Advocacy Coordinator & Policy Advisor

## SUMMARY
Undergo a variety of activities to support strategic initiatives to build a best‑in‑class government relations operation. Responsible for assisting in planning, developing, and implementing the advocacy involvement of the Association’s membership. Assist with member engagement and recruitment efforts through grassroots member organization. Engage with the Vice President of Policy & Engagement as well as the Advocacy and Policy Manager to understand specific legislative issues, SBAM’s position on those issues, and effectively communicate that information to a variety of audiences. Work with the SBAM events team to help create programming for regional events as needed.

## ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Recruit, educate, and motivate Michigan’s small business community to improve member involvement in the political advocacy goals of SBAM.
• Build rapport with SBAM members to best understand, serve, and motivate.
• Build and maintain database programs of SBAM member political involvement, identifying key small business activists through the SBAM Advocacy Champs program and Grassroots Network. Connect and nurture relationships between SBAM volunteer leadership, member‑activists, and federal, state, and local political leaders. This will occur through personal contact with existing SBAM members, strategic partners, and potential new members.
• Work closely with member advocates throughout the state to encourage SBAM member interaction with elected leaders to advance the advocacy goals of SBAM through “Calls to Action” and attending SBAM events in Lansing and statewide as needed.
• Lead policy councils through the Leadership Council structure. This will be the position’s own body of work on behalf of members, supported by the Vice President of Policy & Engagement and the Advocacy and Policy Manager.

## OTHER FUNCTIONS
• Assist the Vice President of Policy & Engagement by scheduling government relations meetings, preparing agendas, and reporting actions taken (e.g., Legislative Action Council meetings), and supporting policy committees and their related task forces, legislator orientations, issue briefings, work groups, and other stakeholder‑related meetings alongside the Advocacy and Policy Manager.
• Assist and lead in convening like‑minded business stakeholders and engaging them on issue areas on an as‑needed basis.
• Track legislator voting records to be considered during the election endorsement process. Additionally, schedule and attend meetings of the organization’s Political Action Committee, manage the candidate endorsement process including writing and gathering candidate questionnaires, prepare staff recommendations of candidates to endorse, and coordinate the presentation of campaign contributions as well as PAC fundraising as it pertains to tracking and reporting to the PAC Board and other stakeholder entities alongside the Advocacy and Policy Manager.
• Assist in increasing the percentage of SBAM members that contribute to the Political Action Committees and identify high‑achiever donors yearly as needed, in conjunction with the Vice President of Policy & Engagement.
• Help manage content to share through the Watchdog electronic publication.
• Work cooperatively with all SBAM departments to support the mission and culture of the organization and the goals of other departments. SBAM encourages cooperation and a team‑based working environment.
• Other duties as assigned by the Vice President of Policy & Engagement.

## SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

## MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

### 1. Skills/Knowledge
Possesses ample grassroots campaign experience and the ability to motivate and mobilize volunteers. Has working knowledge and understanding of the legislative process. Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and experienced with database management software. Experience with public speaking. Social‑media savvy.

### 2. Experience/Education
Minimum four years of college or a combination of education and experience with campaign organization, including grassroots mobilization and fundraising, and knowledge of the legislative process.

### 3. Physical Effort and Dexterity
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and communicate with others. The employee must also be able to operate a computer keyboard. The employee is required to be ambulatory. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.

### 4. Work Environment and Scheduling
Regular working hours for this employee are 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. when conducting business at the SBAM offices. Working hours will vary when conducting essential job functions outside the SBAM offices. Estimated 12–15 times per year when job duties may require evening travel. The employer may offer a hybrid work model based on duties of the position and after a 60‑day training and orientation period.

The employee in this position must have reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license, as the job requires occasional travel within the State of Michigan to meet with current and prospective members of the association.

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