Director of Campaigns

• Please note that at this time we are no longer accepting applications
  
  

The Massachusetts Public Health Alliance (MPHA) seeks a Director of Campaigns to join our committed team of health equity advocates. This full-time position is based in Boston. MPHA staff are currently working a hybrid weekly schedule with all staff currently working in person at the Boston office at least two days per week. This position will require regular travel within the state of Massachusetts and regular travel to the State House. More details are below.

Mission And Organizational Overview

The Massachusetts Public Health Alliance (MPHA) is a champion for public health in the Commonwealth. We are a catalyst for community-driven policy change that fosters conditions for people to achieve their full health potential where they live, work, and play.  As a statewide organization, MPHA engages local leaders, state organizations, public officials, and others to improve the health of all the Commonwealth’s residents. MPHA uses an effective combination of advocacy, education, community organizing, policy development, and coalition leadership to secure investments in public health, promote health equity, and bolster our public health infrastructure. In all our work, we seek to improve the social conditions in neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces that have an impact on health and to listen to the voices and priorities of communities most impacted by health inequities.  

Promoting racial justice is a core component of MPHA’s work and identity. As MPHA pursues policy changes to promote health equity, we strive to confront the history of systemic racism and other forms of oppression that have been embedded in public policy. MPHA’s Health Equity Policy Framework guides our external work and internal practices in addressing all forms of health inequities. The framework places special emphasis on racial inequities because we believe that this injustice needs explicit attention. 

MPHA’s success depends on a small but excellent staff and its ability to work as a team. We believe that our ongoing success depends on a diversity of lived experiences and talents as we strive for greater health equity in Massachusetts.

Position Summary

The Director of Campaigns will be a core part of a four-person Policy & Campaign Team working to advance MPHA’s health equity policy agenda. Reporting to the Deputy Director, the Director of Campaigns works in partnership with the Deputy Director and with staff, the MPHA Policy Council, and the Board to set strategic goals and priorities for the organization and develop campaigns to meet those goals. The Director of Campaigns will play a key leadership role in advancing MPHA’s mission through development and implementation of our policy and campaign agenda, in close collaboration with communications staff and with the support of policy staff. The Director of Campaigns will also be responsible for developing and stewarding relationships with community-based organizations, local leaders, coalitions, and other allies to shape MPHA priorities and drive effective action that leads to winning policy campaigns. This position will have an important role in shaping campaign strategy and tactics that strengthen engagement, leadership development, and advocacy skills of local partners – and ultimately, build the power of communities to advance health equity and racial justice.

We are seeking candidates with a proven track record in community, legislative, labor, or electoral campaigns. The successful candidate will be highly skilled at the art and science of leveraging time, resources, and relationships into concrete campaign victories. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead a team of committed, dynamic, and skilled staff serving as change agents within the public policy sector and working to proactively to disrupt inequities.

The ideal candidate will be a confident advocate for justice and liberation and simultaneously relish teamwork and strong connections with staff and stakeholders.

Specific Responsibilities

Capacity & Coalition Building

• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with new and existing partner organizations, with a focus on community-based and grassroots organizations and other local and regional partners addressing social determinants of health through a racial justice lens.
• Engage partner organizations in developing MPHA policy priorities that are responsive to their communities’ needs.
• Develop plans and actions to support campaign goals which draw on the skills and knowledge of partner organizations.
• Coach and support partners to develop stronger advocacy and organizing skills through one-to-one and small group meetings, trainings, and other activities that build skills, knowledge, and confidence.
• Grow the commitment and engagement of partners in campaign activities and actions, supporting local partners to move up the “ladder of engagement,” including mobilizing their own networks in support of campaign goals.
• Develop and track measures and benchmarks to evaluate effectiveness of engagement and leadership development and to maximize likelihood of winning campaigns.
• Represent MPHA in coalitions, working groups, and other partnerships.
  
  

Legislative Advocacy Strategy and Planning

• Think strategically across priority legislative and budget campaigns in close collaboration with the Deputy Director and the full team.
• Identify, cultivate and strengthen strategic relationships with legislators, state agencies, and other state government leaders and coordinate with staff to convene stakeholders, meet with legislators, organize hearings, host rallies and press events, etc. to advance legislative priorities and statewide campaigns.
• Develop plans and actions to support campaign goals which draw on the skills and knowledge of MPHA staff, Policy Council, Board members, and partner organizations.
• Be a spokesperson for MPHA as needed and represent MPHA in the State House as one of MPHA’s primary lobbyists.
• Lead MPHA’s Policy Council, including leading a biennial priority setting process, leading regular Policy Council meetings, and onboarding and offboarding Policy Council members as needed.
• Continuously mold MPHA’s agenda and public positioning and strategically lead issue advocacy campaigns to ensure relevance, credibility, influence, and impact.
• Develop trusting/trustworthy relationships with organizations and individuals accountable to communities most impacted by systems of oppression, including structural racism.
• Conduct policy research and analysis, write testimony, letters, and other materials to support public policy advocacy.
• Consistently look towards the future to identify emerging policy issues where MPHA should play a meaningful role.
  
