Sr. Advocacy Communications Lead

American Heart Association • Dallas, TX

1d • Remote

About The Position

The Senior Advocacy Communications Lead develops and implements enterprise-wide communications strategies to promote the American Heart Association’s policy statements and positions and advance its public policy priorities. Working with Advocacy and Marketing Communications staff at national and regional levels, the role develops communications resources, provides strategic counsel, and supports state and community advocacy campaigns across paid, earned, owned, and organic channels. The position also develops communications approaches for special initiatives, including Health Care by Food™, and coordinates advocacy content across heart.org and other digital hubs.

The role develops communications plans for policy and scientific statement releases, manages advocacy-related digital content, and provides strategic guidance and technical assistance to staff supporting public policy campaigns. It leads communications strategies for priority state and community campaigns and develops audience-centered messages and materials to support consistent implementation across markets. The position may also represent the Advocacy Communications team on cross-functional workgroups.

This position is based out of the American Heart Association’s National Center office and can be remote. The Association provides training and professional development resources, work-life harmonization support, and a range of employee benefits.

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 non-profit 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-maintaining quality, and ethical standards.
• Eight years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic communications plans for Association policy and scientific statement releases, including message development, media relations, organizational communications, and supporting materials.
• Manage the development, governance, and timely updating of advocacy-related content on heart.org and designated digital hubs.
• Coordinate with the Grassroots team to align supporting 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 for 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 through 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 level.
• 12 paid holidays per year, including several days off at the end of the year.
• Tuition assistance for education related to current or potential future duties and positions.
• Annual salary planning and incentive programs, with eligibility dependent on position type.

What This Job Offers

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