Assistant Director, Government Affairs

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society mobilizes people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS. To fulfill this mission, the Society funds cutting‑edge research, drives change through advocacy, facilitates professional education, collaborates with MS organizations around the world, and provides programs and services designed to help people with MS and their families move their lives forward.

We partner with volunteers to accomplish our work. Staff members engage volunteers through effective and timely communications, facilitating meaningful opportunities, and continually seeking and providing feedback for reciprocal growth and learning.

This role includes outreach and engagement with activists; federal and state advocacy efforts; and analyzing and responding to policy issues. This position is expected to develop foundational relationships and communicate with key stakeholders such activists, coalition partners and elected officials to support key initiatives and strategies to advance policy priorities for effective impact.

This role requires the ability to understand complex legislative issues, articulate positions, and develop and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders, internally and externally. This includes relationships with legislative and regulatory officials throughout assigned states.

This position is responsible for overseeing the advocacy work in multiple states and providing support and guidance to advocacy peers.
This position must register as a lobbyist in multiple states.

This is a field‑based role, requiring regular travel for events, training, regional meetings, and organizational gatherings. While the role offers flexibility in work location, to be considered a candidate must reside within the market the position supports (or have plans to relocate) to ensure strong local engagement and accessibility.

Candidates must be based and able to work within one of the following areas:
Harrisburg, PA;
Philadelphia, PA; or Annapolis, MD
.

The estimated hiring compensation range for this role is $70,000 - $79,000
. Final offers will be based on the candidate's geographic location, consider career experience and may vary from this range due to these and other factors.

You will have the opportunity for a highly competitive, comprehensive benefit package that the Society provides to employees.

• Paid Holidays
• 401k Retirement Savings Plan with Society match
• Medical
• Vision
• Flex Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance
• Disability Coverage
• Spring Health Membership offering free therapy and professional coaching, as well as additional voluntary benefit offerings.

Not to mention, you will join an incredible mission focused team of people!

• Design legislative strategies for assigned states based on knowledge and monitoring of policy priorities.
• Create and execute on opportunities to advance policies that impact the lives of people living with MS; identify, share, and implement effective strategies.
• Responsible for monitoring and tracking policy interests across assigned states; elevate issues to priority status as deemed necessary.
• Identify, develop and maintain strong relationships with key decision makers that produce legislative champions on behalf of the Society.
• Communicate the Society’s priorities to all necessary audiences; offer recommendations and suggestions for messages to ensure that they are on‑point, unified, and reflect applicable research and engaging stories to enhance impact.
• Lead coalitions that support policy agenda; keep activists informed of all state and federal legislative priorities that affect the Society.

• Provide leadership and active participation in state coalitions to broaden support; identify, recruit and engage activists to promote priorities.
• Manage and report on a relationship portfolio of 60+ relationships that advise state advocacy strategy, advance legislation and influence policy makers to act on the Society’s behalf.
• Understand and implement best practices for grassroots…