Director Public Policy

The Director of Public Policy serves as the principal staff for state government affairs and chief lobbyist in Iowa, representing the Alzheimer’s Association before Iowa’s legislature, governor, relevant state agencies, community stakeholders and coalitions, and on statewide task forces and work groups; and is responsible for grassroots engagement and volunteer recruitment in support of the Association’s state and federal public policy priorities. This position is responsible for implementing the Alzheimer’s Association’s coordinated state policy priorities including issues related to Medicaid, long-term care, training standards, aging, and workforce and serves as a registered lobbyist with the state. The position reports to the Executive Director and represents the Alzheimer’s Association's Iowa chapter.

This position is located in Des Moines, IA. Relocation assistance will be offered.

Responsibilities:

Essential functions and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Plan and execute a multi-year state legislative and regulatory agenda with a focus on implementation of the Association's state policy priorities, in collaboration with the Executive Director and the National Public Policy Office in Washington, D.C.
• Draft bills and regulatory language, secure bill sponsors, and provide testimony before state legislative committees on behalf of the Association as needed.
• Testify regularly before state legislative committees and train volunteer advocates and other Association staff to provide testimony on behalf of the Association as needed.
• Develop and grow the Association’s relationship with elected officials, other government officials and community stakeholders, ensuring the Association is represented on relevant statewide task forces, workgroups, committees and coalitions.
• Track state legislation utilizing the Association’s approved tracking system and monitor committee meetings and legislative action.
• Report lobbying activities as required and ensure compliance with the Association’s approved lobbying compliance vendor and internal tracking system.
• Plan and execute the Association’s annual State Advocacy Day event at the state capitol.
• Identify and implement opportunities for grassroots engagement on state issues and assist as needed in the execution of state-level advocacy activities, including coordinating office visits, correspondence, and other activities.
• Federal Policy: Recruit, train, and facilitate year-round efforts of volunteer Alzheimer’s Ambassadors and volunteer team members working with their assigned member of Congress, in partnership with the D.C. Public Policy Office.
• Federal Policy: Demonstrated expertise on the Federal policy priorities for the Association and provide leadership on policy positions for State policy implications.
• Manage year-round state policy grassroots advocacy activities, including office visits, correspondence, and the volunteer Alzheimer’s State Champion program.
• Work with advocates to promote the Association’s federal and state policy priorities in earned and social media.
• Ensure volunteer advocates are reporting activities and contacts with federal and state officials.
• In consultation with the Executive Director provide regular updates to Association staff in the state, the chapter board, volunteer advocates and to staff in the Association’s National Public Policy Office.
• Collaborate with Association staff across the chapter regularly including Communications, Programs, Health Systems and the Executive Director to advance mission priorities and provide policy expertise.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 3 years’ of experience but 5 preferred working in state government affairs setting; as a state legislative staff person; or as policy staff in the governor’s office or relevant state agency, preferably in Iowa.
• Has current contacts within the state legislature and executive branch, and with potential partners and collaborators in Iowa.
• Political or issue advocacy campaign experience desired.
• Understands, and has experience with the legislative, regulatory, and budget process in Iowa.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience in volunteer management/community organizing.
• Familiar with Medicaid, senior, aging, health, and long-term care issues.
• Demonstrates the ability to anticipate, identify, organize, and analyze public policy opportunities.
• Possess excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Detail-oriented, adaptable, organized and able to successfully manage multiple projects and tasks.
• Proven self-starter with excellent judgment and careful attention to detail.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse populations with a high level of integrity, diplomacy and initiative.
• Attend the Association's annual Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C.
• Ability/willingness to travel across the state, including some evenings and weekends (up to 15%).
• Travel by car and occasionally by air is required.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, good driving record, access to a reliable vehicle and proof of automobile insurance.

Title: Director of Public Policy

Position Location: Des Moines, IA

Full time or Part time: Full Time

Position Grade: 108

Reports To: Executive Director

Who We Are:

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia- by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

At the Alzheimer’s Association, our employees are at the core of all we do. Our network of more than 1,900 employees across the United States makes a difference each and every day for those impacted by Alzheimer’s and those at risk for the disease.

We warmly invite qualified applicants to consider this opportunity to make a life-changing impact on the millions living with Alzheimer’s, their caregivers and those that may develop the disease in the future. Read on to learn more about the role, then visit our website to explore who we are and why we've been recognized as a Best Place to Work for the last twelve years in a row.

At the Alzheimer's Association®, we believe that diverse perspectives are critical to achieving health equity - meaning that all communities have a fair and just opportunity for early diagnosis and access to risk reduction and quality care. The Association is committed to engaging underrepresented and underserved communities and responding with resources and education to address the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer’s and dementia.