Associate State Director-Advocacy

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advocacy strategies and campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels while collaborating with cross‑functional teams and internal and external partners to achieve the organization’s legislative goals.
• Represent the organization and its interests to federal, state, or local government agencies.
• Build and maintain relationships with governmental representatives to advance and promote the organization’s goals.
• Develop and manage relationships with elected officials at all levels.
• Collaborate with internal/external partners on advocacy campaign communication strategy development.
• Utilize direct‑action organizing tactics and implement grassroots advocacy tools to build constituent support for the organization’s legislative priorities.
• Identify issues of public policy and organizational importance and implement strategies, such as drafting and distributing memos or releases, to generate government and public support.
• Advocate for organizational interests in front of legislative bodies.
• Analyze legislation for alignment with organizational priorities.
• Monitor and comment on pending legislation that may impact organizational priorities.
• Serve as a deep subject‑matter‑expert on the state office’s advocacy issues.
• Use data and input from diverse stakeholders.
• Produce written reports or convene public meetings to disseminate findings, share best practices, and advance solutions through relevant communication channels.
• Recruit, train, develop, and deploy volunteers in accordance with organizational goals.
• Align volunteers’ interests with organizational priorities.
• Support volunteer needs and design opportunities to maximize volunteer engagement.
• Ensure inclusion of volunteer perspectives in strategic planning.

• Bachelor’s degree required, along with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.
• Proven experience in lobbying, coalition building, and relationship management, particularly at the state level with a focus on the Kansas legislature.
• Demonstrated ability in developing legislative policy and introducing new legislative bills.
• Experience creating and developing testimony for legislative sessions.
• Strong commitment to nonpartisanship and experience executing campaign tactics that align with AARP’s social mission.
• Skilled in recruiting, engaging, and managing volunteer activists, with a focus on empowering volunteers.
• Ability to lead and manage multiple projects or issues simultaneously.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% throughout the state with occasional overnight, evening, and weekend hours.
• Additional travel to regional and national meetings will be required.
• Proficient in developing both short‑ and long‑term strategies for success in legislative advocacy and grassroots campaigns.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office suite and internal reporting systems.
• AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position at this time.

• Regular and reliable job attendance.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships.
• Independent judgement in evaluation options to make sound decisions.
• Work effectively in an open office environment with moderate noise.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

AARP observes Mondays and Fridays as remote workdays, except for essential functions. Remote work can only be done within the United States and its territories.

• Competitive compensation package.
• 401(k) plan.
• 100% company‑funded pension plan.
• Health, dental, and vision plans.
• Life insurance.
• Paid time off, including company and individual holidays, vacation, sick, caregiving, and parental leave.
• Performance‑based and peer‑based recognition.
• Tuition reimbursement.

AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.