Senior Director of Government Affairs

Position Description

Reporting to the Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy, the Senior Director of Government Affairs will be a key leader at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan (PPAM), responsible for using expertise in politics, government relations, legislative processes, and advocacy to strengthen and leverage the organization’s political influence to pass a comprehensive policy agenda and to ensure that Planned Parenthood of Michigan (PPMI) is represented in the state budget. This leader directs the organization’s legislative, budget, and political strategy and ensures compliance across its 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) activities. Organizing, field, and constituency programs are led by separate associate directors on the team, allowing this role to focus on policy, the budget, and the relationships that drive both. This leader will fully embody a commitment to race equity, evidenced in all interactions with colleagues, external stakeholders, and staff supervision.

 

Essential Functions

Government Relations

• Directs lobbying efforts for issues before the Legislature, state agencies, and the Governor’s office, in collaboration with the Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy and a contract lobbying firm.

• Develops and advances a comprehensive policy agenda that expands access to sexual and reproductive health care and education, addresses the social determinants of health, and ensures that all Michiganders can raise healthy, thriving families if and when they decide to.

• Develops and advances lobbying efforts and campaigns to ensure that PPMI is represented in the state budget, including direct appropriations, supplemental funding, and administrative pathways through state agencies.

• Works with the advocacy team to identify and pursue opportunities for municipal funding and local policies that expand access to sexual and reproductive health care.

• Identifies, tracks, and analyzes policies and political trends that may impact Planned Parenthood providers and patients.

• Cultivates and maintains positive relationships with elected officials, state agencies, local governments, the Governor’s office, and other stakeholders with influence over policy, funding, and regulatory decisions that impact Planned Parenthood. Builds and maintains strong partnerships with community leaders, advocacy organizations, and coalition partners to advance shared policy goals.

• Tracks legislators’ voting records and maintains a database of background information, compiles information for legislators or supporters for committee hearings.

• Collaborates with the communications team to produce a legislative newsletter, policy explainers, talking points, committee testimony, and other materials.

 

Elections, Endorsements & Campaign Finance

• Coordinates PPAM’s endorsement process including developing a candidate questionnaire, soliciting applications, evaluating responses, making recommendations, coordinating with the PPAM board, and communicating with candidates.

• Co-develops coordinated campaign strategies supporting endorsed candidates with organizational leadership, partnering with field and constituency programs for on-the-ground execution.

• As directed by the CEO and Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy, leads the coordination of PAC contributions to endorsed candidates.

• Oversees PAC reporting process and ensures compliance with laws and regulations across the organization’s 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) activities.

• Attends political fundraisers and events on behalf of Planned Parenthood.

Leadership

• Actively participates in leadership meetings. Coordinates work with the advocacy team and other affiliate leadership, including the associate directors of field and constituency programs.

• Demonstrates a commitment to race equity. Maintains current knowledge of PPMI’s work toward enhanced race equity standards, is held accountable to them, and holds team members accountable.

• Directs the work of team members, interns, and volunteers who are engaged in Government Relations work, providing clear goals and routine feedback.

• Acts as a public spokesperson and strategist for the organization, carrying PPMI’s voice into coalitions, partnerships, and public forums, and leading key initiatives from strategy through execution.

• Continuously maintains professional growth and learning by attending conferences, seminars, etc.

 

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be added, and this job description can be amended at any time.

 

Qualifications and Experience

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, a relevant field, or equivalent years of experience.

• At least seven years of progressive experience in government relations, public policy, political strategy, or related fields, including 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) experience.

• At least two years of experience in a leadership and/or supervisory role.

• Knowledge of Michigan legislative and budget processes.

• Experience working across 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) activities, with a clear understanding of what each entity can and cannot do.

• Ability to analyze policies and prepare policy briefings

• Strong understanding of reproductive health issues, advocacy, and the Michigan political landscape.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, VAN, and Bill Tracker.

• Demonstrated ability to achieve objectives in collaboration with other functional areas

• Demonstrated commitment to Planned Parenthood’s mission, vision and values

 Ability to:

• Work under pressure on multiple projects concurrently and meet deadlines in a fast-paced work environment with frequent interruptions and changing priorities.

• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

• Work independently as well as collaboratively within a team environment.

• Lead and work in a remote environment.

• Handle stressful situations and provide a high level of customer service in a calm and professional manner.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships at all levels of the organization.

• Travel and accept a flexible work schedule that may involve some evening and weekend commitments.

• Solve problems, analyze information and data, and manage projects.

• Exercise a high degree of judgment and diplomacy and maintain confidentiality.

• Work both collaboratively and independently with remote teams and off-site supervision, exercise professional judgment, and demonstrate self-motivation.

• Attend to detail while maintaining a view of the bigger picture; gather information, identify connections and trends, and apply findings; and interpret and apply policies and recommend changes as appropriate.

• Engender enthusiasm and influence; motivate and persuade others to achieve desired outcomes.

• Travel and accept a flexible work schedule that may involve some evening and weekend commitments.

• Convey ideas and opinions clearly; project credibility, poise, and confidence; consider the needs of an audience and predict possible responses; listen attentively; and communicate effectively.

 

Preferred

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.

• Michigan Lobbyist Agent Registration.

• Experience working in the Michigan Legislature.

 

Key Requirements For All PPMI Employees

• Commitment to advancing race(+) equity in one's work: interest in expanding knowledge about the role that racial inequity plays in our society.

• Awareness of multiple group identities and their dynamics; bring a high level of self-awareness about personal identity, empathy, and humility to interpersonal interactions.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and directly across differences as well as hear and act on feedback related to identity and equity.

• Strong sense of accountability to diversity, equity and inclusion principles and practices.

• Understand of the impact of identity dynamics on organizational culture.

• Commitment to Planned Parenthood's In This Together service ethos, workplace values, and service standards.