The Advocacy and Grassroots Specialist supports the ACC's federal advocacy, political action committee (HeartPAC), and grassroots engagement initiatives to advance policies that improve cardiovascular care. This role partners with members, volunteer leaders, and internal teams to strengthen advocacy programs, coordinate legislative communications and events, manage grassroots and PAC operations, and support the ACC's annual Legislative Conference. The position also serves as a key liaison between ACC members and congressional offices, helping to mobilize advocacy efforts, foster member engagement, and promote the College's public policy priorities.
Responsibilities
1. Support the ACC’s federal grassroots and PAC programs. Such activities will include the following:
- Strengthen ACC’s grassroots program by developing strong working relationships with ACC members and internal constituencies
- Serve as primary federal grassroots liaison to grassroots activists and CCO and CCA leadership.) Share responsibility for grassroots database programming; partner with staff to ensure the system is efficiently utilized as the central repository for all legislative activities and communications. This includes keeping the grassroots online alert capability current and functioning
- Assist in the preparation and distribution of timely legislative communications in accordance with the Advocacy communications calendar
- Assist with the development and distribution of federal advocacy alerts for the purpose of educating ACC members and/or directing them to take action on legislation
- Assist in the preparation of the ACC’s Annual Legislative Conference
- Coordinate grassroots advocacy tools, resources and grassroots training presentations
- Maintain HeartPAC member database and process contributions and disbursements
- Assist in the planning and execution of candidate fundraising events
- Prepare donor reports and communications, including thank you notes, solicitations, promotional communications, and monthly education pieces in accordance with the Advocacy communications calendar
- Coordinate and attend HeartPAC meetings and fundraising events
- Provide ongoing customer service to HeartPAC members
Manage coordination of legislator practices between congressional offices and ACC members
2. Strengthen the Advocacy team’s efforts to advance policies that benefit cardiovascular specialists and their patients. Such supporting activities include the following:
- Implement strategy for increasing engagement in grassroots program across membership
- Work with Congressional Affairs team to identify opportunities for grassroots activists to play prominent role in delivering ACC’s message to key lawmakers and stakeholders
- Draft documents and presentations to assist grassroots advocates in supporting the ACC’s position on policy issues, in particular health system reform
- Prepare content for the ACC website, including issue briefs and articles for internal publications
- Manage cross-divisional Advocacy issues tracker
Work with other teams in the Advocacy Division to update the website on a regular basis
3. Assist with planning ACC’s annual Legislative Conference. Such supporting activities will include the following:
- Coordinate fly-in in conjunction with Legislative Conference
- Assist in managing budget and cost-centers
- Assist in the development of meeting content and programs
- Respond to vendor and member requests
- Coordinate logistics with MELS, Communications and Resource Center
Manage onsite solicitation of HeartPAC contributions at ACC events and the execution of fundraising challenges
4. Participate in meetings on behalf of the ACC. Such participation may include:
- Attend and report on Capitol Hill briefings and press conferences as needed
- Represent the ACC in the public affairs professional community
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Minimum of three years of grassroots advocacy and/or PAC experience
- Federal legislative or health policy experience
- Ability to communicate effectively and succinctly – both orally and in writing
- Ability to represent the ACC credibly, especially when dealing with ACC members and other medical societies
- Ability to work well with others, meet deadlines, and be a team player
- Ability to travel within the United States
- Ability to maintain professional attitude and to work productively in the collegial environment of the Advocacy Division and other areas of the ACC
At the American College of Cardiology, we bring our hearts to work.
We are a 500-person organization dedicated and committed to our mission to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health for all for more than 75 years. When you join our team, you become part of a culture that envisions a world where science, innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes.
Every day, we are committed to supporting our more than 60,000 members and their patients around the globe and in doing so, ensure our staff have a positive environment of teamwork, collaboration, professionalism and excellence. To learn more about why ACC has been recognized as a great place to work, please visit our site, www.acc.org/jobs.
What We Offer:
ACC values all members of our College family, including ACC staff. As the foundation of the organization, ACC staff enjoy world-class benefits and a culture of work-life balance. Our benefit offerings include insurance (medical, dental, vision, basic life, and short- and long-term disability, and supplemental options), generous paid time off (pre-loaded vacation and sick, 12 holidays and an organizational shut-down during the last week of the year, parental leave, 2 community service days, and half-day summer Fridays), tuition assistance and a very competitive 10% retirement contribution after a year of service, and much more! You can visit our careers site for an overview of our full offerings. Please note that these offerings may change at any time.
ACC believes in fair and equitable pay. Multiple factors are taken into consideration when we determine what salary to offer a selected candidate. These factors include, but are not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, the selected candidate’s work experience, education and training, as well as internal equity, market, and business considerations. Our salary ranges differ based on the cost of labor in the local market where the job will be performed.
The salary ranges for will vary based on the local labor market; ACC’s Recruitment Team will be able to provide more information to candidates during initial discussions.
EEOC:
ACC is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all candidates and employees. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need. Equal Opportunity Employer, including individuals with disabilities and veterans. ACC is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact Katie Sarreal, HR Business Partner at [email protected] or (202)375-6351.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's Degree
- Minimum of three years of grassroots advocacy and/or PAC experience
- Federal legislative or health policy experience
- Ability to communicate effectively and succinctly both orally and in writing
- Ability to represent the ACC credibly with members and other medical societies
- Ability to work well with others, meet deadlines, and be a team player
- Ability to travel within the United States
- Ability to maintain a professional attitude and work productively in a collegial environment
What We Do
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is a nonprofit medical association and the primary U.S. medical society representing all cardiology subspecialties. Dedicated to transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all, the ACC serves as the professional home for clinicians and researchers. It provides cutting-edge education, advocacy, professional credentials, and trusted clinical guidance to optimize patient care and outcomes worldwide.
