Senior State Government Relations Manager (Western Region)

About Us:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $2 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.

Core to our philosophy is how we think of our capital and its risk profile relative to other stakeholders in the drug development pipeline. We work aggressively to de-risk various therapeutic strategies and tools in the hopes of building a robust pipeline of new treatments for patients. In order to achieve our mission of finding a cure for PD it is critical that we engage with, and bring together, members of the PD community including researchers, physicians, health professionals and most important, people with Parkinson's and their families.

We believe that to find a cure for PD as quickly as possible, our capital needs to push research forward today—we therefore deliberately hold no endowment or excessive reserves. We instead seek to deploy funds raised as quickly and wisely as possible. MJFF raises over $100 million annually. Today, the Foundation has approximately 300 full-time employees. We offer a collegial and collaborative environment where optimistic problem-solvers and entrepreneurial, resourceful individuals can thrive and make a tangible difference for millions of people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Position Summary:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (“the Foundation”) is seeking top talent for its Senior State Government Relations Manager in the Western Region of the United States.  Reporting to the Director of State Government Relations, this position assists in developing, communicating and clarifying the Foundation’s stance on legislation, regulations and other proposals to state lawmakers, regulators and government officials. This role monitors legislative and regulatory activities, identifies relevant areas for the Foundation, and maintains strategic relationships with state elected officials and agency staff.

This individual’s legislative portfolio will be based in the Western Region of the United States (AZ, AK, CA, CO, HI, ID, OR, NV, UT, and WA). Preference will be given to candidates based in the Sacramento, CA, area.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Legislative Affairs: 

• Develop, communicate and explain the Foundation’s position on legislation, regulations and other proposals to state lawmakers, regulators and other government officials, with oversight and supervision from manager
• Update and maintain state bill tracker list by state and subject area along with key committee hearing dates and deadlines
• Lead legislative and regulatory priorities and identify areas of importance to the Foundation
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with state elected office staff and agency staff in various jurisdictions
• Draft written testimony, advocacy pieces, talking points, briefings and PowerPoint Presentations for various audiences.  This role is also expected to provide in-person and remote legislative testimony before governmental committees, Governor’s offices and outside stakeholder organizations, including but not limited to, other Parkinson’s organizations and non-Parkinson’s organizations
• Issue Monitoring and Analysis – Stay informed about legislative and regulatory developments at the state level that may impact our community, conducting thorough analysis to assess potential implications and inform strategic advocacy efforts
• Develop subject matter expertise on a range of policy issues that affect the Parkinson’s community

Advocacy Efforts: 

• Work in a team environment in conjunction with the Advocacy Director toward more “in-state” policy-oriented events such as Lobby Days and coordinated coalition efforts with the patient community
• Duties may include assistance with planning and logistics regarding policy-related events and webinars
• Coordinate campaign materials for “Share Your Story” for patient advocates on various related policy objectives
• Develop and build relationships for coalition engagement opportunities to support overall government relations priorities
• Collaborate with Development team as needed through direction from manager

Coalition Engagement: 

• Support creating and maintaining strong relationships with other research, health care and patient organizations
• As assigned, serve as the Foundation’s representative in various coalitions and work groups

Team Administration/Operations: 

• Attend weekly staff meetings, internal and external coalition group meetings, support and/or manage other duties as they are assigned
• Compliance and Reporting – Ensure compliance with relevant lobbying and disclosure requirements, and accurately report on advocacy activities, expenditures and outcomes

Qualifications and Skills:

• Relevant experience working in state government affairs, public policy, public relations, political campaigns, trade association, nonprofit organization or a related role
• Relevant experience in a state legislative process is preferred. Familiar with issues management for state legislatures
• Ability to synthesize large amounts of information into compelling, actionable insights, and an understanding of the political landscape
• Demonstrated ability to research and grasp complex policy issues. History of effective interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills evidenced in part through successful presentations
• Resourceful, results oriented, team-player
• Ability to register as a state lobbyist in multiple states
• Strong organization and time management skills, acute attention to detail, and knowledge of MS Office (including Excel, PowerPoint and Word) are essential. Experience with social media platforms
• Skilled in writing clearly and concisely on complex topics for a variety of audiences
• Ability to work within a team to accomplish project goals and be able to operate independently and take on projects proactively
• Working knowledge of SharePoint, Quorum and Salesforce
• Approximately 20 percent day or overnight travel during peak legislative season to various state capitols for legislative hearings, lobby days, press conferences and other related meetings
• Occasional overnight or day travel to NYC office, DC office, local events and events around the country. Minimal to occasional evening/weekend work

Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $105,000 to $125,000.  In addition to salary, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 15+ options for medical insurance (with the Foundation paying 90 percent of the premiums)
• Competitive dental and vision plans
• 401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employer paid life and disability insurance
• 18 Vacation Days; 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 2 Personal Days; summer Fridays (office closure at 2 p.m.) and a summer holiday week over July 4
• Two ways of working: hybrid-flex, or remote work.  We trust all employees to work closely with their manager and colleagues to determine when, where and how programs and projects get done

Employees are also eligible for a discretionary bonus on an annual basis. The Foundation provides staff and leadership cultivation through regular training courses and events.   

How to Apply: 
Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing through examples, their specific qualifications and interest in the position. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, please apply. Applicants who best match the position’s needs will be contacted.

MJFF is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Diversity may refer to characteristics including, but not limited to, race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic circumstance, geographic background, ability and disability, political ideology and age.