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. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients 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 operating health centers across the U.S. Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy, and electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF) seek a Vice President, Communications.  This job reports to the SVP, Communications & Culture in the Communications & Culture division of PPFA.

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Purpose:

The Communications & Culture Division of PPFA has an opportunity for a Vice President, Communications. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, the Vice President, Communications is responsible for developing and executing a proactive national communications and media strategy that advances the organization’s mission and brand. The Vice President is expected to enhance Planned Parenthood’s visibility, image and influence through effective media strategies and to craft the organization’s strategy and overall national message to engage the media, decision-makers, the general public, funders, and potential customers of its service.

The division includes 17 staff members in health care, education, advocacy, and booking who work to implement the strategic communications direction of the organization, as well as provide technical assistance and training to Planned Parenthood affiliates across the country. The Vice President should have a strong understanding of health care, advocacy, policy implementation, and politics. Experience with sexual and reproductive health care is a plus.

The Vice President serves as a member of the extended management team and with the SVP, the Vice President, Brand Marketing, Vice President, Content &  Culture, and National Director, Research will provide the communications strategy for all major initiatives of the federation and work with the other members of the organization’s leadership to craft and execute an effective communications strategy for the organization.

This individual will provide high-level messaging counsel to the leadership of the organization and along with and in support of the SVP, will be a critical management liaison with messaging and research stakeholders. Ideal candidates will possess strong interpersonal and leadership skills and will be familiar with managing organizational change. The individual we seek is familiar with the culture of a complex, multi-tiered organization.

Engagement:

Proven Ability to Communicate to Multiple Audiences: The complexity of communications management at Planned Parenthood is rooted in the need to communicate effectively and simultaneously to multiple audiences, including the media, policymakers, and broader engagement with supporters and the general public.

Fluency in Integrated Communications and Marketing Strategies: A successful candidate will be fluent in all forms of media and marketing, including traditional print media, digital and online media, and how to integrate these strategies with traditional marketing efforts.

Strength in Developing and Implementing Consistent Messages:  A successful candidate will have a deep experience in message development that reach diverse audiences and promotes public awareness of the need to fight for and increase access to sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion care, and the  ability to make informed decisions on the most appropriate and effective spokesperson and forum for those messages.

Strong Manager of Talented & Diverse Team: A successful candidate will have demonstrated ability to manage, mentor and develop a talented and diverse team of staff.

Delivery

● Create and implement proactive, federation-wide media and communications strategies to promote Planned Parenthood’s education, health care services, and advocacy efforts to diverse audiences, including the general public as well as the media, political decision-makers, and funders.

● Support the Senior Vice President, the President, and other Planned Parenthood spokespersons in ways that increase organizational visibility and impact.

● Provide leadership to Planned Parenthood affiliates in developing and implementing national message, media, and public education campaigns to ensure unified messages are presented effectively and consistently to the public on issues of sexual and reproductive  health and rights.

● Lead proactive executive leadership to support crisis communications and rapid response efforts.

● Provide support for consistency of messaging to other Planned Parenthood national office divisions and affiliated organizations. This includes collaboration with the Policy, Campaigns, and Advocacy division to maximize impact in the public policy and political arena; collaboration with the health care and education programs to elevate Planned Parenthood as a high quality health care provider and trusted educator; collaboration with Development division to ensure consistent messaging to donors and to generate financial support for the organization; coordination with affiliate communications.

● Manage and help develop a team of senior, mid-level and junior level professional communicators to ensure continued growth in impact and effectiveness.

● Manage divisional budget, with support from the office of the Senior Vice President, to ensure fiscal responsibility and spending that drives key performance indicators.

● Serve as primary and/or team member on critical Communications & Culture and PPFA projects.

● Represent and be a decision-maker within scope for Communications & Culture in cross-division meetings.

● Regularly interact with senior management staff, senior consultants, affiliates and other department and program senior staff.

● Special projects as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

● A record of success in a senior-level communications position in the government, not-for-profit or private sector.

● Direct and substantial experience involving message strategy and development on a national scale.

● A record of success creating and implementing communications strategies for a large, complex organization.

● Successful experience in a difficult, hard-hitting public policy or health care marketing campaign.

● A record of recruiting and developing a diverse and talented communications staff. A person who places a high priority on the professional development of staff through delegation of responsibility and expert tutelage.

● Significant successful experience dealing with the national media.

● Superb interpersonal skills with an impressive history of forging strong relationships with multiple stakeholders.

● Proven ability to manage and prioritize a multi-million dollar communications budget with many outside vendors and internal projects.

● Extraordinary writing and editing skills and demonstrated ability to handle controversial issues and to translate information about them to broad audiences.

● Demonstrated experience in successfully leading projects, developing research and analysis plans, and writing reports in a clear and convincing manner.

● Demonstrated experience at integrating communications strategy into the fabric of the organization and effectively reaching and influencing intended audiences.

● Demonstrated experience and understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion.‍

Travel:  0%-25% Travel Required

Salary & Benefits

$200,000 - $212,000 a year

Total offer package to include generous vacation + sick leave + paid holidays, individual/family provided medical, dental and vision benefits effective day 1, life insurance, short/long term disability, paid family leave and 401k. We also offer voluntary opt-in for Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Transportation/Commuter accounts.  

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Location

New York, NY (hybrid)

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We value a truly diverse workforce and a culture of inclusivity and belonging. Our goal is to attract qualified candidates and encourage applications from all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.  We're committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, customer focus, and innovation.

PPFA participates in the E-Verify program and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.