Senior Vice President, Government Affairs & Public Relations

Summary: The SVP, Government Affairs & Public Relations reports to the Chief Executive Officer and leads the organization’s efforts for resources and policies to improve the public’s health and well-being. As a member of the executive leadership team, he/she will work collaboratively with senior leadership to develop and implement strategies to execute the strategic plan.

Location: Remote

Principal Functions:

• Leads, directs, and manages ASTHO’s government relations, public relations, and state health policy teams to advance ASTHO’s mission to support, equip, and advocate for state and territorial health officials in their work of advancing the public’s health and well-being
• Develops and implements advocacy strategy and operational plans for advancing advocacy, state health policy, and public relations goals
• Serves as ASTHO spokesperson and expert on policy and legislative issues
• Works with ASTHO board of directors and the government relations committee to develop and implement an annual legislative agenda
• Advances the interests of state and territorial public health department chief health officers with Congress, the administration, media, and partners
• Leverages existing and develops new strategic relationships with partners that are aligned with advancing state and territorial public health priorities
• Provides tools and resources for senior health officials to use during direct interactions with members of Congress, the administration, and/or governors
• Serves as a member of the Executive Team
• Maintains collaborative working relationships with staff and partner organizations
• Leads public health coalitions on behalf of ASTHO to advance the organization’s priorities such as ASTHO’s affiliates

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in public policy/government, public health, political science, business administration, or health care administration preferred
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible and directly related work experience, such as Hill and/or Lobbying experience
• Firm grasp of government public health system, relevant congressional committees, and administration departments and agencies
• Proven experience in advancing legislative agendas across a wide spectrum of health issues

• Excellent written and oral skills; ability to write about and describe complex concepts in easy-to-understand language
• Interpersonal skills needed to coordinate, manage and execute multiple projects in a challenging environment
• Ability to develop project measures of success, analyze progress, evaluate outcomes, and forecast needs
• Ability to track and analyze related project issues and legislation at federal and state levels
• Ability to work with large networks and to represent ASTHO at meetings and conferences on project-related issues
• Ability to manage multiple projects and complete assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, basic knowledge of other software applications (e.g., database, desktop publishing, etc.) and HTML and/or Web page design
• Ability and willingness to travel

Benefits:

• Vacation leave, Sick leave, Personal days
• 12 Holidays (with some floating options for personalization)
• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Retirement Plans – 403B and Roth 403B, eligible employees can receive a company contribution up to 11.75%
• Infertility benefits
• Electronic communication stipend
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short and Long-term disability insurance
• Additional Benefits include: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Pet Insurance, Legal Resources, Health & Wellness reimbursement, Flexible Spending accounts, Tuition Reimbursement, and Professional Development assistance

About Us: ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. territories and Freely Associated States, and the District of Columbia, as well as the more than 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and to ensuring excellence in public health practice. ASTHO is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia and was incorporated on March 23, 1942, with the goal of helping health officials navigate a rapidly changing public health landscape and remains a strong voice in governmental public health.

This position is contingent upon the availability of grant, contract, or organizational funding. Funding levels and organizational needs may impact the duration or continuation of employment.