Description:
To develop, implement, manage, and coordinate the APA Public Interest Government Relations Office (GRO) agenda and activities at the federal level through close associations with congressional offices and federal agencies. Responsible for APA action to ensure that relevant psychological research, knowledge, and expertise is utilized in the formulation and implementation of policy related to a broad range of public interest areas, including: aging; children, youth, and families; disabilities; ethnic minorities; HIV/AIDS; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons; media and technology; military service members, veterans, and their families; socioeconomic status; trauma, violence, and abuse; and cross-cutting mental and behavioral health services initiatives. The broad range of subjects and constituent groups for which the incumbent is responsible and required to have knowledge about is unique among GROs at APA and among comparable policy positions at other organizations. When appropriate, incumbent must be prepared to address additional timely health and social policy issues in which psychology has relevant research and clinical knowledge to inform the policy debate.
Required Qualifications:
Education and Experience:
- Doctoral degree in psychology or a related field preferred. Master’s degree required. Three to five years of direct advocacy or policy experience with a doctorate; 7 to 10 years without a doctorate.
- Minimum skills include: (1) thorough knowledge of the legislative and regulatory process and an ability to assess political situations and develop strategies to appropriately address them; (2) excellent interpersonal skills and ability to supervise others; (3) strong communications skills (public speaking and writing) and an ability to present complex scientific and technical issues to audiences with little scientific background; (4) ability to formulate positions and establish priorities and goals and pursue them in an organized fashion, showing appropriate discretion; (5) understanding of behavioral science research and its application across a broad range of areas; (6) ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop APA’s legislative and regulatory policy agenda related to public interest issues in coordination with the Executive Director, staff, Board, and Committees of the Public Interest Directorate, as well as the APA Board of Directors. Serve as the main communication link between the Public Interest Directorate and the GRO. Meet regularly with GRO Associate Executive Directors, the Senior Policy Advisor in the Executive Office, and other relevant staff to coordinate policy activities of interest to multiple APA directorates and constituency groups. Meet regularly with the Executive Director for Public Interest to plan and coordinate public interest policy activities. Also meet regularly with the Public Interest Directorate staff liaisons for the Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest (BAPPI) and its committees.
- Manage and coordinate all Public Interest GRO activities. Responsible for developing the Public Interest GRO strategic plan and establishing priorities and goals for the office. Supervise all professional and administrative Public Interest GRO staff and prepare and manage several public interest policy budgets. Coordinate closely and regularly with the Associate Executive Directors for other GROs on all cross-cutting policy issues, in developing and implementing APA’s policy agenda, and in all central GRO activities (e.g., reporting to the Board of Directors and other governance groups, GRO joint budget items, etc.). policy agenda, and in all central GRO activities (e.g., reporting to the Board of Directors and other governance groups, GRO joint budget items, etc.).
- Direct and recommend policy positions; advocate for federal legislation and appropriations supportive of psychology; initiate and maintain close contacts with congressional offices and federal agencies to advance the interests of psychology. Take lead responsibility for managing APA’s legislative and regulatory activities related to key federal mental and behavioral health policy initiatives (e.g., White House conferences, Surgeon General reports). Monitor, analyze, and evaluate federal laws, public policymaking activities in Congress, and federal regulatory activities for their impact on psychology in the public interest. Develop and implement strategies for increasing federal support for psychological research and mental and behavioral health services, and for enhancing the utilization of psychological research by policymakers. Implement these strategies by initiating and maintaining contact with, and representing policies to, Members of Congress and their professional staff and key federal agency leaders, including director-level staff, and other professional, consumer, research, and advocacy organizations.
- Prepare and review advocacy materials written by other Public Interest GRO staff. Research, write, and plan: legislative language and proposals; congressional testimony to be presented by APA members and leadership; APA position papers, statements, briefing sheets, action alerts, and newsletter articles; briefings for Members of Congress and their staff; press releases and other public relations statements in collaboration with Public and Member Communications; official comments to federal agencies on proposed regulatory actions; and correspondence to Members of Congress from the APA President, the Chief Executive Officer, and the Executive Director for Public Interest. Incumbent must summarize, synthesize, and evaluate scientific and policy information for dissemination to diverse audiences (e.g., Monitor on Psychology articles, Web postings, internal memoranda). Incumbent must use the information to allocate staff and budgetary resources, and recommend policy activities that forward or are compatible with policy positions that the APA has taken and advance psychology in the public interest.
- Establish and maintain relationships with prominent APA members and leaders who have expertise and interest in public interest issues. Utilize their knowledge in the development of APA policy positions and keep them informed of policy developments. Establish and maintain similar contacts with high level federal officials and key federal agency staff. Establish and maintain a network of contacts with other key professional, consumer, scientific, provider, and policy-related organizations and coalitions with related policy interests. Utilize such networks to advance APA’s policy interests, and assume leadership roles in policy-oriented coalitions when appropriate. Give presentations at professional and federal agency meetings to inform members and others about APA’s policy priorities and activities. Develop, plan, and implement congressional briefings and events focused on key public interest policy issues for Members of Congress and their staff on Capitol Hill. Lead the development, dissemination, and implementation of the advocacy training curriculum (with Education GRO) and provide workshops for governance groups and APA members.
- Direct the APA Congressional Fellowship Program, including the William A. Bailey Health and Behavior Congressional Fellowship Program, the Catherine Acuff Congressional Fellowship Program, and the Jacquelin Goldman Congressional Fellowship Program. Develop and implement recruitment strategies, manage a competitive selection process, conduct an APA orientation program, and maintain ongoing support for up to five post-doctoral level Congressional Fellows. Coordinate monthly meetings for APA Congressional Fellows, develop and offer professional development programming individually and in collaboration with the Society for Research in Child Development Fellowship Program, and coordinate and chair an educational symposium regarding the fellowship at the APA Annual Convention. Supervise administrative staff supporting the Fellowship program and develop and manage the program budget. Maintain ongoing communication with the American Psychological Foundation (APF), which funds the Jacquelin Goldman Congressional Fellowship Program. Carry out recruitment, selection, and training activities for the Public Interest Policy Internship Program, which supports two graduate students to work half-time for a year in the office. Assist with the recruitment, selection, training, and supervision of the Dalmas A. Taylor Memorial Summer Minority Fellow. Also direct and supervise the legislative and regulatory work of additional interns, fellows, and scholars and occasional part-time and volunteer staff.
Location:
The American Psychological Association, located at 750 First St NE, Washington D.C., was named a 2014 recipient of the Washington Post Top Workplace. It is metro accessible from the Red Line.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Qualified candidates must apply online through APA’s applicant system and attach a cover letter and resume specifying your salary requirements. Applications that are submitted without both documents are considered incomplete and will not be reviewed for consideration.
The American Psychological Association is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected categories covered under local law.