Manager, Healthy Air Coalition Program — Chicago, IL

Organization: American Lung Association

Job Title: Manger, Healthy Air Coalition Program

Location: Chicago, IL

Hours and Compensation:  Full Time – based on experience

Application Deadline: open until filled

Position Dates: This position is an uncategorized grant funded position through June 30, 2013. Opportunities to reclassify and/or continue the position will depend on funding

Posted On: Oct. 3, 2012

Organization Overview

Clean air is at the heart of the American Lung Association’s mission to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. The Clean Air Act, which has been in place for the past 40 years, protects public health by reducing harmful pollution, soot, and air toxins and gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the ability to clean up the air. The most vulnerable among us are children, teenagers, the elderly, and persons already suffering from chronic diseases including asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, and individuals with low incomes. These populations, as well as the general public, need the Clean Air Act’s safeguards to remain strong to protect their health and improve their quality of life.

Currently, the Clean Air Act and the EPA are facing stiff opposition from some in Congress, threatening the progress the United States has made in making our air safe to breathe. The American Lung Association is bringing together partner health organizations in a nationwide fight, with a focus on key states, to protect the Clean Air Act. This Healthy Air Campaign aims to effectively frame this debate as a matter of public health and put sufficient pressure on key members of Congress to win their active support in defense of the Clean Air Act and EPA funding and rule-making.

Description

The American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest Healthy Air Coalition Manager will build a strong, broad-based coalition comprised of public health and health care groups in the state. The coalition will engage in a series of actions over the coming year to educate the public on the value of the Clean Air Act and the health and health care implications of efforts to weaken the law or fail to enforce it. The Manager will plan, develop, implement, and evaluate a well-coordinated and comprehensive Campaign (including grassroots advocacy, media advocacy, and direct lobbying) to protect the federal Clean Air Act from being weakened, dismantled or unenforced.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary campaign contact for the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest (ALAUM) and partner organizations and primary staffer for the Healthy Air Coalition
• Recruit state-level and community level health and health care organizations and groups to develop a broad-based statewide Healthy Air Coalition
• Maintain ongoing communicating with coalition partners, Congressional members and staff, and other stakeholders
• Represent ALA and the Healthy Air Coalition at public meetings
• Develop tools for recruiting, training, and mobilizing member organizations
• Identify and cultivate “grasstops” who have a relationship with key decision-makers
• Collect compelling personal stories of those negatively impacted by air pollution
• Organize and train grassroots advocates
• Provide issue briefings on air pollution and health, the Clean Air Act, and the federal policy landscape relevant to this campaign
• Assist in organizing a variety of media events including but not limited to event logistics, media outreach, and generation of earned media
• Create campaign collateral, messaging, action alerts, letters to the editor, OpEds, press releases, and testimony as needed
• Strategically integrate social media into campaign efforts
• Use campaign successes and challenges to generate supporters, advocates and donors both online and off
• Plan, organize and execute in-district meetings during Congressional recesses
• Manage campaign budget
• Periodically assess and evaluate efforts to ensure goals are being met
• Other duties as may be assigned

Qualifications

Training & Education

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Graduate degree in public health or policy preferred

Essential

• 3+ years of progressively responsible experience in public policy work at the state or federal level including direct lobbying, media/public relations, and grassroots advocacy
• Demonstrated ability to form and support strategic partnerships
• Impeccable written and oral communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively both as part of a team and independently
• Self-motivated and ability to take initiative on projects
• Facilitation skills
• Leadership skills
• Ability to travel throughout Illinois with the possibility of some overnight stays

Desirable

• Experience as field organizer, coalition manager, or event planner
• Effective public speaker
• Interest in public health policy and the health effects of poor air quality
• Experience in managing a budget
• Ability to work on a number of fast-paced concurrent projects, prioritize, and meet deadlines
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, including attention to detail
• Strong analytical and strategic reasoning skills

How to Apply

To Apply send cover letter and resume to

Human Resources, American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest, 3000 Kelly Lane, Springfield, IL 62711- Email:[email protected] or Fax: 217-241-3573