State Government Relations Director

About the position

The American Heart Association has an excellent opportunity for a State Government Relations Director. The State Government Relations Director is responsible for serving as the primary representative of the American Heart Association to the assigned state legislature and relevant state agencies to generate awareness and support for the American Heart Association's public policy agenda. Strategically coordinate and oversee efforts to further the state public policy priorities of the American Heart Association. Responsible for working with American Heart Association staff, volunteers, coalitions, and partner organizations to build support for American Heart Association policy issues and to integrate advocacy messaging into relevant American Heart Association programs and events.

Responsibilities

• Meets one on one with members of the state legislature, their staff, and other state government officials to gain support for the American Heart Association's advocacy issues.
• Monitors and engages on state-level legislative and regulatory issues of concern to the American Heart Association and apprises appropriate American Heart Association 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 American Heart Association's legislative agenda.
• Participates in coalition building efforts and collaborative partnerships to leverage opportunities that advance the American Heart Association'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 American Heart Association meetings throughout the year, including national and affiliate staff training, affiliate and state-level meetings with staff partners, and metro board meetings.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Law, related field or equivalent work experience
• Three (3) years of experience and success in legislative and regulatory lobbying
• Three (3) years of proven experience building and managing issue advocacy coalition(s)
• Three (3) years of experience developing and implementing grassroots and media advocacy tactics
• Exceptional oral and written communications skills
• 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

Nice-to-haves

• 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

Benefits

• Compensation - Our goal is to ensure you have a competitive base salary.
• Performance and Recognition - You are rewarded for achieving success by merit increases and incentive programs.
• Benefits - We offer a wide array of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Professional Development - You can join one of our many Employee Resource Groups (ERG) or be a mentor/mentee in our professional mentoring program.
• Work-Life Harmonization - The Association offers Paid Time Off (PTO) at a minimum of 16 days per year for new employees.
• Tuition Assistance - We support the career development of all employees.