Chief Public Policy Officer

About the Job

The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) is creating a new Division of Public Policy and is seeking a dynamic, experienced, and innovative Chief Public Policy Officer to lead its policy and advocacy efforts focused on preventing, treating, and curing Parkinson’s disease (PD) and improving the lives of those who have it. APDA seeks an executive who will excel at building its presence and influence in Washington, DC. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned executive with a strong background in government, policy and advocacy, a deep understanding of how to advance priorities through legislative or regulatory processes, excellent strategic judgement, and a passion for advocating health-related issues.

The Chief Public Policy Officer is a public-facing leadership position that will represent APDA with other leaders in the field and before Congress, the Administration, and other relevant federal and state government officials.

This position is a hybrid role (a blend of work from home and in-person) and must be located in the Greater Washington DC Metro area. The Chief Public Policy Officer is a member of APDA’s Leadership Team and reports to the CEO.

ABOUT APDA

Every day, the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) provides the support, education, and research that will help everyone impacted by Parkinson’s disease (PD) live life to the fullest. APDA is a nationwide grassroots network dedicated to fighting PD and works tirelessly to help the approximately one million people living with PD in the United States in the face of this chronic, neurological disorder. Founded in 1961, APDA provides outstanding patient services and educational programs, elevates public awareness about the disease, and supports research designed to unlock the mysteries of PD and ultimately put an end to this disease.

OUR CORE VALUES

COMMITMENT: Compassionately provide high quality service and support.
RESPECT: Foster a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible culture.
COLLABORATION: Establish meaningful relationships to build strong, supportive communities.
INTEGRITY: Act ethically with honesty, transparency, and accuracy.
ACCOUNTABILITY: Responsibly steward our actions, outcomes, and resources.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Government Relations Strategy: Establish and execute comprehensive government relations strategies that advance the mission and objectives of APDA, ensuring effective advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels. Cultivate relationships with government leaders to build bipartisan support for advocacy goals.

Policy Advocacy: Develop and execute comprehensive policy strategies at the federal, state, and local levels that advance the mission and objectives of APDA and the Parkinson’s field. Monitor, analyze, and communicate the impact of legislative and regulatory proposals on the Parkinson’s community, providing strategic guidance and recommendations to the executive leadership and relevant stakeholders. Cultivate and maintain relationships with key government officials, agencies, and relevant stakeholders to promote APDA’s priorities and advance the organization’s interests in the public policy arena.

Stakeholder Engagement: Lead and participate in meetings with a broad range of stakeholders. Grow programs that tap into APDA’s vast network of grassroots and grasstops volunteers to advocate for issues affecting the Parkinson’s community. Collaborate with colleagues to leverage influential voices and build coalitions and alliances that amplify the collective voice and influence of the Parkinson’s community to achieve policy goals.

Legislative Affairs: Coordinate with external counsel and consultants on legal and policy matters related to APDA and the Parkinson’s community interests.

Communication and Education: Develop and implement strategies for effectively communicating APDA’s policy positions to internal and external stakeholders, including collaborating with APDA colleagues on strategies and communications. Act as APDA’s spokesperson in the media on issues of Parkinson’s disease advocacy.

Budget and Staff Management: Build a team of talented professionals to achieve the department’s goals. Oversee the budget and resource allocation for the Policy department, ensuring the efficient and effective use of resources in support of advocacy initiatives and priorities.

Coalition Building: Collaborate with colleagues throughout APDA, other advocacy organizations, and community partners to align stakeholders on priorities. Build coalitions and alliances that amplify the collective voice and influence of the Parkinson’s community.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree required (e.g., MA, MPH, MBA, JD) in political science, public policy, public health policy or a related field.

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in government, advocacy, and/or political campaigns.

• Strong understanding of the legislative and regulatory processes and a proven track record of navigating them to achieve results.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, community leaders and partner organizations.

• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, with proven outcomes in creating/building impactful and dynamic public policy/advocacy teams, campaigns, and initiatives.

• Commitment to the mission and values of APDA and a strong understanding of health-related public policy issues.

• Ability to travel as needed and work flexible hours to accommodate advocacy and legislative activities.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary Range: $200,000 – $250,000. Annual salary based on background and experience.

APDA has an attractive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Life Insurance, Pension, HSA & FSA spending accounts available. Paid time off in addition to standard holidays.

APDA is an equal opportunities employer.

HOW TO APPLY

Have we described a role that you have been seeking, along with a set of skills you possess? If so, we’d like to hear from you! Please forward your cover letter, resume, and reference contact information to: [email protected]

We’re Operations Inc., a Human Resources Outsourcing and Consulting firm. Since 2001, Operations, Inc. has been supporting a base of over 1,400 clients with their diverse and evolving HR needs.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, APDA complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training. APDA expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of APDA’s employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge. APDA will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities.