What's your motivation? Opportunity? Creativity? Contribution? It's all part of working for the American Heart Association---where you can combine professional growth with personal fulfillment. So if you're considering a new and rewarding career, consider the American Heart Association. We have an excellent opportunity for a Director, Media Advocacy in our Federal Advocacy Office in Washington, DC.

The Director, Media Advocacy will, in concert with the Advocacy Department, provide strategic oversight and supervision of the advocacy media programs and communications projects of the Office of Media Advocacy in support of the American Heart Association's national and state and local advocacy agenda. Serves as manager, mentor and coach to OMA exempt and non-exempt staff. Also serves as the initial advocacy contact for national political and policy media outlets; and as the primary liaison contact for congressional press secretaries and press officers of regulatory and Executive-branch agencies. Represents the national American Heart Association and the Advocacy Department regarding media matters and public educational issues with various Association-supported coalitions and partnership organizations. Coordinates and manages Affiliate media advocacy support for state and local advocacy initiatives.

Major Responsibilities Include:
1. Oversees and supervises the daily operations of the Office of Media Advocacy, including providing strategic direction on all communications activities and outreach to the media in support of the Association's national advocacy agendas.
2. Provides editorial guidance in the development, drafting and distribution of all formal and informal advocacy communications tools geared to external and/or internal Association audiences, as time and resources permit.
3. Provides strategic direction and support for the development and placement of advocacy advertising.
4. Provides direct support to Affiliates for specific grass roots media advocacy activities in support of national legislative goals and regulatory objectives. Also coordinates consultative media advocacy support for state and local advocacy initiatives to Affiliates.
5. Represents the national Association and the Advocacy Department in numerous health related partnerships and coalitions, providing consultation and strategic recommendations dealing specifically with media and public awareness/education issues.
6. Serves as the confidential media advisor on advocacy issues to senior national Association executives and professional and lay volunteers.

Experience:
1. Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations or a related field
2. At least 8 years of experience in public relations, corporate communications and/or journalism, with a demonstrated succession of increasing professional responsibilities.
3. Experience with health care issues is desirable, as is experience in working with volunteer health organizations and/or related not-for-profit professional groups and trade organizations.
4. Experience in providing support for public policy advertising and other communications strategies at the national and grass roots levels
5. Knowledge of the operations of national and regional media (print, online, and electronic), the political media, social media as well as trade, professional and scientific press outlets, is essential.
6. Ability to communicate, build relationships, gain trust and effectively work with volunteers
7. Ability to travel up to 20% of the time including occasional evenings and weekends.

Attracting talented, committed employees means offering a competitive benefits package, ongoing professional development and training, and a diverse and inclusive environment in which to work and grow. And we do.

To apply for this position or to see other opportunities with the American Heart Association please visit www.heart.org/careers. We no longer accept mailed, faxed or e-mailed resumes. Please apply for positions directly through our website. Only those candidates deemed most qualified by the hiring manager will be contacted to interview.

The American Heart Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer and works to prohibit discrimination and to assure fair and uniform treatment of applicants and employees in all aspects of Human Resources administration without regard to political or religious opinions or affiliations, membership or non-membership in employee organizations, age, sex, disability, race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or any other non-merit factor.

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