Director, Federal Relations - Appropriations - Washington D.C.

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.

The Director, Federal Relations- Appropriations is responsible for advocating and achieving identified federal legislative and regulatory policy priorities in a bi-partisan manner with the goal of reducing the cancer burden through evidence-based public policy. Serves as a principal (registered) federal lobbyist and strategist for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) on all issues related to federal budget and appropriations, cancer research, and global health issues before Congress and the Administration.

Serves as the Executive Director of the ACS CAN-led One Voice Against Cancer Coalition (OVAC), requiring significant externally facing strategic leadership. Leads and drives the execution of results-driven federal appropriations goals and ensures incorporation of effective coalition/partner, media advocacy/campaign, and grassroots/volunteer tactics (as applicable). Demonstrate support and leadership in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

***This position is based onsite at our Washington D.C. office. ***

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Mission/Issue Campaigns: 

• Advocate for and achieve identified federal legislative priorities related to budget and appropriations, cancer research, and global health issues, including ARPA-H and other related issues as assigned. 

• Identify and recommend public policy advocacy opportunities and design and implement appropriate strategies in coordination with ACS CAN leadership and team members.  

• Defeat legislation that would negatively impact the mission of the ACS and ACS CAN.  

• Represent ACS CAN before members of Congress and Congressional staff, Executive Branch/Administrative Agency personnel, coalition partners, and others, executing necessary external engagement to move federal legislative and regulatory priorities forward.  

• Serve as Executive Director of One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC), a coalition of more than 50 groups that advocate for cancer research and prevention funding. Responsibilities include chairing monthly coalition meetings; leading coalition members to reach a consensus on annual appropriations requests; developing a strategy to advocate for those requests; organizing various OVAC activities, including Congressional briefings, two annual lobby days, and letters to Congress; and serving as the coalition’s primary point of contact in interactions with Capitol Hill and relevant federal agencies. 

• Proactively identify needs for research and materials to support lobbying activities and enable quick response to inquiries and current events. 

• Ensure comprehensive approach to legislative strategies, including time-sensitive legislative and issue tracking, drafting, and analyzing legislative proposals, tracking, and reporting on budget and appropriations numbers, scheduling and staffing meetings, developing talking points, charts, fact sheets, and presentations, drafting correspondence and testimony, and conducting briefings on and off Capitol Hill. 

• Represent ACS CAN on coalitions including but not limited to United for Medical Research and the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research and others as assigned.  

• Coordinate ACS CAN engagement with the Director, National Cancer Institute, the White House, Office of Science and Technology Policy, and others, ensuring partnership and engagement for federal advocacy priorities. 

• Provide strategic guidance to ACS CAN senior leaders on annual federal appropriations process and legislative issues. 

• Collaborate with the Policy team to determine appropriate positions and opportunities on legislation and regulatory matters. 

• Collaborate with counterparts on grassroots advocacy, advocacy communications, field, and other internal American Cancer Society (ACS) and ACS CAN teams to identify campaign execution strategies and tactics to move federal priorities forward. Cross-teams collaboration is a key component of ACS CAN’s enterprise work. 

• Respond effectively to information requests from Congressional offices and the public as well as inquiries from ACS and ACS CAN staff and volunteers. 

• Provides frequent status updates/reports to the Vice President, Federal Advocacy and Strategic Coalitions, and the Senior Director, Federal Relations on activities and work accomplished. 

• Attend Federal Government Relations Team and other ACS CAN meetings as assigned.   

• Attend approved relevant conferences and meetings. 

Teamwork & Collaboration: 

• Drive collaboration and mutual support of regional field leadership and state Government Relations Directors, Grassroots Managers. 

• Support the organization’s volunteer capacity and training as needed.   

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

• Ensure collaboration with ACS colleagues to help facilitate the success of the entire enterprise. 

• Enhance the overall external visibility of the enterprise in a positive manner commensurate with the organization’s brand. 

• Model team leadership by embracing the organization’s technical tools and Direct Action Organizing (DAO) training. 

• Support and serve as an effective steward of relationships by communicating effectively with ACS CAN corporate members, partners, donors, and prospective funders (as needed). 

• Effectively complete administrative duties around reporting and documentation. 

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. 

• Ensure that ACS CAN policies and guidelines are followed, along with compliance with all federal lobbying related requirements, ethics, regulations and laws. 

Legal: 

• Ensure that ACS CAN policies and guidelines are followed, along with compliance with all federal lobbying related requirements, ethics, regulations and laws.  ​

FORMAL KNOWLEDGE

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

• A minimum of 10 plus years of professional experience required, including extensive federal legislative and/or advocacy experience.   

• Capitol Hill or Administration experience strongly preferred.  

SPECIALIZED TRAINING OR KNOWLEDGE:            

• Detailed knowledge of the legislative process and political landscape. 

• High level of expertise in the legislative and regulatory process, federal budget, and appropriations process.   

• Political and/or policy campaign experience required.  

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.  

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

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

• Must have a positive attitude and be a team player; must be collaborative and able to work across teams to achieve goals. 

• Must be a initiative-taker able to work with minimal supervision, and understand context of media, politics, and grassroots mobilization. 

• Ability to utilize available technology to perform and achieve position responsibilities. 

SPECIALIZED TRAINING OR KNOWLEDGE

• Some travel required..

The starting rate is $135,000 to $165,000 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.

Salary : $135,000 - $165,000