Overview

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin.

AARP's Community, State and National Affairs (CSN) Group includes Government Relations, Programs, Volunteer Engagement, Community Outreach and Advocacy at the federal, state and local levels. It delivers on AARP's social mission by educating and engaging people 50-plus and their families, strengthening communities, and championing issues that help give people financial and health security.

The Vice President, Financial Security and Livable Communities leads federal and state legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts in economic security, consumer issues, and livable communities' areas and directs the activities of staff in the implementation of this work. Serves as a lead federal lobbyist in the areas of financial security and livable communities and executes lobbying strategies to clarify and advance the organization's advocacy objectives. Builds, nurtures, and sustains effective relationships across the political spectrum with Members of Congress and their staff as well as committee staff. Provides support to state offices to ensure their success in advocating state legislatures and executives. Monitor and influence the external landscape to anticipate and handle external emerging subjects that may either present an opportunity or a risk in the areas of financial security.

Responsibilities

• Leads the development and implementation of federal legislative and regulatory strategies to accomplish the organization's public policy objectives in the area of economic security and consumer affairs.
• Collaborates internal and external partners to achieve the organization's advocacy goals and facilitates cross-training to ensure that staff have the issue knowledge and competencies to advocate at both the federal and state levels
• Oversees the development and dissemination of advocacy products to advance organization-wide objectives, such as branded bills, letters, testimony, comments on federal regulations, legislative alerts, social media, brochures, and issue messages for use by state offices.
• Reviews and approves communications (including, public policy communications to State Legislators, Members of Congress, and Executive Branch officials, litigation proposals and strategies, and articles for publication) for accuracy, political sensitivity, and conformance with organization policy.
• Serves as a key spokesperson in national or state print, broadcast media, social media, and specialized media (e.g., trade publications), at major national or state conferences, and in other high-profile public forums to advance Association's social mission.
• Builds relationships, lobbies, and negotiates with federal and state officials to achieve the organization's advocacy agenda on behalf of Americans 50 and older.

Qualifications

• Completion of a Bachelor's degree (Master's preferred) in Public Policy, Social Sciences, Law, or a related discipline and 10 years of experience in the related field.
• Five (5) years of management experience with a proven track record of managing budgets, leading with vision, aligning staff and resources consistent with organizational goals, while recruiting, mentoring, coaching and developing staff.
• Five (5) years of demonstrated experience with federal, state, and local advocacy and/or public policy strategy development and implementation, in issue areas spanning financial and livability issues, such as: retirement; consumer protection and fraud; age discrimination and labor issues of value to older workers; tax; broadband and telecommunications policy; housing; transportation; and state and local energy issues.
• Superior interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills; Ability to work and engage effectively with individuals at all levels inside and outside the organization, to include (but not limited to) executive staff, senior federal and state officials, social platforms and media outlets.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships internally and externally, while influencing stakeholders on key issues.
• Demonstrated experience working in a matrix management environment and a track record of delegating work appropriately to gain maximum productivity and results.
• Ability to break down strategies or business initiatives into key tasks and identifies accountabilities, and to align communication, people, culture, processes, resources, and systems to ensure effective implementation and delivery of required results.

Physical Demands

• Regular and reliable job attendance
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships
• Independent judgement and discretion requiring the employee to compare and evaluate various courses of conduct and make a decision (or recommend a decision to be made) after various possibilities have been considered.
• In office/open office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate noise

Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA)

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

Compensation and Benefits

AARP offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including a 401(k); 100% company-funded pension plan; health, dental, and vision plans; life insurance; paid time off to include company and individual holidays, vacation, sick, caregiving, and parental leave; performance-based and peer-based recognition; tuition reimbursement; among others.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.