  

Team Collaboration and Organization-wide Responsibilities

• Work closely and collaboratively with communications staff to design and implement media and public education strategies in support of policy campaigns.
• Build and maintain relationships with key funders in close collaboration with/at the direction of the Executive Director and Development Director
• Draft programmatic grant application and reporting content as appropriate
• Oversee MPHA’s graduate student internship program
  
  

Qualities And Experience Required

At least four years of experience in public policy advocacy, political campaigns, and/or government relations and sophisticated knowledge of the Massachusetts political process. A robust track record of engaging and building relationships with a broad range of individual and organizational stakeholders (e.g. people with lived experience, elected and appointed government officials, academics, institutions of all sizes, base-building organizations, grassroots groups, state agencies, etc.). Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated ability to take initiative and exercise sound judgment in a complex, fast-moving, environment, handling controversial issues with both dedication to MPHA’s goals and with diplomacy. Creative problem-solver and engaged learner – interested in exploring new ideas, practices, and tactics to create the change we seek.

We are seeking candidates who excel at relationship building and strategy development that advances campaign goals. This includes:

• Commitment to racial justice and health equity: Demonstrated commitment and track record of leadership advancing equity and incorporating a racial justice approach throughout work processes and products.
• Ability to align and move people into action: Skilled at communicating in ways that build credibility, inspire, align people, and motivate action. Experience identifying the appropriate asks of individuals, creating commitments, and establishing mutual accountability. 
• Partnership: Experience supporting racially diverse partnerships or coalitions and incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, including communities of color, in decision-making processes. Ability to work with a wide variety of partners – e.g., grassroots leaders, policymakers, organizational staff, health care leaders, etc. – with flexibility and professional maturity.
• Strategy development: Demonstrated success in designing and implementing campaign strategies and tactics that engage individuals or organizations and that deliver winning results for community, legislative, labor, or electoral campaigns.
• Policy and campaign experience: Demonstrated experience and leadership in developing and implementing policy strategy to advance racial, social, and economic justice; demonstrated experience developing policy campaigns collaboratively, including target identification, power mapping, and identifying creative tactics to influence policymakers and build campaign momentum and influence; experience in at least 2 of MPHA’s 6 priority policy areas, and ability to come up to speed on all issue areas quickly and comprehensively in a self-directed manner.
• Leadership development: Demonstrated success in leadership development, focused on increased advocacy and organizing skills and confidence of partners; experience supervising and mentoring interns.
• Highly organized and motivated: Exceptionally well-organized with strong attention to detail. Ability and desire to work in a fast-paced environment, and ability to prioritize and switch gears quickly between multiple projects and subjects. Fast and enthusiastic learner interested in growing knowledge in a wide variety of topic areas.
• Facilitation: Experience in facilitating diverse groups in exploring common goals and differences; demonstrated skill at leveraging collaborative relationships to identify shared goals and strategies.
• Project management and supervision: experience managing projects; setting, communicating, and meeting interim deadlines; coordinating and directing colleagues to meet project goals; direct staff supervision experience is a plus but not required.
• Strong communicator and team player: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience translating complex policy topics for a variety of audiences. Ability to flex communication styles and methods for a variety of organizational cultures and settings. Comfortable with public speaking and facilitating challenging conversations. Great sense of humor. Rigor and high standards are complemented with an ability to encourage fun and contribute to a strong team internally and among coalition partners. 
  
  

MPHA is an equal opportunity employer committed to a workplace that reflects the diversity of the people of Massachusetts. We make a particular effort to recruit people of color to apply. 

Salary And Benefits

The salary range for this position is $75,000 – $95,000 depending on experience. MPHA offers excellent health, dental, and paid time off benefits.  

Location

MPHA is located in downtown Boston, accessible by public transportation.  MPHA staff work hybrid schedules – meaning both in the office and remotely. Staff are in the office together twice a week for staff meetings and team building and are requested to be in the office, the state house, and other locations throughout Massachusetts as needed. Availability for occasional early morning, evening, or weekend events and meetings is required.  

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