Vice President of External Affairs

Purpose of Position

This senior level position sets the strategic vision and plan for the agency’s Public Affairs and Community Relations work in alignment with the PPWI mission and strategic plan. They are responsible for setting the strategic priorities in the agency’s government relations (at the local, state and national level), community engagement and outreach, and issue advocacy strategies that strengthen and protect Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin’s (PPWI) ability to provide health services and comprehensive sex education.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Must be committed to providing excellent customer service and support the vision and values of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.
• Must have demonstrated competency in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging that can be illustrated as a strategic priority.
• The Vice President of External Affairs must have strong strategic, organizational, interpersonal, oral and written communications skills.
• Must understand the impact of sexual reproductive healthcare access and policies on diverse, marginalized, and vulnerable communities.
• Demonstrate an aptitude for working both independently and as a member of a team to ensure consistent and cohesive strategies between individual, departmental and cross-departmental workplans.
• Must have a personal commitment to achieve the agency’s Public Affairs objectives and an understanding of why those objectives should be achieved with a strategic approach grounded in health equity and reproductive justice.
• Must possess diplomatic skills and an understanding how to work effectively with Planned Parenthood employees; outside consultants; entities and individuals within all branches of government at all levels; and extra-agency relationships, including a dedication to cross-movement collaboration.
• Must be comfortable working as a spokesperson with the media and will be expected to provide appropriate policy and agency perspectives to a variety of internal and external audiences, including the media.
• Demonstrated experience leading and managing teams and establishing accountability to goals and outcomes.
• Intermediate experience with Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, preferably in MS365.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in related field required (ex: Political Science, Sociology, Public Policy or Administration, Social Work).
• Seven years of experience in government relations, external affairs, community organizing, community relations, or civic engagement work.
• Senior or executive level experience preferred.
• Requires a minimum of three years of supervisory experience including interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Advanced degree in Political Science, Public Policy or Administration, Social Work or Juris Doctorate a plus.

Physical Requirements

• Predominantly sedentary with intermittent (15% or less of time in typical week) standing and walking.
• Repetitive motions of hands and wrists related to typing on a keyboard and using a mouse.
• Fine finger movements.
• Vision and Hearing Abilities: Close vision, hearing far vision, speaking.
• May require lifting and/or carrying objects weighing: Up to 2 pounds.

Working Conditions

• Normal noise levels.
• Working Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. - Hybrid at Doty Street or Jackson Street - 3 days in office.
• Occasional evening and/or weekend hours may be necessary.
• Must be available by phone to provide after-hours on-call coverage.
• Driving Conditions: This position requires traveling statewide, therefore a valid driver’s license and auto insurance in accordance with agency liability standards is required. Must have transportation.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

PPWI plays a critical role in the healthcare infrastructure of the State of Wisconsin. To sustain the mission, it is imperative that we have strong, authentic relationships with patients, communities, local and state governments, healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders at the state and national levels.

• Build PPWI’s statewide power to strengthen, protect and expand reproductive freedom.
• In partnership with other PPWI leadership, this role sets out the vision and strategic priorities for Public Affairs and Community Relations in alignment with PPWI’s strategic imperatives.
• Lead and support a team of Public Affairs Directors to establish, operationalize and implement the department’s government relations, year-round grassroots organizing and volunteer engagement and communication’s work plans; ensuring that the work plans further the strategic priorities of both the Public Affairs team and the agency.
• Lead and support the Director of Community Relations to establish, operationalize, and implement the department’s work plan; ensuring that the work plans further the strategic priorities of both the Community Relations team and the agency.
• In partnership with the CSO and General Counsel, identify strategic priorities for legal and policy advocacy that protects and strengthens reproductive freedom and health equity.
• Using PPWI’s workplace values as a framework, supervise, support, and develop the leadership of Public Affairs and Community Relations teams.
• Develop clear programmatic work plans for leaders that include metrics.
• Meet regularly with leaders to provide support and feedback; identify opportunities for growth and leadership development.
• Comply with agency policies and protocols and ensure compliance amongst all departmental staff.
• Hire and onboard new departmental leaders using agency approved or mandated processes and training.
• In partnership with the CFO and leadership in public affairs and community relations, develop and manage departmental budgets.
• Identify gaps in training and ensure teams have the information they need to perform their job duties compliantly and effectively.
• Establish, develop, and steward both internal and external relationships that advance PPWI’s mission.
• Identify local, state, and national policy matters that may present either a threat to or opportunity to advance PPWI’s mission and keep PPWI leadership informed.
• Serve as a spokesperson for PPWI in both the media and community.
• Serve as the subject matter expert within PPWI to help inform the work of other departments.