Managing Director, Advocacy

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is the nation's leading cancer advocacy organization. Together with our charitable partner, the American Cancer Society, we work in Congress, state legislatures and local jurisdictions to support evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem.

Lead and drive the execution of a comprehensive results-driven, multi-state advocacy program for Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) through government relations, grassroots organizing, and media advocacy. Serve as an effective member of an ACS CAN regional field leadership team. Mentor and ensure that state Government Relations Directors are achieving mission policy priorities and actively serving as effective ambassadors for the Society and ACS CAN to state legislatures, governors, state agencies, and congressional offices, as well as representing the organization on coalitions. Mentor and ensure that Grassroots Organizing Directors/Managers are actively growing and recruiting a robust corps of grassroots and grasstops advocacy volunteers. Ensure incorporation of effective media advocacy/campaign strategies. Drive and achieve fundraising goals in assigned territory for ACS CAN, including developing and stewarding new donor prospects. Demonstrate leadership in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion in staff hiring and managing assigned states.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Mission/Issue Campaigns:

• Drive mission policy priorities and appropriations wins in assigned states (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee) in collaboration with national and regional colleagues, ensuring that Government Relations Directors actively serve as ambassadors for the Society and ACS CAN to state legislatures and congressional offices, while also educating the public and appropriately demonstrating the values and reputation of the enterprise and its brand.
• Collaboratively establish clear, focused priorities, both legislative and regulatory, based on the best mission advancement opportunities in assigned territory, driving the development of legislative agendas in the states, with supporting materials that include thorough documentation, while ensuring consistency with ACS CAN policy positions and messaging.
• Oversee local or statewide issue campaigns in assigned territory in concert with ACS CAN partners, including ballot initiatives or referenda where applicable.
• Ensure that staff in assigned states are developing and maintaining positive relationships with local, state, and federal elected officials and staff.
• Ensure that staff in assigned states are building relationships and closely collaborating with relevant executive branch personnel, especially in health and other agencies engaged in health equity, tobacco prevention and cessation, access to care, cancer screenings, drug formularies, etc.
• Manage a process to ensure that assigned state teams are monitoring and analyzing all relevant pieces of legislation and producing testimony, as warranted, in accordance with ACS CAN policy, working with the ACS CAN State & Local campaigns team to ensure adherence to organizational positions.
• Lead a collaborative effort between state teams and regional and national colleagues to plan and implement comprehensive and strategic issue campaigns to achieve progress towards legislative and appropriations successes at the state/local level. Drive the utilization of the Direct Action Organizing method of campaign planning and execution, incorporating grassroots, media advocacy, and other organizational support systems.
• Drive support in assigned states for the organization’s federal priorities, as required. Ensure the development of positive relationships between the organization and key congressional targets in the states, as well the strategic development of federal champions for ACS CAN’s priorities where possible.
• Effectively identify and defeat legislation in assigned states that would negatively impact the mission of the ACS and ACS CAN.
• Ensure that primary ACS CAN media spokespersons in the assigned states are trained and prepared, and that a robust social media program is in place in each of the assigned states. Also ensure that government relations staff develop relationships with their respective state’s capitol press corps. Promote the utilization of appropriate social media channels and other communications tools to reach audiences on behalf of ACS CAN in assigned states.
• Ensure in assigned states ACS CAN coalition involvement aimed at advancing the organization’s public policy and appropriations priorities, with a clear understanding and management of parameters around coalition agreements, including deal breakers on legislation.

Integration and Capacity Building:

• Contribute as an active member of an ACS CAN regional leadership team.
• Ensure that appropriate staff in assigned territory serve effectively on ACS area or state management, market and/or planning teams, as required.
• Work as an ACS CAN leader with ACS colleagues to help facilitate the success of the entire enterprise.
• Ensure that staff in assigned states work with cancer control partners to help guide state cancer plan development and engage in other similar strategic policy exercises with government health agencies.
• Ensure the incorporation of ACS staff and volunteers in legislative and appropriations campaigns, where appropriate.
• Enhance the overall external visibility of the enterprise in a positive manner commensurate with the organization’s brand.
• Ensure is assigned territory that the organization builds capacity by ensuring a robust, trained volunteer network.

Fundraising:

• Lead the development, along with ACS CAN’s national fundraising team and other colleagues, to goal, plan, and execute a viable fundraising program in each of assigned states, including donor and prospect cultivation.
• Oversee ACS CAN efforts in the assigned territory to achieve each state’s annual fundraising goal, through effectively planned and executed events or other revenue generating mechanisms.
• Utilize policy forums or similar fundraising events to also build and nurture relationships aimed at advancing the organization’s mission.
• Facilitate account management, actively supporting both ACS and ACS CAN fundraising by leveraging relationships.
• Serve as an effective steward of relationships by communicating effectively with ACS CAN corporate members, donors, and prospective funders in assigned territory.
• Develop and steward a set of prospective donors within the geography.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

• Approach the work of the enterprise with a spirit of diversity, equity, and inclusion, establishing a climate where every individual is valued and respected, ensuring that staff follow this lead and are held accountable.
• Ensure the development and execution of state diversity and inclusion plans across the assigned territory, establishing and nurturing relationships with new stakeholders and advancing the organization’s diversity goals.
• Ensure that assigned state teams identify, and pursue where applicable, opportunities to improve health equity and eliminate health disparities through the state policy and appropriations process.

Legal:

• Ensure that ACS CAN policies and guidelines are followed, along with compliance with all lobbying related requirements and regulations, across assigned territory.
• Ensure that any Cancer Votes activities in assigned states, where relevant, adhere to all IRS and ACS CAN legal guidelines and reporting requirements.

Management:

• Hire, lead, and manage the performance of staff to achieve annual goals and objectives, including evaluation and ongoing feedback, coaching, and development.
• Drive team collaboration and mutual support between state Government Relations Directors and Grassroots Managers.
• Model team leadership by embracing all of the organization’s technical tools and trainings, while also effectively completing ministerial duties around documentation and reporting.
• Lead consistently, modeling the organization’s values and cultural beliefs.

FORMAL KNOWLEDGE

• Bachelor's degree in political science or related field, with graduate degree preferred, and a minimum of 10 plus years (or current requirement) of relevant work experience.
• Detailed knowledge of the legislative process and political landscape.

OTHER SKILLS

• Detailed knowledge of the legislative process and political landscape.
• Staff management and leadership experience required.
• Political and/or policy campaign experience required.
• Health policy knowledge preferred.
• Fundraising experience a plus.

SPECIAL MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Local, regional and national travel by car, plane or rail, including weekends and overnights. Estimated up to 25%.

The starting rate is $135,000 to $165,000. The final candidate's relevant experience/skills will be considered before an offer is extended. Actual starting pay will vary based on non-discriminatory factors including, but not limited to, geographic location, experience, skills, specialty, and education.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network has adopted a vaccination policy that requires all staff, regardless of position or work location, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (except where prohibited by state law).

ACS CAN provides staff a generous paid time off policy; medical, dental, retirement benefits, wellness programs, and professional development programs to enhance staff skills. Further details on our benefits can be found on our careers site at: jobs.cancer.org/benefits. We are a proud equal opportunity employer.

Position Requirements: