Chief External Affairs & Programs Officer

Overview

Chief External Affairs & Programs Officer Jobs in New York, United States at Planned Parenthood of Greater New York

Title: Chief External Affairs & Programs Officer

Company: Planned Parenthood of Greater New York

Location: New York, United States

OPPORTUNITY

Planned Parenthood and its affiliates are navigating one of the most challenging times in their history, including significant cuts in federal funding and sustained political attacks which threaten to jeopardize reproductive sexual health care access for countless individuals. Unfortunately, the impacts of this new reality are felt most acutely by those who are already marginalized and who too often have nowhere else to turn for care. Yet even in the face of these obstacles, PPGNY continues to rise with resilience and resolve—providing critical health services to tens of thousands of New Yorkers each year and standing as a fierce defender of equity, dignity, and human rights. This is a pivotal moment of transformation and impact; an opportunity for bold, visionary leadership to ensure that PPGNY not only withstands these challenges but emerges stronger, more innovative, and more deeply rooted in its mission than ever before.

The Chief External Affairs & Programs Officer (CEAPO) and Executive Director of PPGNY Action Fund, PPGNY Votes, and PPGNY Votes PAC will lead efforts toward PPGNY’s vision of achieving health equity for the communities it serves in two lanes: 1) the advancement of State and local policies, budget priorities, and electoral work; and 2) the provision of community-facing programming that increases knowledge about sexual and reproductive health, improves access to health care and related services, and facilitates community engagement.

REPORTING:

Reports to President & CEO Wendy Stark (she/her). Directly supervises four departmental VPs/Directors: VP, Education & Training; VP, Community Engagement; AVP, Public Affairs; Director, Government Relations & Policy. Primary responsibility for collaboration, strategic agenda setting, and fund development with the Boards of Directors of PPGNY Action Fund, Votes, and Votes PAC organizations.

POSITION:

The Chief External Affairs & Programs Officer (CEAPO) leads a rich and diverse portfolio of work for PPGNY, including Public Affairs and Government Relations, as well as the Education & Training and Community Engagement teams and programs. Overall, this position is responsible for a team of +/- 90 employees across these departments. The CEAPO will also serve as executive leader and staff liaison to three PPGNY entities engaged in direct political and electoral (candidate and issue advocacy) work: PPGNY Action Fund (PPGNY’s (c)(4) arm), PPGNY Votes (an independent expenditure committee), and PPGNY Votes PAC (a political action committee).

The CEAPO is responsible for developing, implementing, managing, and evaluating a cohesive and collaborative strategy for public advocacy, government relations, outreach/organizing, and electoral goals. They will also lead efforts to ensure the ongoing refinement and implementation of plans and vision for the organization’s health equity-focused (and primarily grant-funded) work in the realms of education and training programs and outreach and community engagement initiatives, including strong coalition-building.

The CEAPO must fully embody a commitment to sexual and reproductive health and rights, and support a reproductive justice and race equity framework in all interactions with PPGNY colleagues and external stakeholders, as well as in their strategic management of each of the areas in their portfolio.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Advocacy and Public Affairs Leadership (50%)

• Oversee Public Affairs team and its electoral, legislative, and other organizing campaigns.
• Serve as PPGNY’s lobbyist to local, state, and federal elected and appointed officials regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights and funding for PPGNY programs and services.
• Develop annual local, state, and federal legislative strategy in coordination with Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts (PPESA), Planned Parenthood’s Albany-based, state-wide political advocacy and lobbying arm of which PPGNY is a member, Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF), the national C4 organization, and PPGNY senior staff and Boards. Actively partnering with and maintaining strong relationships with PPESA and with PPAF around shared political and legislative priorities is a core function of this role.
• Oversee annual and long-term organizing and electoral strategies for PPGNY Action Fund, PPGNY Votes, and PPGNY Votes PAC.
• Serve as PPGNY Votes PAC and PPGNY Votes’ main spokesperson and as key liaison with the Boards of PPGNY Action Fund, PPGNY Votes PAC, and PPGNY Votes on matters such as strategic agenda setting, Board fundraising, and Board development.
• Oversee all compliance-related matters for PPGNY Action Fund, PAC, and Votes entities.
• Collaborate with the Development team to ensure that Action Fund and PAC budgeted fundraising goals are met, and cultivate key relationships to develop and broaden the fundraising base with an emphasis on soliciting gifts and stewarding donors.
• Serve as a spokesperson for the organization in media, public forums, and events as needed.

Education and Training and Community Engagement Leadership (35%)

• Provide leadership, vision, and management support to the Education and Training and Community Engagement departments – including direct supervision of all Vice Presidents – in achieving program goals and advancing the organization’s strategic vision.
• Ensure that health equity – broadly defined with a specific sexual and reproductive justice lens – is the core principle of PPGNY’s program strategies and initiatives and ensure that practices align with principles.
• Create, implement, evaluate, and continuously improve comprehensive strategies for program initiatives within and on behalf of PPGNY.
• Lead strategic decision-making processes regarding program content, funding sources, program geography, and population focus, and interface with other organizational areas in collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain continuous strategies for funding expansion in strong collaboration with the Development team.
• Position PPGNY as a preferred sexual and reproductive health partner with reproductive, social and economic justice coalitions and collectives by centering and amplifying most impacted voices and leadership.

Executive Leadership Duties (15%)

• Serve as a member of the organization’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT), participating in the development of overall culture and tone, practices, protocols, strategic initiatives, and long-range planning for PPGNY.
• Serve as a trusted thought partner and advisor to the CEO, ELT, and Boards of Directors.
• Represent Public Affairs and Programs within the organizational leadership team at the ELT level to ensure alignment between departmental and enterprise-wide strategies.
• Collaborate with leadership colleagues on overarching organizational strategy and sustainability.

CANDIDATE PROFILE:

You are an experienced, dynamic, and innovative leader who can inspire and activate as well as build strong relationships both within and outside of the organization. You are personally and professionally invested in PPGNY’s mission of advancing bodily autonomy, health equity, gender and racial justice, and reproductive freedom. You thrive in an environment of rapid change and evolution, and one with complex cultural, political, and operational dynamics. You have a demonstrated ability to engage authentically and respectfully with people of all backgrounds and identities, and at all levels of an organization. You have a proven track record of prioritizing, delegating, and meeting deadlines on multiple, simultaneous projects and initiatives. You embrace strong, supportive management practices and bring a collaborative approach to your work. You maintain composure and effectiveness under changing conditions and can adjust to new situations without losing focus. You understand the complexity of holding an Executive Director role and title alongside a Chief role and title.

Required Skills & Experience (should have)

• Significant, progressive experience in not-for-profit leadership, preferably including having served as the senior-most executive in your content area, reporting directly to a CEO/President/Executive Director
• Professional or activism experience in sexual and reproductive health or justice and knowledge of the ecosystem of reproductive health and justice movements strongly preferred
• Deep understanding of New York State and New York City political environments and how to navigate them effectively
• Significant experience building/working in coalitions effectively and collaboratively
• Experience managing publicly and privately funded contracts/grants
• Personal and professional ability to lead in an environment in which a full spectrum of intersectional identities are represented and affirmed
• Deep commitment to fostering an intentionally anti-racist, anti-bias culture; proven track record of working toward equity and inclusion within organizations
• Experience working within unionized environments
• Ability to contribute to decision-making affecting organizational strategy and systems development
• Excellent understanding of business operations and the systems, processes, departments, and functions that drive nonprofit sustainability
• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills, as well as excellent interpersonal and public speaking competencies
• Ability to negotiate conflicts and maintain constructive working relationships with people both inside and outside of the organization
• Ability and willingness to travel (to various PPGNY locations within NY State) up to 25% of the time