Director, Communications

• Lead the Associations advocacy communications strategy ensuring a steady coordinated flow of mission-driven content that advances federal and state policy priorities and mobilizes the advocacy community.
• Translate legislative and policy priorities into clear compelling messaging calls to action and campaign materials that resonate with members of Congress agency officials advocates and the public.
• Develop the messaging and materials behind Capitol Hill engagement including fact sheets talking points one-pagers congressional correspondence and testimony support in close partnership with the government affairs team.
• Lead grassroots and grass tops mobilization communications including action alerts advocacy emails and digital campaigns that drive advocates to contact lawmakers and take action on priority legislation.
• Lead the communications behind national advocacy days fly-ins and Hill events equipping advocates and volunteers with the messaging training materials and storytelling tools to engage policymakers effectively.
• Develop and oversee integrated advocacy campaign plans that coordinate messaging across channels in support of legislative moments and lead rapid-response communications around policy developments votes and breaking news.
• Partner with the Care Services team to develop clear compassionate content and resources that inform support and engage people living with ALS and their families.
• Partner with the research team to translate scientific progress and complex findings into accessible content that builds awareness understanding and support for ALS research.
• Partner with the development team to create compelling fundraising donor and stewardship communications that strengthen relationships with supporters and advance the Associations mission.
• Establish cross-channel measurement and steward the Associations brand voice and messaging standards across all communications advocacy care research and development tracking reach and engagement to evaluate impact and inform ongoing strategy.
• Prepare leadership staff and volunteer advocates to serve as effective spokespeople before Congress and the media including briefing materials message training and support for congressional testimony.
• Collaborate closely with the Director Public Relations to ensure owned-channel and earned-media messaging are consistent and mutually reinforcing particularly around legislative wins research milestones and key mission moments.

• Directly supervises communications staff and indirectly supervises additional staff freelancers and vendors within the Marketing and Communications department.
• Oversees the team responsible for advocacy communications content production grassroots and campaign materials and supporting content across care research and development.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilitiesin accordance withthe organizations policies and applicable laws.
• Responsibilities include interviewing hiring and training employees; planning assigning and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

• Bachelors Degree (BA) from a four-year college or university; degree in Communications Political Science Public Policy Government Journalism or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 810 years of progressive communications experience with a strong emphasis on advocacy policy political or public affairs communications plus the versatility to support broader mission communications across care research and development; demonstrated success in a senior or leadership role.
• Capitol Hill experience required direct experience working in a congressional office committee federal agency or advocacy organization engaging directly with Congress with a working knowledge of the federal legislative process and the Washington DC policy landscape.
• Proven track record of producing advocacy materials and campaigns such as action alerts fact sheets talking points op-eds and grassroots mobilization efforts that influence policymakers and drive measurable advocate engagement.
• Experience leading coalition and stakeholder communications with a strong understanding of how to align messaging across partners and mobilize diverse audiences around shared policy goals.
• Proficiency with advocacy and digital campaign tools (e.g. Quorum Phone2Action/Capitol Canary VoterVoice or similar action platforms) email marketing platforms content management systems and engagement analytics.
• Experience translating complex policy legislative or scientific subject matter into accessible persuasive content for lawmakers supporters and the public; health disability or patient-advocacy experience a plus.
• Strong message discipline and exceptional written oral interpersonal and presentation skills with the ability to produce polished materials under tight news- and legislatively driven deadlines.

The ALS Association has compensation ranges for various work locations throughout the United States allowing us to compensate employees competitively and consistently in diverse geographic markets. The above-listed listed range shows prospective compensation for this role; the appropriate range will be established by what is eventually determined to be the candidates primary work location. Various factors including the complexity and significance of the role job duties/requirements relevant experience and abilities and primary work location determine individual compensation. Compensation ranges are evaluated and typically adjusted on a regular basis. Offers are made within the compensation range that is in effect at the time of the job offer.

The Association may at its discretion offer merit-based increases tied to individual performance. The benefits listed may differ depending on employment status with the Association. Healthcare benefits a 401(k) plan with employer match short-term and long-term disability coverage basic life insurance well-being benefits paid time off and several paid holidays are available to Association employees among other benefits.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity or expression pregnancy age national origin disability status genetic information protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

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The ALS Association highly encourages their employees to be fully vaccinated as considered per the CDC guidelines with the COVID-19 vaccination. Requirements to have or obtain a COVID-19 vaccination may be applicable by state local and other federal orders or applicable lawful requirements by third-party clinics vendors or events attended on ALS Association business. If applicable proof of vaccination will be required unless approved for a legally required exemption by The ALS Association.