Position Title: Advocacy Manager
Location: Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association, Camp Hill, PA
Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt

Revision Date: December 2024

Position Summary

The Advocacy Manager is the cornerstone of PMTA's advocacy efforts, representing the association and its members on critical legislative, regulatory, and policy matters. This role requires proactive engagement with members, policymakers, and coalition partners to advance PMTA’s mission and priorities. The manager will oversee grassroots advocacy initiatives, legislative efforts, and policy development to ensure that the trucking industry’s voice is effectively represented at the state and federal levels.

Key Responsibilities

Legislative & Regulatory Advocacy

• Lead PMTA’s advocacy efforts by coordinating with outside lobbying firm on a strategy for legislative and regulatory action on behalf of members. Communicate PMTA’s position and implement strategies to advance or defeat key initiatives in line with PMTA interests and priorities.
• Actively manage and engage with PMTA’s Legislative Committee, soliciting guidance and increasing member involvement by providing information and recommendations on policy issues that affect members or industry as a whole.
• Build and foster working relationships with key allies and lead coalitions to promote PMTA’s interests and objectives.
• Draft testimony and be prepared to testify at legislative and regulatory hearings.
• Build relationships with state agencies to address issues impacting the industry.

Policy Development & Communications

• Research potential legislative and regulatory solutions to industry challenges and draft policy papers and position statements for members and the public.
• Lead PMTA’s regulatory comment drafting for state and federal agencies.
• Work with members to engage with outside groups on issues important to the trucking industry. Represent PMTA in regional freight planning organizations, task forces, and focus groups on relevant topics.
• Prepare PMTA legislative update emails, website/newsletter articles, social media content, and commentary on pressing issues.
• Provide frequent verbal updates to members about PMTA’s advocacy efforts, including at board meetings, chapter meetings, on webinars, and at other events.
• Manage issue-specific PMTA task forces.

Grassroots/Member Engagement

• Collaborate with other team members to engage with members and potential members to communicate the value of PMTA’s advocacy on behalf of the industry in Pennsylvania.
• Work with contract lobbyist to connect members directly with legislators on critical issues.
• Encourage member participation in testimony and public advocacy on priority matters.
• Work with chapters to coordinate regional legislative events to foster member-legislator relationships.
• Oversee member involvement in Call on Washington.
• Handle direct inquiries from lawmakers on trucking issues and facilitate connections with members.
• Identify opportunities for PMTA members to engage with policymakers through terminal visits to showcase industry operations.
• Build relationships between PMTA members and Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation.
• Participate in PMTA committees, support ad hoc projects, and assist with other PMTA events, chapter events, and the Annual Membership Conference.
• Manage members, events, invoices, and web content in PMTA’s member management database.

Political Action & Fundraising

• Manage PA TruckPAC by working with the management committee, PMTA’s contract lobbyist, and PAC consultant to maximize the PAC’s political impact.
• Identify and recruit PMTA members to contribute to PA TruckPAC. Work with team to generate fundraising outreach materials and implement creative ideas to increase giving.
• Attend political fundraisers and help members engage with elected officials.
• Organize TruckPAC events and other fundraising opportunities and work with team to communicate value of PA TruckPAC giving to members.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Communications, or a related field.
• Background and Experience: At least 2 years in government relations, policy, legislative affairs, or advocacy roles, preferably in Pennsylvania politics. Knowledge of trucking/transportation industry is helpful.
• Skills:
  • Exceptional writing, editing, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally, both one-on-one and with groups, to gain support from colleagues, members, policymakers, and other influential stakeholders.
  • Ability to write reports, business correspondence, legislative correspondence, and testimony.
  • Knowledge of Pennsylvania legislative and regulatory processes.
  • The successful Advocacy Manager will be a cause-driven relationship builder with outstanding communication and planning abilities. The person appreciates the contribution and plight of the trucking industry and is passionate about helping truckers.

Other Requirements:

• Willingness to travel for meetings, events, and legislative outreach.
• Experience in fundraising and managing PACs is a plus.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service to members and prospective members.
• Creative problem solver; can independently devise options and solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with competing priorities, shifting needs, and various stakeholder expectations.
• Ability to build alliances and consensus among divergent stakeholders.
• Ability to respond to stressful situations in a professional manner.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and legislative tracking solutions.
• Ability to collaborate as a member of PMTA’s team to do what is necessary to support PMTA’s members.

This position is an onsite job in Camp Hill, PA, but travel around the state for events is required to support chapter and PMTA events.

PMTA offers a comprehensive benefits package, including fully covered healthcare, vision, and dental as well as life insurance and a 401(k) with a generous employer match. 

Contact:

Please send a resume and cover letter to PMTA: info@pmta.org

Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association

910 Linda Lane

Camp Hill, PA 17011

717-761-7122

www.pmta.org