Sr. Advocacy Communications Lead

American Heart Association • Dallas, TX

2d • $100,000 - $110,000 • Remote

About The Position

The American Heart Association is hiring a Senior Advocacy Communications Lead based at its National Center office. The position can be remote. The role develops and implements enterprise-wide advocacy communications strategies to promote the Association’s policy statements, positions, and public policy priorities. It also provides strategic counsel and communications support for state and community advocacy campaigns, special initiatives, policy and scientific statement releases, and cross-functional issues-management efforts.

The position works with national and regional Advocacy and Marketing Communications staff and supports state- and market-based teams. It manages advocacy content on heart.org and designated digital hubs, coordinates with the Grassroots team on supporting content for heartpowered.org issue action centers, and develops audience-centered messages and resources for consistent campaign implementation.

The Association describes its culture as focused on work-life harmonization and offers training and support, including access to Heart U. Its stated mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. The Association’s 2028 goal is to drive breakthroughs and implement proven solutions in science, policy, and care for healthier people and communities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Public Relations, Political Science, Public Policy, or equivalent work experience.
• Five years of experience required; eight years preferred.
• Extensive experience in public relations, corporate communications, and/or journalism.
• Demonstrated experience with earned media strategy and reporter outreach, particularly on public policy topics.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local public policy processes and how communications can support policy campaigns.
• Experience integrating communications and grassroots engagement strategies in public policy campaigns.
• Ability to translate complex public policy research and positions into clear, audience-appropriate communications.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of health policy issues.
• Experience working with or in a nonprofit organization.
• Experience working with remote staff and teams.
• Experience with graphic design through Canva or Adobe Suite.
• Experience contributing advocacy subject-matter expertise and message development to cross-functional issues-management efforts.
• Experience using generative AI tools, such as Microsoft Copilot, to support communications planning and content development while applying appropriate review, accuracy, brand quality, and ethical standards.
• Eight years of relevant experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement enterprise-wide Advocacy Communications strategies to communicate and promote the Association’s policy statements and positions.
• Develop communications resources supporting priority public policy initiatives and build awareness of public policy priorities with national and regional Advocacy and Marketing Communications staff.
• Consult on communications strategies and tactics for state and community advocacy campaigns, using paid, earned, owned, and organic media channels.
• Develop strategic communications approaches for special initiatives, including Health Care by Food™.
• Coordinate the creation and updating of advocacy content on heart.org and digital hubs.
• Develop and implement strategic communications plans for policy and scientific statement releases, including message development, media relations, organizational communications, and supporting materials.
• Manage the development, governance, and timely updating of advocacy content on heart.org and designated digital hubs; coordinate with the Grassroots team to align content with issue action centers on heartpowered.org.
• Provide strategic counsel, communications planning, and technical assistance to state- and market-based Marketing Communications and Advocacy staff supporting active public policy campaigns.
• Lead communications strategies and tactics for priority state and community public policy campaigns to build understanding and support among priority audiences.
• Develop and manage audience-centered messages, materials, toolkits, and other resources for consistent campaign implementation across markets.
• Provide strategic Advocacy Communications counsel on emerging priorities and represent the team on cross-functional workgroups as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Retirement program with employer match and automatic contribution.
• Employee assistance program, employee wellness program, telemedicine, and medical consultation.
• Professional development resources, including Employee Resource Groups, a professional mentoring program, and Heart U.
• Paid Time Off of at least 16 days per year for new employees, increasing based on seniority.
• Twelve paid holidays each year, including several days off at year-end.
• Tuition assistance for education and career development related to current or potential roles.
• Annual salary planning and incentive programs, with incentive eligibility based on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior