Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. Planned Parenthood organizations serve all people with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates, which operate non-profit health centers across the USA. PPFA also works to educate the public on and advocate for issues of sexual and reproductive health. Formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a separate non-profit membership organization tax-exempt under section 501(c)(4). The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy, and limited electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education in furtherance of the Planned Parenthood mission.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and Planned Parenthood Action Fund (Action Fund) seek an Arkansas State Director, reporting to the National Director of Campaigns, seek an Arkansas State Director, reporting to the National Director of Campaigns to oversee the policy, political, and advocacy campaigns efforts within their assigned state to protect and promote reproductive health, rights, and justice. Our overarching goal is to create the conditions for change in states where access to care is under threat, expand or fortify care in access states, and use the power of supportive allies and the 19 million Planned Parenthood supporters to defend access to sexual and reproductive healthcare nationally. The Arkansas State Director would also oversee the Action Fund’s electoral efforts within their assigned state.
Purpose:
The Arkansas State Director will serve as PPFA and the Action Fund’s primary strategist and director of advocacy and the Action Fund’s electoral campaigns in Arkansas. This role will work in collaboration with the Campaigns Director to develop and execute all aspects of PPFA and Action Fund’s work in state, including legislative advocacy, issue or candidate-specific civic engagement, advocacy coalition partnerships, and supporter engagement. The Arkansas State Director may serve as the organizational lobbyist in service of the local Planned Parenthood affiliate and the provision of services in the state, and will serve as PPFA and Action Fund’s media spokesperson in the state, where appropriate. The Arkansas State Director will be adept at advancing in-state goals while navigating the internal systems of the national office.
Engagement:
● Leads legislative advocacy, organizing, and state-level communications for the state in coordination with PPFA and the Action Fund national office staff and state advocacy organizations in state, in support of the provision of care.
● Maintains or coordinates relationships with legislative members and staff, state regulatory agencies, lobbyists, consultants, local-level office holders, and members of Congress, where appropriate. Manages contract lobbyist, if applicable.
● Serves as PPFA/PPAF spokesperson to media and stakeholders where appropriate.
● Serves as a credible source of local political and policy knowledge within the federation and with partners.
● Leads Action Fund's political endorsement process.
● Seeks new opportunities for collaboration to improve the lives of patients served by Planned Parenthood affiliates and enhance their ability to access reproductive health information and care, with a priority on supporting health equity efforts for historically underserved and/or under-resourced populations.
● Serves as lead liaison to in-state advocacy-focused coalition partners and works to build strong relationships with allied organizations.
● Manages constituency organizing in-state in coordination with Constituency Program Leads, if applicable.
● Maintains familiarity and compliance with all state and local lobbying reporting requirements. Maintains consistent internal reporting of lobbying activities as directed.
● Develops and maintains expertise in the use of the Voter Activation Network and assures consistent, accurate, and timely reporting in the VAN.
● Persuades internal and external stakeholders towards campaign and project completion.
● Fosters collaboration and resolves conflict. Debriefs and evaluates each campaign. Works as a team player in a high-pressure work environment.
● Collaborates with teams across the national office to ensure the goals of PPFA and Action Fund’s advocacy campaigns and Action Fund’s electoral campaigns in-state are being met
● Serves as lead strategist and ensures the successful implementation of strategies in state.
● Adapts national days of action and leads organizing peaks to in-state goals and capacity, and responds to catalyzing moments at the state and national level.
● Coordinates people and resources, manages expectations, and oversees tasks.
Delivery:
● Ensures the successful implementation of strategies in state.
● Identifies strategies to defend, restore, and expand the provision of services in state
● Adapt national days of action and organizing peaks to in-state goals and capacity.
● Anticipates and responds to catalyzing moments at the state and national level.
● Ensures the successful implementation ofthe Action Fund’s electoral strategies in state
● Coordinates people and resources, manages expectations, and oversees tasks.
● Adapts national office assistance for in-state work as needed.
● Keeps the national organization engaged on local public affairs priorities, needs, and activities.
● Maintains current and accurate files, tracks affiliate activity to provide regular reports, and monitors work-related financial expenditures.
● Works across teams to nationalize state campaigns, helping set goals for state response to national threats, including goals for how to engage state-based national targets.
● Deftly manages multiple in-state campaigns while supporting national-level goals.
● Tracks progress, measures performance, and adapts project plans if needed.
● On behalf of PP Action Fund, oversees the endorsement process in-state.
● On behalf of the PP Action Fund, works with the Action Fund office of general counsel and Campaign Director to manage in-state compliance.
● Performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
● At least 7 years of related advocacy and electoral campaign experience in organizing and management is required.
● Minimum 3 years of experience as a campaign manager or director (or comparable) with demonstrated proficiency in project management of legislative, electoral, organizing, or other public affairs campaigns.
● High school degree or equivalent required.
● Demonstrated proficiency in project management of legislative, electoral, organizing, and other public affairs campaigns is required.
● Experience working with Planned Parenthood, either at a local organization or the national office, is preferred but not required.
● Impeccable organization and strong familiarity with project management software tools, methodologies, and best practices, including the MOCHA(R) framework for defining clear roles and responsibilities on projects.
● Strong interpersonal skills, adept in managing conflict and crisis creatively, and keeping teams moving towards results.
● Required track record of creating and maintaining strong work relationships with a diverse set of colleagues.
● Must be able to motivate and lead teammates and colleagues who are not direct reports and across divisions and geographies.
● Professional integrity and ambition to effectively represent and promote the PP Action Fund and the PPFA team work.
● Strong communicator who can show progress towards goals to audiences and through diverse channels.
● Ability to identify priorities, work independently, and develop systems for addressing issues or requests.
● Able to work extended hours as needed.
● Passionate about the Planned Parenthood mission.
● Working knowledge of voter databases (specifically VAN) is preferred.
● Self-starter with a high level of creative initiative.
● Ability to incorporate resilience best practices into project plans.
Travel:
0-10% domestic. Occasional travel in-state and throughout the region may be required.
