Grassroots Manager- Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont

About the role

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is the nation's leading cancer advocacy organization. Together with our charitable partner, the American Cancer Society, we work in Congress, state legislatures and local jurisdictions to support evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. The Grassroots Manager plans and executes a comprehensive grassroots advocacy program across an assigned geography.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements comprehensive local and state grassroots strategies and advocacy campaigns, demonstrating volunteer constituent support for cancer-related policy initiatives in conjunction with the state Government Relations Director.
• Supports federal campaigns and congressional champion building for the organization's issues, working collaboratively to execute a grassroots strategy.
• Organizes volunteers to complete federal activities in collaboration with national teams.
• Communicates strategically using messages that are tailored to specific political environments and attuned to the rapid pace of legislative activities in assigned state(s).
• Writes and disseminates e-mails to volunteers, legislative alerts, issue talking points, and training curriculum for a diverse audience of volunteers.
• Plans and manages Cancer Action lobby days or similar events, including virtual, to drive engagement and policy wins.
• Maintains ACS CAN web pages, Facebook pages, and/or other social media accounts according to organizational guidelines and standards, coordinating where applicable.
• Identifies and develops volunteers with personal stories related to ACS CAN's policy campaigns, engaging in story collection where applicable.
• Serves as the staff manager of the volunteer structure in the assigned geography coordinating appropriately with leadership volunteers; accountable to filling any vacancies and ensuring sufficient capacity throughout the geography.
• Implements the fundamental principles of Direct-Action Organizing to organize and manage state legislative campaigns.
• Coordinates campaign activities with grassroots/patient coalition partners, as well as with regional and national ACS CAN teams.
• Accurately and effectively represents ACS CAN and its mission in a manner commensurate with the organization's brand.
• Establishes and maintains strategic collaborations and partnerships with other organizations, as appropriate.
• Ensures that in leading electoral activity in the assigned state(s) through Cancer Votes, working closely with staff partners and national staff, the program adheres to all IRS and ACS CAN legal and reporting requirements.
• Follows all ACS CAN policies and guidelines.
• Attracts, trains, and develops volunteers through a variety of internal and external channels, implementing development, communication, training and recognition programs for volunteers.
• Strengthens grassroots capacity through the ACS CAN volunteer structure, maintaining excellent relationships with grasstops and grassroots volunteers.
• Facilitates local, state, and federal grassroots advocacy by volunteers, including building and maintaining relationships with elected officials and members of their staff.
• Maintains direct local relationships, as appropriate, with elected officials and their staff members.
• Supports cross-functional collaboration with the American Cancer Society regional staff, coalitions, and partners to align and amplify grassroots campaigns.
• Conducts training as needed for volunteers and ACS staff, equipping others for interactions with elected officials and their staff.