Director, Public Policy

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 and secure bill sponsors.
• Testify regularly before state legislative committees and train volunteer advocates and other Association staff to provide testimony on behalf of the Association as needed.
• Recruit, train, and facilitate the efforts of Wisconsin advocacy staff and volunteer advocates, including Alzheimer’s Association Ambassadors and their Alzheimer’s Congressional Team members for each member of Congress and state-level Alzheimer’s State Champions for state legislators.
• Ensure 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.
• Develop and/or grow relationships with state legislators and other relevant state government officials and community stakeholders.
• Support the planning and execution of the Association’s annual State Advocacy Day event at the state capitol.
• Identify 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.
• 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, Development, Programs, Health Systems, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the Executive Director to advance mission priorities and provide policy expertise.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5 to 7 years of experience 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 Wisconsin.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Has current contacts within the state legislature and executive branch, and with potential partners and collaborators in Wisconsin.
• Understands, and has experience with the legislative, regulatory, and budget process in Wisconsin.
• 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 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.
• Ability/willingness to travel across the state, including some evenings and weekends. (up to 15%)
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, good driving record, access to a reliable vehicle and proof of automobile insurance. Travel is required.
• Attend the Association's annual Advocacy Forum in Washington, DC.

Job Title: Director, Public Policy

Location: Madison, WI

Full Time: Based on a 37.5 hours work week

Grade: 9

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 1,700 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 be diagnosed with the disease in the future. Read on to learn more about the role, then visit our website www.alz.org/jobs to find out more about who we are and why we've been recognized as a Best Place to Work the last eleven years in a row.

Employees working 24 hours/week or more are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, flex accounts, short and long-term disability, life insurance, long term care insurance, tuition reimbursement, generous Paid Time Off, 12 annual holidays and Paid Family Leave, as well as an annual Cultural & Heritage Day and Volunteer Day of their choosing. They are also eligible for our gold standard 401(k) retirement plan.

Full time employees (37.5 hours/week), will enjoy all of the above plus an annual School Visitation Day and an Elder Care Facility Day of their choosing.

The Alzheimer’s Association is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and provides consideration for an employment relationship without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, genetic predisposition, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)