Managing Director, Advocacy - Remote

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 California, Hawaii/Guam, Oregon, Washington and Alaska for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) through government relations, grassroots organizing, and media advocacy.

Lead the management and deliverables of the 3-year California Tobacco Prevention Program tobacco grants in priority populations and the Tobacco Cessation Policy Research Center subgrant from UC Davis. Serve as an effective member of an ACS CAN regional field leadership team.

Mentor and ensure that all team members are achieving mission policy priorities and actively serving as effective ambassadors for the Society and ACS CAN to state legislatures, governors, state agencies, local governments, and congressional offices, as well as representing the organization on coalitions. Mentor and ensure that Grassroots Organizing Directors/Grassroots Managers/Community Engagement Managers are actively growing and engaging a robust corps of grassroots and grasstops advocacy volunteers.

Ensure incorporation of effective media advocacy/campaign strategies (as applicable). Support ACS revenue development for ACS CAN, including developing and stewarding donors and prospects. Demonstrate leadership in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion in talent development and team member hiring.

***This is a remote position that can be home based in California, Hawaii/Guam, Oregon, Washington or Alaska. Candidate must be able to work Pacific Time zone business hours. This position is expected to have approximately 25-35% travel.***

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Mission/Issue Campaigns

• Drive mission policy priorities and appropriations wins in assigned territory (California, Hawaii/Guam, Oregon, Washington and Alaska) in collaboration with national and regional colleagues, ensuring that team members 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 territory, 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. 

• Lead the management and deliverables of the California Tobacco Prevention Program tobacco grants and team members in priority populations.

• Ensure that team members are developing and maintaining positive relationships with local, state, territory and federal elected officials and staff.

• Ensure that team members in assigned territory 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, research and cancer funding, etc.

• Ensure that assigned territory 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 (DAO) method of campaign planning and execution, incorporating grassroots, media advocacy, and other organizational support systems.

• Drive support in assigned territory 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 legislative champions for ACS CAN’s priorities where possible.

• Effectively identify and defeat legislation in assigned states/territory that would negatively impact the mission of the ACS and ACS CAN.

• Collaborate and support ACS CAN media team members in the assigned territory to ensure a robust earned media program is in place in each of the assigned states. Also ensure that government relations team members 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 and as applicable with tobacco grant priority populations.

• Ensure in assigned territory 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 team members 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 team members work with ACS Discovery and Patient Support colleagues to help guide state cancer plan development and engage in other similar strategic policy exercises with government health agencies.

• Ensure the incorporation of ACS team members 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 that the organization builds capacity by ensuring a robust, trained volunteer network.

Fundraising

• Support the development, along with the ACS and ACS CAN’s national development team and other colleagues, to support a viable fundraising program in each of assigned states.

• 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.

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 team members follow this lead and are held accountable.

• Build a diverse team and volunteer base by developing, establishing and nurturing relationships with communities and partners.

• Ensure that assigned state teams identify, and pursue where applicable, opportunities to improve health equity and eliminate health disparities through the local and 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 team members 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, Grassroots Managers and Tobacco Grant team members.  

• Model team leadership by embracing the organization’s technical tools and training, while also effectively completing administrative duties around reporting and documentation.

• Lead consistently, modeling the organization’s values and cultural beliefs.

FORMAL KNOWLEDGE    

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, public policy, or related field, with graduate degree preferred, and

• A minimum of 10 plus years (or current requirement) of relevant work experience.

SPECIALIZED TRAINING OR KNOWLEDGE      

• Detailed knowledge of the legislative process and political landscape.

• Team management and leadership experience required.

• Political and/or policy campaign experience required.

• Health and tobacco policy knowledge preferred.

COMPETENCIES/SKILLS

• Proven ability to drive and achieve results and demonstrated ability to be action-oriented and to work on fast-paced, time-sensitive matters with internal and external constituents.

• Strong management skills and experience. Ability to work independently with minimum direction and work as a leader of teams.

• Strong ability and understanding of government relations and grassroots organizing.

• Excellent written, oral, interpersonal, computer, and mobile application skills required.

• Ability to adapt to and manage the ambiguity of multi-state/territory political environments.

• Ability to manage and work with others in a primarily virtual environment, with strong ability to be adaptable to changing situations.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse individuals and

• communities.

• Ability to complete work in a timely and efficient manner and ensure work is accurate.

• Ability to utilize available technology to perform position responsibilities.

SPECIAL MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Local, regional, and national travel by car, plane or rail, including weekends and overnights.

• Estimated up to 25-35%.

The starting rate is $165,000 to $190,000 annual. 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.

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