Medication Adherence Campaign: target market field organizers

Nearly three out of four Americans report that they do not take their medications as directed. One in three people never fill their prescriptions. More than 1/3 of medication-related hospital admissions are linked to poor adherence. Most of these people include Americans with chronic conditions, which make up nearly 45% of the country’s population. The problem of non-adherence to medication costs the United States approximately $290 billion every year. To address this issue the National Consumers League (NCL) is developing and leading a groundbreaking, national education campaign on the importance of taking medications as prescribed. The campaign aims to raise consumer awareness of the importance of proper medication adherence—a vital first step toward better health outcomes. The campaign will reach consumers, specifically those with chronic conditions, and their caregivers, as well as health care practitioners.

GMMB, the communications firm working with NCL to implement the campaign, is hiring field organizers in six target markets to coordinate on-the-ground campaign activities including management of a local coalition of representatives from national stakeholders, planning and execution of events, and conducting media outreach. We are looking to hire organizers in the following cities: Birmingham, AL.

The job responsibilities of the field organizers will include:

• Establishing relationships and coordinating with key campaign partners including, but not limited to, local representatives of national Committed Partner organizations as well as other key stakeholders such as national medical, education and disease-specific associations; large and small businesses; hospitals and health systems; research institutions; and organizations that represent minority communities.
• Identifying additional local organizations to engage in the campaign
• Working with GMMB and NCL to coordinate and organize earned media events and activities in their regions around the campaign launch
• Coordinating local activities and events that support national campaign activities (such as paid advertising, social media, public relations and publicity)
• Maintaining a database of community-based organizations that you reach out to, as well as organizations that get involved in the campaign
• Recruiting and training patients to serve as spokespeople and tell their personal stories at events and to the media
• Disseminating campaign materials to community-based organizations
• Promoting the campaign website through outreach materials and events
• Participating in regular conference calls with GMMB and NCL and preparing regular updates and a final operational report
• Monitoring progress and adjusting strategies as needed

Qualifications include:

• 6-8 years experience in field organizing, partnership building, issue advocacy and/or coalition building; experience with chronic disease organizations a plus,
• Demonstrated ability to recruit and mobilize community-based and grassroots organizations in support of public interest campaigns
• Experience in organizing and managing diverse coalitions
• Knowledge of the local market and familiarity with the health care community, particularly in the area of chronic disease, connections with minority populations in local communities a plus
• Experience planning press events and conducting media outreach; garnering media coverage for issue campaigns; promoting spokespeople in the media
• Dependable, detail oriented and well organized – able to multi-task, meet deadlines and adapt to the changing priorities of the campaign
• Strong computer, public speaking and written communication skills, including a grasp of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, as well as familiarity with data/list management

Perks for this position include working in the community rather than in an office setting, having a non-traditional work schedule (which may include evenings and weekends) and a casual/business casual dress code depending on the situation. Field organizers will need their own transportation to get to events, ability to produce and transport relevant hard copy materials (no heavier than 25 pounds), and have access to the Internet, a computer and cell phone.

These positions are currently funded at full-time for the first three months with an additional three months at part-time, with the possibility for additional part-time work up to an additional 12 months. These are contract positions with GMMB on behalf of NCL.  Funding levels are subject to change and may impact the scope of work for this position.

Send cover letter, resume and salary requirement to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the subject line “NCL Field Organizer Position – [CITY NAME].” Application deadline is February 28, 2011.

No phone calls, please.

GMMB is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

M/F/D/V

Locations

• Baltimore, MD
• Providence, RI
• Raleigh, NC
• Birmingham, AL
• Cincinnati, OH
• Sacramento, CA

With more than 200 communications professionals in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Seattle and New York, GMMB is a full-service communications agency offering strategy, public relations, partnership development, advertising (creative, media planning and media placement), branding, graphic design, broadcast production, digital engagement, grassroots outreach and coalition building.

For more information, go to www.gmmb.com.

The National Consumers League (NCL) is America’s oldest consumer organization, representing consumers and workers on marketplace and workplace issues since its founding in 1899. NCL provides government, businesses, and other organizations with the consumer’s perspective on concerns including child labor, privacy, food safety, and medication information. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.