Director, Grassroots Advocacy

Empowering the Fight Against Breast Cancer

Empowered by our expansive grassroots network, Komen is leading the fight for those impacted by breast cancer locally, in our states, and in Washington, D.C. Komen works to identify, through a transparent, broad-based, intensive vetting and selection process, the advocacy issues that have the greatest potential impact on Komen’s mission.

Role of the Director, Grassroots Advocacy

The Director of Grassroots Advocacy supports and promotes Susan G. Komen’s Center for Public Policy by leading the development and implementation of grassroots volunteer advocate programs at local, state, and federal levels. This role also involves directing public policy communications strategy and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Komen Center for Public Policy website, newsletters, and social media channels in collaboration with the Marketing and Communications teams.

The Director will:

• Develop and execute a year-round grassroots volunteer advocacy strategy that supports and promotes Komen’s public policy priorities and initiatives, including the development of engaging campaigns to increase involvement and effectiveness.
• Build, nurture, and empower grassroots advocates through the recruitment and retention of diverse volunteers across the country, with an emphasis on ensuring representation within key congressional districts.
• Lead the planning and execution of advocate engagement and training events in consultation with federal and state policy teams.
• Oversee the Advocacy Ambassador and Advocacy Ambassador Leadership programs, focused on recruiting, training, and engaging highly committed volunteer advocates to serve as local leaders and influencers.
• Direct public policy communications strategy and manage the day-to-day operations of the Komen Center for Public Policy website, newsletters, and social media channels, in collaboration with the Marketing and Communications teams.
• Develop engaging advocacy campaigns that support policy priorities, including drafting call-to-action narratives, identifying target audiences, strategic communication channels, creating social content, and tracking engagement to report impact to internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with internal teams to incorporate grassroots advocacy activities into messaging and events.
• Oversee the patient and advocate story bank, ensuring the capture and classification of personal breast cancer experiences that illustrate the importance of Komen’s policy priorities, and partner with the Marketing and Communications team on the appropriate use of stories.
• Represent Komen Public Policy & Advocacy both internally among Komen staff and externally with legislative offices, stakeholders, media, and donors.
• Coordinate with Public Policy staff and marketing and communications personnel to prepare talking points, collateral, and other materials highlighting policy and grassroots efforts and successes.
• Provide training and support to expand advocacy capacity, offering the breast cancer community tools and methods for voicing priorities to policymakers.

What You Will Bring to the Table

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, political science, government affairs, communications, or other relevant fields, and 10+ years of directly related experience.
• Proven experience designing, implementing, and scaling grassroots advocacy programs at national and state levels.
• A clear vision for attracting and engaging volunteer participants and delivering high-quality, creative, and resonant educational content in online and in-person contexts.
• Expertise with social media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc.) and digital advocacy tools (e.g., Phone2Action, VoterVoice).
• A high degree of transparency, strong communication skills, flexibility, diplomacy, and the ability to forge innovative collaborations internally and externally.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to analyze and synthesize information.
• Proven ability to work independently and creatively, meeting strict deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Solid organizational skills and advanced-level proficiency with MS Office products.
• Successful leadership, staff management, and administrative experience in a complex organization.
• Strategic planning, well-developed analytical skills, and a commitment to data-informed decision-making.

Preferred Experience

• Master’s degree in public policy, public administration, political science, government affairs, communications, or another relevant field.
• Management experience leading a geographically diffuse staff in a remote work environment.
• Experience at another patient advocacy organization or non-profit.
• Knowledge of the breast cancer advocacy environment.

More about the position and directions on how to apply are available here.