Manager, Advocacy

The American Lung Association has an excellent opportunity for a Manager, Advocacy, Healthy Air Solutions. Working as a member of the Advocacy and Public Policy department, you will join an outstanding group of professionals dedicated to our mission: to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through research, education, and advocacy. 

As a manager on the Healthy Air Solutions team, your primary responsibilities include overseeing initiatives aimed at reducing harmful emissions to promote lung health. You will oversee implementation of Diesel Emissions Reductions Act (DERA) program work and foster a collaborative and innovative work environment. Under the federal DERA program, the Lung Association works with vehicle fleet owners to swap out old, polluting engines for cleaner ones and keeps careful records to ensure program requirements are met in exchange for funding. Key duties include meeting with stakeholders, setting performance goals for the DERA projects, tracking fleet progress, helping ensure all federal grant and financial requirements are met, ensuring that all deliverables are achieved on time, and working with other DERA staff to draft proposals for new funding opportunities. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills, a demonstrated history of project management, and the ability to implement evaluation practices to consistently improve implementation and outcomes of the DERA projects. This is a grant funded position. 

Location: The preferred location for this role is Springfield, Illinois but we are also considering remote applicants and encourage candidates in any location in the United States to apply.  

Responsibilities: 

• Establish and maintain connections with key individuals who can provide up-to-date information relating to DERA funding.
• Maintain and expand a network of fleets, companies, organizations and other external stakeholders for existing and future DERA applications.
• Leverage experience and education to create outside-the-box ideas to ensure the long-term sustainability of Healthy Air Solutions projects. 
• Track DERA objectives, outputs and spending to ensure timely and accurate reporting.
• Lead staff discussions relating to DERA projects and in the implementation of program activities.
• Communicate in both verbal and written format to internal and external partners.
• Develop and conduct training, presentations, webinars, and other activities.
• Develop project timelines that exceed grant expectations.
• Distribute incremental and final program reports to federal program managers.
• Understand basic environmental science research to support and develop Lung Association DERA applications messaging.
• Participate in meetings hosted by the Lung Association and partners.
• Complete ongoing professional development to enhance knowledge and skills.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in science, environmental studies, public health, public administration, communications or related field.
• A general understanding of environmental principles including climate impacts, natural disasters, air pollution, emissions, and others.
• Experience administering grants, particularly federal grants, is preferred. 
• Knowledge regarding basic math, statistics, chemistry and biology. Some demonstrated health experience or knowledge is preferred. 
• Professional and/or educational experience in leading teams to achieve specific, time-sensitive outcomes.
• Must have excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Confident working as a project leader responsible for the success of multiple concurrent programs.
• Must be able to facilitate minimal travel required (15%) by various programs.
• Passionate about improving the lives of people in the communities we serve.
• Must have a valid Driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Software will include Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Teams, and others. Understanding of GIS, Illustrator, and other specialized software is preferred.
• The American Lung Association maintains a smoke-free workplace; all employees must abstain from tobacco use in any form, including vaping. 

Compensation: Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.  The target hiring range for this position is between $52,000 and $57,500 per annum. 

Benefits: The Lung Association offers a comprehensive benefits package including:  

• Paid Leave - 10 vacation days in the first year (15 days thereafter), 2 personal days and 15 sick days per year, as well as 12 company-paid holidays per year. We also offer Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees.   
• Insurance - Employees (and their eligible dependents) can enroll in our medical, dental, and vision plans, as well as voluntary plans for critical illness, accident, hospital indemnity, short-term disability and supplemental life/AD&D insurance. Employees will be enrolled in company-paid life/AD&D and long-term disability Insurance coverage. 
• Retirement Plan - Eligible employees can participate in our 401(k) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan, which offers matching employer contributions (up to 4%) and year-end discretionary non-elective contributions.   

Questions? For more details about this role please reach out to alahr@lung.org. 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

The American Lung Association is committed to employ, in its best judgment, the most suitable candidates for approved positions while engaging in recruitment and selection practices that are in compliance with all applicable employment laws. We are an equal opportunity employer: women, minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 

Policy Statement 

It is the policy of the American Lung Association to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to provide equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to their race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or physical and/or mental disabilities, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. The American Lung Association will take affirmative action to employ, advance in employment and otherwise treat all individuals in the foregoing categories without discrimination in all employment practices. This policy applies in all Human Resources actions including recruitment, selection, evaluation, promotion, compensation and training.