Senior Manager, State Advocacy

Job Summary

The Senior Manager, State Advocacy advances the organization’s state legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts by executing and operationalizing state level government affairs strategies in support of the organization’s mission to improve oral health for all, with a focus on underserved and marginalized populations. This role leads defined advocacy initiatives, manages complex projects, and serves as a subject-matter resource for colleagues and partners within an established strategic framework.

The Senior Manager serves as a lead strategist for assigned states, adapting advocacy tactics based on evolving political dynamics, managing in-state resources, and driving execution of advocacy efforts to achieve measurable policy outcomes.

Working closely with the Director and other senior Policy and Government Affairs leaders, the Senior Manager translates strategic priorities and policy direction into actionable government affairs efforts, advocacy plans, tactics, and materials. The role balances hands-on execution with informed judgment, ensuring high-quality implementation of advocacy campaigns while escalating strategic decisions, risks, and opportunities to team leaders. While primarily focused on state advocacy, the Senior Manager may also contribute to federal or local policy and advocacy efforts as directed.

Primary Job Responsibilities

• Lead and execute advocacy strategies in assigned states, adapting tactics based on legislative developments, stakeholder dynamics, and political context.
• In assigned areas, serve as the primary liaison with elected officials, regulatory bodies, and in-state stakeholders.
• Direct and evaluate contract lobbyists and in-state consultants, setting priorities, managing performance, and ensuring alignment with advocacy goals.
• Manage relationships across diverse partner groups, including coordination with state-based coalitions, associations and stakeholders to align around shared advocacy goals, policy positions, and tactics . Includes collaborating with Philanthropy team internally and grantees in states.
• Monitor, analyze, and synthesize state legislative and regulatory activity, providing clear updates, policy analysis, and implementation-focused recommendations to internal stakeholders.
• Translate strategic advocacy goals into concrete workplans, tactics, and success metrics, and track progress to assess effectiveness and impact.
• Support grassroots engagement efforts, including building and disseminating grassroots mobilization efforts, tracking participation, and supporting outreach activities.
• Prepare and maintain bill tracking and other internal reports, dashboards, and briefing materials using tools such as Quorum to keep colleagues informed of advocacy activities, trends, and outcomes.
• Draft and contribute to legislative and regulatory briefs, summaries, and position papers, ensuring alignment with approved policy positions and advocacy strategy.
• Represent the organization in strategic engagements with national and state-level policy and political organizations, including attending convenings, building relationships with policymakers and senior staff, and identifying opportunities to advance advocacy priorities.
• Manage multiple projects independently, proactively communicating implementation progress, risks, and emerging opportunities to the Director and senior leaders.
• Serve as a department representative and contribute to cross-functional projects, including with Philanthropy, Marketing, and Analytics and Data Insights teams to ensure advocacy considerations are integrated into organizational work.
  
  

Required

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, public health, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• At least 4 years of experience in advocacy, government relations, public policy, or a related field, preferably in health care, public health, or the nonprofit sector.
• Strong understanding of U.S. state legislative and regulatory processes.
• Demonstrated experience working with state-level legislative and regulatory processes, including direct engagement with policymakers, advocates, lobbyists, and government entities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex policy issues into clear, consistent messages aligned with established strategy.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, work independently within defined strategic parameters, and collaborate effectively within and across teams.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and handling sensitive information appropriately.
• Proficiency with legislative tracking tools (e.g., Quorum) and standard office software (e.g., Microsoft Office).
• Regular travel is expected to assigned states and internal and external events
• Strong political judgment, including the ability to anticipate legislative or other policy developments and adapt strategies accordingly
  
  

The target hiring range for this role is $152,830 - $179,800 (annually). The starting base salary will be determined based on skills, experience, and other job-related factors. In addition, our total rewards package includes medical, dental, and vision plans; generous time off including PTO, short and long-term disability insurance and a competitive 401(k) savings match including financial planning workshops. See our Careers Page for more information.

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform this position.

• In accordance with CareQuest Institute for Oral Health’s Compliance Plan, all employees must conduct CareQuest Institute for Oral Health business and activities in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, professional standards and ethical standards and report potential compliance or ethical issues to CareQuest Institute for Oral Health’s designated Compliance Officer. **
  
  

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health’s Affirmative Action Program affirms our commitment to make reasonable accommodation for known physical or mental limitation of otherwise-qualified individuals with disabilities or special disabled veterans, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business and activities. Please see Human Resources for additional information regarding this program.