State Advocacy Manager

Join a national organization committed to advancing a movement to race equity and health justice.

Community Catalyst is a leading non-profit national health advocacy organization dedicated to advancing a movement for health equity and justice. We partner with local, state and national advocates to leverage and build power so all people can influence decisions that affect their health. Health systems will not be accountable to people without a fully engaged and organized community voice. That’s why we work every day to ensure people’s interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and health care are made: in communities, state houses and on Capitol Hill. Learn more about our vision for the future in our five-year strategic plan.

State Advocacy Manager, Community Catalyst

Community Catalyst is a leading non-profit national health advocacy organization dedicated to advancing a movement for health equity and justice.

We partner with local, tribal, state and national advocates to leverage and build power so all people can influence decisions that affect their health. Health systems will not be accountable to people without a fully engaged and organized community voice. That’s why we work every day to ensure people’s interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and health care are made: in communities, state houses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit https://www.communitycatalyst.org.

At Community Catalyst, we believe that our people are our strength. Their knowledge, commitment, and talents drive our accomplishments. Our values for work and the workplace are exhibited by employees at all levels within the organization.

• Race Equity & Health Justice
• Boldness & Action
• Collaboration & Humility
• Learning & Adaptability
• Transparency & Integrity

The State Advocacy Manager (SAM) will serve as a technical assistance (TA) provider, engaging and supporting community advocates in the development and execution of long- and short-term health justice campaigns. This position is currently focused on improving access to dental care but could be required to support programs at Community Catalyst across a range of health justice issues. The SAM will help support and solidify existing and new partnerships as part of a community-informed health advocacy network, engaging traditional and non-traditional health advocates to participate in and elevate oral health as critical to overall health justice. The SAM will cultivate and manage relationships with state- and based advocacy organizations to provide support, guidance, and resources to strengthen partners’ advocacy and campaign strategy, including community organizing efforts, trainings, and coalition-building work. The SAM will also collaborate with other Community Catalyst staff to facilitate policy analysis, power building, and communications support for partner organizations, as well as support for making connections between oral health and broader health justice campaigns. The successful candidate will have experience designing and implementing advocacy campaigns with a strong focus on community engagement. While experience with advocacy or systems change work is a high priority, prior experience in oral health advocacy and/or content area expertise related to dental care is a plus but not required for this role. The SAM is expected to consistently provide high-quality and timely support to partner organizations and proactively pursue strategies to demonstrate the value of Community Catalyst’s TA as well as to our partners’ needs and goals.

This position is included in a collective bargaining unit represented by a staff union, Community Catalyst United, and specific employment terms are subject to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Supervision: The State Advocacy Manager is supervised by the Associate Director, Dental Access Project.

Classification: Full-time, Exempt.

This position is funded through a grant for an initial term through Q1 2026, with renewal contingent upon the availability of continued grant funding.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leads, facilitates, and promotes cross-community and cross-state communication among advocates
• Leads, facilitates, and supports community-informed learning activities, webinars, calls and actions
• Participates and represents Community Catalyst in local, state, and national meetings
• Works with state advocates to develop strategic advocacy plans
• Offers timely, efficient, tailored coaching to community and state-based organizations, drawing on other Community Catalyst staff members as needed.
• Provides administrative and program support to program leadership. This support includes drafting correspondence, maintaining and updating data entry on Salesforce, creating presentations and other documents, and supporting the development of grant proposals and reports
• Identify relevant health policy information from across Community Catalyst’s areas of focus to create timely and meaningful opportunities for action with our network of partners
• Assist with event planning, management, and logistics for special events and smaller program events (such as technology support, agenda development, development of event materials)
• Stays informed of upcoming program commitments and responsibilities, following up appropriately
• Conducts meeting facilitation, including setting up and managing technology needs for all abilities
• May be tasked to support other program areas within Community Catalyst.
• Perform other duties as necessary to achieve the goals of the organization

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s plus at least 3 years' experience leading state-wide issue campaigns; or 5 years relevant work experience
• Proven skills in community organizing/engagement, relationship management, group/meeting facilitation and team building
• Experience in social change activism such as: legislative advocacy or political/policy issue campaigns; community organizing; working with coalitions and stakeholders; and/or implementing communications strategies
• Ability to convey complex information in writing and speaking so that it is easily understood by diverse audiences
• Organizational skills, including an ability to manage several projects at once and meet deadlines
• Demonstrated commitment to health justice and equity, racial justice, and to the mission of Community Catalyst
• Ability and excitement to work independently as well as within a team
• Experience working with community-based organizations
• Proven skills in developing sustainable relationships and collaborations, including a demonstrated ability to appreciate and adapt to different cultural communications norms and styles
• Ability and interest to learn about organizational operations, program structure, and build relationships with CC staff and CC advocacy partners
• Experience working with diverse populations
• Ability to travel 2-3 times per year

Preferred

• Prior training in or demonstrated experience with anti-oppression, equity and inclusion work a bonus
• Proficiency in Zoom, NetSuite/Oracle, Box, Salesforce, Microsoft Office
• Experience with oral health policy (not required)
• Bilingual/bicultural background

BENEFITS & SALARY

• Salary Range: $68,000 - $80,000
• Generous paid time-off policy
• Robust benefits package
• Location: Flexible, can be based anywhere with the USA. If the employee is not based on the East Coast, flexibility in supporting different time zones may be required.