Overview

Now is the time to join us and make a difference. Be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Here at the American Heart Association, you matter and so does your career.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has an excellent opportunity for a Community Advocacy Director in North Texas.

The Community Advocacy Director is responsible for coordinating and overseeing strategy and efforts to further the public policy priorities of the American Heart Association (AHA) in the assignedcommunity. You will also be responsible for serving as the primary representative of the AHA to community level public officials and relevant community public agencies to generate awareness and support for the AHA’s public policy agenda. Additional responsibilities include building and managing teams of AHA staff, volunteers, coalitions and partner organizations to build support for and integrate advocacy issues messaging into all other AHA programs/events.

The Association offers many resources to help you maintain work-life harmonization through your changing needs and life situations. To help you be successful, you will have access to Heart U, our award-winning corporate university, as well as additional training and support, locally.

#TheAHALife is our company culture, our way of life, reflecting our diversity and inclusion, our focus on work-life harmonization and our Guiding Values. Discover why you will Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Valued™ at the American Heart Association by following us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and at heart.org.

Responsibilities

• Strategically coordinates and oversees all elements of successful public policy priority campaigns at the assigned market level.
• Meets one on one with elected community officials, their staff, and other community government officials to gain support for the AHA’s advocacy issues.
• Monitors and engages on legislative and regulatory issues of concern to the AHA and apprises appropriate AHA volunteers and staff of emerging advocacy issues.
• Provides policy research, development of support materials, recruiting of spokespersons, preparing testimony, and other activities as needed to advance the AHA’s community public policy agenda.
• Participates in coalition efforts and other collaborative partnerships to leverage opportunities that advance the Association’s public policy priorities.
• Recruits membership for and provides staff support to a volunteer community advocacy committee. In collaboration with the committee, and with strategic direction from the Association’s advocacy program develops a community legislative agenda.
• Provides strategic direction on community grassroots and key contact, recruitment, retention and mobilization efforts.
• Collaborates with communications staff partners on development and timing of media advocacy efforts.
• Assurances compliance with lobbying requirements and prepares all necessary reporting.
• Provides advocacy presentations and training opportunities to volunteers and staff as needed.
• Attends and participates in relevant AHA meetings throughout the year.

Want to help get your resume to the top? Take a look at the experience we require:

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Law, related field or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years of:
  • Experience and success in legislative and regulatory lobbying
  • Demonstrated experience building and managing issue advocacy coalition(s)
  • Experience developing and implementing grassroots and media advocacy tactics
• 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
• Exceptional oral and written communications skills.
• Must be able to travel overnight approx. 25% of the time.

Here are some of the preferred skills we are looking for:

• Knowledge of voluntary health organizations or nonprofit organizations
• Experience working in health care policy
• Experience in volunteer management
• Demonstrated understanding and appreciation for the use of technology and information systems.

Compensation & Benefits

The American Heart Association invests in its people. Here are the main components of our total rewards package. Visit Rewards & Benefits to see more details.

• Compensation – Our goal is to ensure you have a competitive base salary. That’s why we regularly review the market value of jobs and make adjustments, as needed.
• Performance and Recognition – You are rewarded for achieving success by merit increases and incentive programs, based on the type of position.
• Benefits – We offer a wide array of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, along with a robust retirement program that includes an employer match and automatic contribution. As a mark of our commitment to employee well-being, we also offer an employee assistance program, employee wellness program and telemedicine, and medical consultation.
• Professional Development – You can join one of our many Employee Resource Groups (ERG) or be a mentor/mentee in our professional mentoring program. HeartU is the Association’s national online university, with more than 100,000 resources designed to meet your needs and busy schedule.
• Work-Life Harmonization – The Association offers Paid Time Off (PTO) at a minimum of 16 days per year for new employees. The number of days will increase based on seniority level. You will also have a total of 12 paid holidays off each year, which includes several days off at the end of the year.
• Tuition Assistance - We support the career development of all employees. This program provides financial assistance to employees who wish to further their education and career in relation to their current duties and responsibilities, or for potential future positions in the organization.

The American Heart Association’s 2024 Goal: Every person deserves the opportunity for a full, healthy life. As champions for health equity, by 2024, the American Heart Association will advance cardiovascular health for all, including identifying and removing barriers to health care access and quality.

At American Heart Association | American Stroke Association, diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity applies to both our workforce and the communities we serve as it relates to heart health and stroke prevention.This position not a match with your skills? Click here to see other opportunities.

EOE/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities