Vice President, Federal Advocacy & Coalitions

ACS - American Cancer Society

Washington, D.C., United States

The Vice President for Federal Advocacy & Coalitions is the senior leader that is responsible for developing and executing the strategic legislative and regulatory priorities of ACS CAN through federal legislation and regulation in a bi-partisan manner. The VP is a member of the ACS CAN Senior Leadership Team, and a thought-leader for the development and execution of strategies to reduce the cancer burden through federal public policies. The VP serves as head of a federal lobbying team and is a key driver of mission-based partnerships through coalition leadership. The VP supports revenue generation by facilitating ACS CAN’s mission advocacy products and services and through engagement with external partners.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Serve as an organizational leader, providing strategic advice to the President and senior leadership regarding overall federal advocacy priorities, and legislative objectives, strategies and tactics to achieve established annual key performance metrics.
Based on mission priorities, identify, develop and operationalize federal advocacy campaigns, leveraging nationwide resources in partnership with the leadership of other key departments like media/communications, policy, grassroots/volunteers, and state and local advocacy.
Responsible for developing and facilitating the strategic integration of national, regional and state-based ACS CAN staff and volunteer resources in support of federal issue campaigns and building congressional champions in partnership with grassroots advocacy and state and local advocacy.
Directly oversees and supervises federal relations and public health strategic coalitions, specifically:
- Ensures achievement of organizational goals and key performance indicators in partnership with the President and the Senior Leadership Team.The VP drives the development of the annual and future federal advocacy agenda and budget outlining advocacy campaigns and legislative priorities for the year and leads the federal relations team in operationalizing strategies and tactics in achieving those objectives.
- Works closely with policy staff counterparts; monitors, analyzes and reports on the impact of federal legislation on mission priorities and programs of interest to ACS CAN and the ACS enterprise.
- Identifies advocacy needs and opportunities and designs and implements appropriate strategies in coordination with ACS CAN leadership and staff.
Assist in the execution of federal operations and tactics including media advocacy and managing external partner relationships as they relate to advancement of federal advocacy priorities and issues that involve Congress and other federal government officials and departments.
Communicate with the ACS CAN Board of Directors on matters relating to federal advocacy campaigns and partnerships.
Partners with the Senior Leadership Team for effective integration of policy, issue advocacy and fundraising that ties into the federal advocacy agenda, including conceptualizing and supporting the development of products, such as reports, research data, and events that both assist ACS CAN’s mission goals, and which have revenue raising potential with ACS CAN partners.
Creates engagement that results in effective fundraising efforts with existing and future ACS CAN partners with responsibility for achieving annual revenue goals with the Alliance Development team.
Speak on behalf of ACS CAN to the media, and at external and enterprise events and activities nationwide.

FORMAL KNOWLEDGE

A minimum of 15-20 years in senior management positions representing one or more organizations before the public with experience coordinating high-level internal and external relationships, public policy advocacy, organizational governance, and political risk management.

OTHER SKILLS

Public policy experience in both legislative and executive branch government organizations (federal preferred), and nonprofit advocacy.
Superior oral and written communication skills, including ability to speak to large groups.
Extremely strong management skills.
Demonstrated effectiveness in leading and coordinating across a variety of disciplines in a complex organization.
Demonstrated good judgment and political sensitivity in decision making process. Intellectual curiosity, discipline and resourcefulness and excellent time management and organizational skills.
Flexible, enthusiastic, efficient and team oriented; ability to work in team-based environment.
Must be able to manage multiple projects, meet all deadlines, maintain a flexible work schedule, have the ability to lead teams of staff and volunteers to accomplish federal policy priorities.

COMPETENCIES

Demonstrates Leaderships Competencies.
Builds effective teams - Builds strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
Collaborates - Builds partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
Courage - Steps up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.
Drives engagement - Creates a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.
Ensures accountability - Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments.
Manages ambiguity - Operates effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.
Manages complexity - Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
Strategic mindset - Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies.

SPECIALIZED TRAINING OR KNOWLEDGE

Experience in Congressional and executive branch business culture, standard operating practices, budget cycles, and project management.
Experience managing political and issue campaigns.
Experience in non-profit management and organizational development.
Experience with traditional media and social media.