Director, Advocacy (Pennsylvania)

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with PACT Grant Manager to respond to Pennsylvania Department of Health (PACT funder) requests and funding opportunities and guarantee all advocacy related deliverables of the grant are meet.
• Respond to emerging tobacco policy and prevention issues and provide technical assistance and stakeholder education trainings across the commonwealth.
• Create educational materials to implement tobacco control policy and outreach campaigns for distribution and use by partners across Pennsylvania.
• Maintain and expand functions of the statewide coalition, PACT, to include new PACT members and enhance community engagement to support Pennsylvania’s comprehensive tobacco control program.
• Represent Lung Association on relevant local and regional coalitions (tobacco control, asthma and air quality).
• Work collaboratively with staff and volunteers within the American Lung Association in Pennsylvania as well as with external partners to implement the organization’s policy agenda.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key government officials on ongoing basis; enhance their understanding of Lung Association mission and activities.
• Lobby local, state and federal elected officials to pass Lung Association endorsed lung health-related policies or to stop measures opposed by the Lung Association. Comply with lobbying reporting requirements.
• Engage constituents and volunteers into advocacy activities, such as meeting with elected officials, offering testimony, writing letters and writing op-eds.
• Build advocacy networks (such as LUNG FORCE Hero advocates, lung health and health professional champions, e-advocates) through recruitment and ongoing engagement as part of a larger Association effort to build a robust constituent base.
• Serve as policy spokesperson for the annual State of Tobacco Control, State of Lung Cancer, State of the Air and other priority reports and maximize media coverage through strategic media outreach.
• Collaborate on budget development and implementation for Advocacy and Public Policy Division activities.
• Serve on work teams as assigned.

Qualifications

• B.S. or B.A. degree in public health, health policy, political science or government related area with 5-7 years’ experience in the public or private sectors, preferably at the state level with a focus on grassroots advocacy, media/public relations, and direct lobbying.
• Significant success in implementing policy campaigns and direct lobbying of state, local and federal government and understanding of legislative and regulatory processes.
• Experience in coalition building, community awareness and education, and developing and implementing programs specifically related to areas of public health.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills. Team player with a positive attitude; comfortable working with all levels of staff.
• Ability to work independently, problem solve, thrive under pressure, perform multiple tasks while meeting deadlines and producing high quality work.
• Organized with attention to detail, accuracy and quality.
• Occasional travel to areas of service required.
• Must have reliable transportation with the ability to travel within assigned area 20% of the time for meetings and conferences, as well as the flexibility to work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends with some overnights required.