHA) has an excellent opportunity for a State Government Relations Director in Florida
*In order to be considered for this role, you are required to live in the state and be within commuting distance of the State Capital. *
Responsible for serving as the primary representative of the American Heart Association to the assigned state legislature, state executive branch and associated state agencies to generate awareness and support for the AHA’s public policy agenda. You will strategically coordinate and lead efforts to advance the state public policy priorities. Additionally, this position is responsible for annually planning, managing, and executing an active public policy agenda at the local level for Tallahassee, Florida, as well as identifying and cultivating local public policy work for success related to AHA’s mission throughout Florida.
This role is responsible for working with staff, volunteers, coalitions and partner organizations to build support for our policy issues and to integrate advocacy messaging into AHA programs and events.
- Coordinate and handle all elements of successful public policy priority campaigns.
- Meets with members of the legislature, their staff, and other state government officials to gain support for AHA’s advocacy issues.
- Meets with local elected officials and stakeholders in Tallahassee, Florida and other local jurisdictions (as defined by your supervisor) to maximize opportunities and gain support for AHA’s advocacy issues.
- Monitors and engages on state-level legislative and regulatory issues of concern to AHA and apprises appropriate 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 our state and local legislative agenda.
- Participates in coalition-building efforts and other partnerships to designed to strengthen opportunities that advance our advocacy issues.
- Recruits membership for and provides staff support to volunteer state advocacy committee(s). Collaborates with the committee to develop an annual state and local 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 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 handle multiple, complex projects in varying stages of development under time constraints.
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of planning, budgeting, and prioritizing work.
- Excellent oral and written communications skills.
- Ability to travel overnight approx. 25% of the time.
Here are some of the preferred skills/experiences 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.