Associate Director of State Policy and Advocacy

Associate Director of State Policy and Advocacy

About the American Kidney Fund:

The American Kidney Fund (AKF) is the nation’s leading nonprofit working on behalf of the one in seven Americans living with kidney disease. Our mission is to help people fight kidney disease and live healthier lives, and we fulfill that mission by providing a complete spectrum of programs and services, from prevention through transplant. We are proud to be recognized as one of the top 50 nonprofit employers in the United States by The Nonprofit Times . AKF invests 96 cents of every donated dollar in programs and holds the highest 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar).

About the position:

Reporting to the Senior Director of State Policy and Advocacy, the Associate Director of State Policy and Advocacy helps advance policies that improve care and access for people living with kidney disease across the United States. In this role, you will advance state legislation and regulations to support and improve policies for kidney disease patients and organ donors, while working to combat legislation that threatens care and access for people with kidney disease. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who thrives on autonomy, builds bridges across the political spectrum, and is passionate about driving change and making a lasting impact on patients’ lives.

Responsibilities:

• Advance AKF’s state policy and advocacy priorities by engaging with state legislators, government agencies, and bipartisan stakeholders.
• Build and maintain relationships across the political spectrum to support policies that improve care and access for people with kidney disease.
• Monitor state legislation and regulations, identify policy threats, and develop strategies to advance AKF’s priorities.
• Independently develop and implement advocacy strategies, including grassroots engagement with patient advocates.
• Draft policy comments, advocacy materials, and communications that translate complex health policy issues into effective advocacy that advances AKF’s mission to fight kidney disease and help people live healthier lives.
• Represent AKF at state policy conferences and engage with external partners and policymakers.
• Collaborate across teams while exercising sound judgment, initiative, and independent decision-making.
• Travel approximately 40% throughout the contiguous United States, including occasional evening and weekend commitments.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science or a related field.
• 4–5 years of experience in advocacy, lobbying, state health policy, government relations, or related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills with demonstrated ability to work autonomously, manage multiple priorities, and drive projects forward independently.
• Ability to build bipartisan relationships and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong research, project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and legislative research tools (Quorum software proficiency is a plus).
• High level of professionalism, integrity, flexibility, and attention to detail.
• Valid driver’s license with the ability to travel nationally up to 40%.
• Existing relationships with state legislators, government agencies, or policy stakeholders preferred.
• Familiarity with kidney disease, public health, health care access, or health insurance policy are a plus.

Benefits:

We provide a competitive salary of $100,000-$105,000 annually, paid holidays, vacation, sick and personal days; health, dental and vision coverage; life insurance and disability coverages; and a generous matching 403(b) retirement plan. In addition, we offer an ideal work/life balance including remote work capability with employees working in the office 1-4 days per month and reduced Friday hours, opportunities for annual raises and bonuses based on performance, free underground parking, and a friendly, collaborative, and supportive culture where our team knows how much they are valued.

Join the American Kidney Fund and help shape policies that make a difference in the lives of people with kidney disease. If you’re an independent, strategic thinker who thrives on building relationships and driving change, submit your resume by clicking ‘Apply’ above.

AKF is an equal opportunity employer.