Grassroots Manager

Job title: Grassroots Manager

About the Role The Grassroots Manager plans and executes a comprehensive grassroots advocacy program across an assigned geography, attracting volunteers and developing a volunteer leadership program. The role develops and implements grassroots strategies for local, state, and federal priorities, and supports volunteer fundraising. This position prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion and complies with lobbying protocols. The New York City-focused role centers health equity by engaging diverse partnerships to accelerate cancer cures, improve access to care, and reduce tobacco burden in New York. A remote option is available but the candidate must be in the Greater NYC market or work in the Manhattan office.

What You'll Do

• Build and execute a state diversity and inclusion plan to enhance grassroots reach, using diverse patient, caregiver, and stakeholder stories to inform policy.
• Expand partnerships with alliance organizations focusing on racial/ethnic diversity and LGBTQ+ communities for grassroots development and training.
• Support federal campaigns and congressional champion-building; organize volunteers for federal activities with national teams.
• Communicate strategically with tailored messages for different political environments; draft emails, legislative alerts, talking points, and training materials.
• Plan and manage Cancer Action lobby days (including virtual events) to drive engagement and policy wins.
• Maintain ACS CAN web pages and social media accounts; ensure consistency with brand.
• Identify and develop volunteers with personal stories related to policy campaigns; collect stories where possible.
• Serve as staff manager of the volunteer structure in the assigned geography; fill vacancies and ensure capacity.
• Apply Direct-Action Organizing principles to organize and manage state campaigns; coordinate with grassroots/patient coalitions and ACS CAN teams.
• Represent ACS CAN and its mission with professionalism; build strategic collaborations with partner organizations.
• Ensure compliance with IRS and ACS CAN legal and reporting requirements for electoral activity (Cancer Votes) and other policies.
• Input and maintain volunteer data in Salesforce and other databases; collaborate with regional staff to align campaigns.
• Drive volunteer fundraising in the assigned state and encourage volunteer-led fundraising within guidelines.

What We're Looking For

• Experience in grassroots advocacy, volunteer management, and fundraising.
• Strong written and verbal communications; ability to tailor messages for political environments.
• Ability to build partnerships, coalitions, and manage stakeholder relationships.
• Experience with data management and administrative duties.
• Commitment to health equity, inclusion, and working with diverse communities.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal legislative processes and campaigns.
• Ability to plan events (lobby days), manage multiple priorities, and work in fast-paced settings.
• Self-starter with ability to work independently and as part of cross-functional teams.

Nice to Have

• Direct-Action Organizing experience.
• Experience in tobacco control, health policy, or cancer advocacy; familiarity with New York City policy landscape.
• Experience with cross-functional collaboration and coalition building.
• Prior experience working with the American Cancer Society or ACS CAN.

Compensation & Benefits

• Not specified in the posting.