Government Relations Director – Michigan

Overview

Now is the time to join us and make a difference. Be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Here at the American Heart Association, you matter and so does your career.

The American Heart Association has an excellent opportunity for a State Government Relations Director in Michigan.

In order to be considered for this role, you are required to live in the state and be within commuting distance of the State Capital.

The State Government Relations Director is responsible for serving as the primary representative of the American Heart Association to the assigned state legislature, state executive branch and associated state agencies to generate awareness and support for the Association’s public policy agenda. You will strategically coordinate and lead efforts to advance the state public policy priorities. Additionally, this position is responsible for annually planning, managing, and carrying out an active public policy agenda at the local level for Grand Rapids, Detroit, Okemos, and Southfield as well as identifying and encouraging local public policy work for success related to the Association’s mission throughout Michigan. This role is responsible for working with staff, volunteers, coalitions, and partner organizations to build support for our policy issues and to integrate advocacy messaging into the Association’s programs and events.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates and handles all elements of successful public policy priority campaigns.
• Meets with members of the legislature, their staff, and other state government officials to gain support for the Association’s advocacy issues.
• Meets with local elected officials and collaborators in the Grand Rapids, Detroit, Okemos, and Southfield areas and other local jurisdictions (as defined by your supervisor) to improve opportunities and gain support for the American Heart Association’s advocacy issues.
• Monitors and engages on state-level legislative and regulatory issues of concern to the American Heart Association and apprises appropriate volunteers and staff of emerging advocacy issues.
• Provides policy research, development of support materials, recruitment of spokespersons, preparation of testimony, and other activities as needed to advance our state and local legislative agenda.
• Participates in coalition building efforts and other partnerships designed to strengthen opportunities that advance our advocacy issues.
• Recruits’ membership for and provides staff support to volunteer state advocacy committee(s). Collaborates with the committee to develop an annual state and local legislative agenda.
• Provides strategic direction on statewide grassroots and key contact, recruitment, retention, and mobilization efforts. Provides strategic direction and support materials for state lobby days and/or local in-district meetings.
• Collaborates with communications staff partners on development and timing of media advocacy efforts.
• Prepares required reporting information including local, state and/or federal lobbying reports and other reporting as needed.
• Provides advocacy presentations and training opportunities to volunteers and staff as needed.
• Attends and participates in meetings throughout the year, including national and regional staff trainings, regional and state-level meetings with staff partners, and metro board meetings.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Law, related field or equivalent work experience.

Minimum of three (3) years of:

• Experience and success in legislative and regulatory lobbying.
• Experience building and managing issue advocacy coalitions.
• Experience developing and implementing grassroots and media advocacy tactics.
• Possess policy analysis and technical (legislative and regulatory) writing skills.
• Ability to simultaneously prioritize multiple, sophisticated projects in varying stages of development under time constraints.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of planning, budgeting, and prioritizing work.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Ability to travel overnight approx. 25% of the time.

Here are some of the preferred skills/experiences we are looking for:

• Knowledge of voluntary health organizations or nonprofit organizations.
• Experience working in health care policy.
• Experience in volunteer management.
• Understanding and appreciation for the use of technology and information systems.

Compensation & Benefits

The American Heart Association invests in its people. Here are the main components of our total rewards package. Visit Rewards & Benefits to see more details.

• Compensation – Our goal is to ensure you have a competitive base salary. That’s why we regularly review the market value of jobs and make adjustments, as needed.
• Performance and Recognition – You are rewarded for achieving success by merit increases and incentive programs, based on the type of position.
• Benefits – We offer a wide array of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, along with a robust retirement program that includes an employer match and automatic contribution. As a mark of our commitment to employee well-being, we also offer an employee assistance program, employee wellness program and telemedicine, and medical consultation.
• Professional Development – You can join one of our many Employee Resource Groups (ERG) or be a mentor/mentee in our professional mentoring program. HeartU is the Association’s national online university, with more than 100,000 resources designed to meet your needs and busy schedule.
• Work-Life Harmonization – The Association offers Paid Time Off (PTO) at a minimum of 16 days per year for new employees. The number of days will increase based on seniority level. You will also have a total of 12 paid holidays off each year, which includes several days off at the end of the year.
• Tuition Assistance – We support the career development of all employees. This program provides financial assistance to employees who wish to further their education and career in relation to their current duties and responsibilities, or for potential future positions in the organization.

The American Heart Association’s 2024 Goal: Every person deserves the opportunity for a full, healthy life. As champions for health equity, by 2024, the American Heart Association will advance cardiovascular health for all, including identifying and removing barriers to health care access and quality.

At American Heart Association | American Stroke Association, our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, age, language, sexual orientation, national origin and physical or cognitive abilities. We’re committed to ensuring our workforce, workplace culture and mission have a shared impact across a diverse set of backgrounds.

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