Manager, State Advocacy

AARP • Columbus, OH

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest-circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin.
AARP’s Community, State and National Affairs (CSN) Group​ includes Government Relations, Programs, Volunteer Engagement, Community Outreach and Advocacy at the federal, state and local levels. It delivers on AARP’s social mission by educating and engaging people 50-plus and their families, strengthening communities, and championing issues that help give people financial and health security.
The Manager, State Advocacy, manages implementation and execution of state, federal, and local advocacy strategy, goals, and objectives within business unit plans and the overall enterprise strategy. Represents the organization and its interests to elected officials and public policy leaders directly and through leadership of a team of staff and volunteer advocates. Manages integration of advocacy partnerships with internal and external teams to achieve the organization’s federal, state, and local advocacy goals. Works with internal/external teams to develop and execute advocacy campaigns and to build constituent support for the organization’s legislative priorities. Collaborates with management to identify opportunities to streamline processes and to develop new procedures that support the business unit/department. Recruits, develops, and directs a team of staff and volunteer advocates to achieve strategic goals and objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 5 years of experience in advocacy, public policy, community engagement, or grassroots organizing.
• Experience with State Advocacy in Ohio required, as is knowledge of Ohio state and federal legislative processes, public policy issues impacting older adults, community organizing, and coalition building.
• Must have proven experience building relationships with lawmakers, community leaders, and stakeholders and strategic planning.
• Requires strong professional skills in public speaking, communication, policy analysis and advocacy strategy.
• You must be willing to travel occasionally and work weekends and evenings as required.
• Regular and reliable job attendance.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships.
• Independent judgement in evaluation options to make sound decisions.
• In office/open office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate noise.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
• AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position at this time.

Nice To Haves

• Management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the development and implementation of advocacy strategies and campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels while collaborating with cross-functional teams as well as internal and external partners to achieve the organization’s legislative goals. Develops and manages relationships with elected officials at all levels.
• Leads organization’s state office efforts to collaborate with internal/external partners on advocacy campaign communication strategy development. Utilizes direct action organizing tactics and implements grassroots advocacy tools to build constituent support for the organization’s legislative priorities.
• Leads a team of staff that identifies issues of public policy and organizational importance and implements strategies, such as drafting and distributing memos or releases, to generate government and public support.
• Represents the organization and its interests to federal, state, or local government agencies and manages a team that is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with governmental representatives with the goal of advancing and promoting the organization's goals.
• Serves as a deep subject matter expert on the organization’s issues. Uses data and input from diverse stakeholders. Oversees the production of written reports and convenes public meetings to disseminate findings, share best practices, and advance solutions through relevant communication channels.
• Recruits, trains, develops, and deploys staff and volunteers in accordance with organizational goals. Aligns staff and volunteers’ interests with organizational priorities. Supports staff and volunteer needs and designs opportunities to maximize employee and volunteer engagement. Ensures inclusion of volunteer perspectives in strategic planning.
• Leads the development of advocacy volunteer recruitment and training strategies and provides overall management of advocacy volunteers who conduct policy analysis and advocate with state and federal legislators on behalf of the organization.

Benefits

• AARP offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including a 401(k); 100% company-funded pension plan; health, dental, and vision plans; life insurance; paid time off to include company and individual holidays, vacation, sick, caregiving, and parental leave; performance-based and peer-based recognition and tuition reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees