Application Guide

How to Apply for Regional Advocacy Director - Southeast

at American Families for Vaccines

🏢 About American Families for Vaccines

American Families for Vaccines (AFV) is a national grassroots organization that uniquely combines advocacy, policy, and public health to counter misinformation and promote evidence-based vaccine policies. Working here means joining a mission-driven team that directly impacts community health and legislative outcomes across the U.S.

About This Role

As Regional Advocacy Director for the Southeast, you will lead a multi-state portfolio, supervising State Directors to execute grassroots campaigns and legislative goals. This role is critical for scaling AFV’s impact in a region with significant vaccine policy challenges, offering the chance to shape strategy and develop local leaders.

💡 A Day in the Life

You’ll start by checking emails from State Directors and national leadership, then join a virtual check-in with your region’s chapter leads to review legislative progress. Afternoon might involve coaching a struggling State Director on volunteer recruitment, followed by a strategy call with the national advocacy team to align on messaging for an upcoming bill hearing.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who American Families for Vaccines Is Looking For

  • A seasoned grassroots organizer with 5+ years in advocacy or political campaigns, and 2+ years directly managing teams—ideally with experience supervising remote staff across multiple states.
  • Deeply familiar with state legislative processes in the Southeast and skilled at coalition-building with diverse stakeholders (e.g., healthcare providers, parent groups, policymakers).
  • A strategic thinker who can translate national advocacy goals into actionable state-level plans, with a track record of meeting campaign metrics and expanding volunteer networks.
  • Comfortable with data-driven decision-making and using tools like CRM systems to track progress and report to national leadership.

📝 Tips for Applying to American Families for Vaccines

1

Highlight specific examples of managing multi-state or multi-chapter advocacy campaigns, especially in the Southeast or similar politically diverse regions.

2

Quantify your impact: e.g., 'Grew volunteer base by 40% in two states' or 'Passed 3 pro-vaccine bills in one legislative session.'

3

Demonstrate familiarity with vaccine policy issues—mention any work on public health campaigns, countering misinformation, or engaging with hesitant communities.

4

Show your people management style: include a brief example of coaching a direct report to improve performance or resolve a conflict.

5

Tailor your resume to emphasize grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and coalition leadership—omit unrelated roles.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your passion for evidence-based public health and countering vaccine misinformation, connecting it to AFV’s mission.', 'Proven ability to manage and develop remote teams across multiple states, with concrete results.', 'Experience navigating state legislative processes and building bipartisan coalitions in the Southeast.', 'Your strategic vision for expanding AFV’s presence in the region, including identifying new chapter opportunities.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review AFV’s website and recent press releases to understand their current campaigns and policy priorities in the Southeast.
  • → Look up state legislative sessions and recent vaccine-related bills in key Southeastern states (e.g., Florida, Georgia, Tennessee).
  • → Read about AFV’s partnership with healthcare providers and other advocacy groups to see how they build coalitions.
  • → Check AFV’s social media and blog for examples of grassroots actions and volunteer stories to understand their culture.
Visit American Families for Vaccines's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you managed a grassroots campaign across multiple states—how did you ensure consistency and meet goals?
2 How would you support a State Director who is struggling to engage volunteers or meet advocacy targets?
3 Walk us through your approach to developing a new state chapter from scratch, including assessment and stakeholder mapping.
4 What strategies have you used to counter vaccine misinformation in communities with high hesitancy?
5 How do you prioritize competing demands from national leadership and local chapter needs?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn’t mention vaccine advocacy or AFV’s specific mission.
  • Focusing too much on national-level experience without demonstrating ability to work on state-level grassroots campaigns.
  • Overlooking the people management requirement—failing to discuss how you’ve coached or developed direct reports.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to American Families for Vaccines!

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