Vice President, Regional Advocacy

About the role

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is the nation's leading cancer advocacy organization. Together with its charitable partner, the American Cancer Society, ACS CAN works 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 Vice President, Regional Advocacy is a senior leader responsible for driving legislative and regulatory progress across approximately 25 states and developing and overseeing a high‑performing team of 60+ advocacy professionals. This role leads strategic efforts to secure evidence‑based state and local legislative wins, defend patient protections, and support federal campaigns. It also plays a critical role in external relations, volunteer engagement, and donor development, ensuring grassroots power and philanthropic support are aligned with the organization’s mission to improve patient outcomes and advance health equity. The position develops, plans, and manages a budget for regions and state operations and serves on the organization’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Legislative Impact (40%): Develops and executes a multi‑state advocacy strategy to achieve legislative wins, policy defense, and state and regulatory engagement; aligns state teams with federal priorities and works with federal, state and local campaigns’ teams to ensure cohesive national impact; leads rapid response efforts to emerging legislative threats or opportunities; provides timely and regular updates to executive leadership on regional advocacy impact; ensures collaborative planning and execution of federal, state and local campaigns.
• Team Management & Development (30%): Oversees a regional advocacy team of 60+ team members across approximately 25 states, including regional Managing Directors, state Government Relations Directors, Grassroots (volunteer) Managers, and operations roles; has overall responsibility and accountability for hiring within the region; develops, plans and has accountability for regional and state budgets; ensures state advocacy positions align with organizational policy; fosters a culture of collaboration, trust, accountability, inclusion, and innovation within the team; provides coaching, professional development, and performance management to ensure excellence; tracks legislative progress, campaign metrics, and team performance to meet goals; ensures compliance with lobbying regulations and internal policies.
• Volunteer Engagement & Mobilization (10%): Partners with grassroots teams to expand and activate volunteer networks in respective states; supports the development of training programs, recognition initiatives, and storytelling platforms that elevate patient voices; ensures volunteer engagement strategies are integrated into legislative campaigns; drives successful volunteer fundraising.
• Development & External Relations (10%): Works closely with ACS and internal functions to ensure alignment on mission, policy trends, and political dynamics; represents the organization in coalitions, conferences, and public forums; collaborates with development teams to cultivate relationships with major donors, foundations, and corporate partners; represents advocacy priorities in donor meetings, events, and communications; identifies opportunities to align advocacy wins with fundraising strategies and impact reporting.
• Senior Leadership Team (10%): Executes organizational responsibility and leadership on the Senior Leadership Team (SLT); provides a broad perspective on organizational issues, surfaces and vets ideas, and aligns on how best to advance ACS CAN’s mission priorities; engages in cross‑functional planning for ACS CAN, the ACS CAN Board, and high‑level organizational messaging.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, law, or related field (advanced degree preferred).
• Minimum 15+ years of experience in government relations, advocacy, or public affairs, with at least 5+ years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven success in leading multi‑state legislative campaigns and managing large, geographically distributed teams.
• Experience in volunteer engagement and donor relations within a mission‑driven organization.
• Experience with high‑level stakeholder engagement across advocacy and other organizations.
• Deep understanding of state legislative processes and healthcare policy, with strong experience collaborating with state health policymakers and advocacy leaders.
• Willingness to travel frequently across regions for team support, legislative meetings, and stakeholder engagement (up to 30% travel, including overnight and occasional weekend travel).
• Ability to travel by car, train, or plane as needed.
• Passion for improving cancer patient policy outcomes and advancing health equity through the legislative and regulatory process.
• Experience in grassroots organizing and community engagement.
• Experience with budget management and external vendor oversight.
• Ability to navigate politically sensitive environments with discretion and empathy.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, communication, and relationship‑building skills.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in advocacy and leadership.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off policy
• Medical, dental, and retirement benefits
• Wellness programs
• Professional development programs

Pay

The starting rate is $190,000 to $220,0