Senior Associate Director, Campaigns & Advocacy (Healthcare & Legislative Affairs)

We have an immediate opportunity for a mid-level public affairs and strategic communications professional with strong issue advocacy, coalition building, stakeholder engagement, issues management, writing, and project management skills. This experienced professional will join our growing Campaigns & Advocacy practice in our Washington, D.C. office.

What we're looking for: The consummate "do it all" public affairs professional with a strong background in issues management. You are self-directed, proactive and driven to win for your clients every day. You create opportunities to drive the message and position issues using the full spectrum of communications and engagement channels and tactics. You have experience managing work streams. You have a desire to learn and grow – both across industries and communication mediums, such as traditional media, social/digital media, issues advocacy, and stakeholder communications. You know how to work with clients and have a positive, go-getter attitude that wins the confidence of clients and inspires teams, and you have an established and trusted network. Political/campaign experience is a plus.

Responsibilities:

• Support and implement a wide range of strategic communication and issue advocacy campaigns for our high profile, globally-recognized clients
• Support the design and implementation of multi-faceted, integrated communications and issue campaigns to position client issues and priorities with key audiences that may include elected officials, media, consumers and external and internal stakeholders
• Create effective messages and produce and edit high-quality written deliverables, such as issue backgrounders, press materials, messaging toolkits, and social media content often under tight deadlines
• Develop compelling advocacy communications and content to convey complex policy issues — particularly in healthcare — to the general public
• Practical experience with coalition building and management efforts including stakeholder mapping, recruitment, engagement, and activation; state level advocacy engagement with field team management skills strongly preferred
• Support media relations efforts including cultivating relationships with media (national, state, and local), drafting op-eds and talking points, preparing clients for speaking opportunities, organizing press conferences, and more
• Monitor and decipher developments in key client issue areas — with a focus on healthcare policy and congressional activity — and flag opportunities for further client engagement
• Participate in business development activities including writing proposals and developing pitch decks

Qualifications:

• 8-12 years of experience in public affairs, issue advocacy campaigns, earned media, and/or political campaigns
• Experience working on or with congressional healthcare committees (e.g., Senate Finance Committee, Senate HELP Committee, House Energy & Commerce Committee) is strongly preferred. Candidates with backgrounds in healthcare legislative affairs, health policy development, or healthcare-related advocacy on Capitol Hill will be prioritized.
• Experience with state and federal legislative, regulatory, or issues-based campaigns and lobbying is a plus
• Solid project management experience and a proven ability to help manage multiple projects and client initiatives in a fast-paced environment while able to think quickly
• Proven expertise in developing and supporting development of strategies and plans (issues management, crisis protocols, advocacy, positioning, etc.) across various industries and subject areas (financial services, health care, food and consumer goods, technology, transportation, energy, etc.)
• Demonstrate exceptional critical thinking skills, as well as the ability to develop presentations; write compellingly; create messaging, position papers, digital and media content; leverage AI responsibly; and work efficiently under tight deadlines
• Experience participating in business development opportunities a plus – industry research, proposal development and drafting, staffing plan management, and pitching
• Excellent client and interpersonal skills; ability to manage independent client relationships and communicate effectively by phone, email, and in-person
• Well-versed in current events and headline news at local, national, and international levels
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university

Compensation Range

The US base salary for this position ranges from $120,000/year to $140,000/year. Our compensation range for this role is inclusive of several US geographic markets. APCO targets an employee's pay within this range to be based on several factors, which include but are not limited to relevant education, skills, job-related knowledge, qualifications, work experience, credentials, internal equity and/or geographic location.

Careers at APCO

Through our recruitment, hiring and retention efforts, APCO is committed to building teams who bring the best possible expertise and robust perspectives to our clients. We embrace differences in experience, viewpoint and ideas, starting with our values and extending to our behaviors, policies and practices. We aim to create a positive work experience and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, national origin, citizenship, native language, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, religion, age, veteran status, neurodivergence, mental or physical disability, medical history, pregnancy, political belief or affiliation or any other characteristic protected by law.

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About APCO

APCO is a global advisory and advocacy firm helping leading corporations, foundations and governments navigate a complex world and create lasting impact.

Founded in 1984, with one woman’s vision and bold action, APCO has grown into an independent, majority women-owned firm of more than 1,200 employees with work spanning 80 markets around the world.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO is comprised of strategic advisers, consultants and creators, working together across borders and functions, to provide services and expertise on financial, competitive, political and societal issues.

APCO is a trusted partner to bold purpose-led leaders, lawmakers, government officials, NGOs, the media and other stakeholders in the health, energy, technology, transportation & infrastructure and food & consumer products sectors. For 40 years, the firm has provided public affairs, crisis & reputation, impact, corporate reputation and global solutions services.

APCO is renowned for its ability to champion clients’ interests and permission to operate , build their reputation and strengthen their standing. APCO’s integrated approach and team of tenacious and empathic talent create connections and winning strategies that accelerate progress and deepen impact.

By bringing diverse people and ideas together, and working beyond traditional boundaries, APCO builds the un/common ground upon which progress is made.