JOB DESCRIPTION - Planned Parenthood



Position Title: Public Affairs Coordinator Department: Public Affairs

Reports to: Vice President of Education & Public Affairs Location: New Windsor

Grade: 20 FLSA Status: Exempt

Summary of position:

The Public Affairs Coordinator is responsible for PPMHV’s Public Affairs initiatives through coordination and management of activities in support of PPMHV’s public and community relations, legislative and advocacy work, volunteer and community organizing. The position provides support for both Planned Parenthood Mid-Hudson Valley and the Planned Parenthood Mid-Hudson Valley Action Fund, especially in the development of educational materials for the Action Fund; messaging, political/Action Fund communications; increased visibility and support for PPMHV’s work and advocacy for reproductive choice, increased access to information about sexuality and reproductive health, and sound public health policies.

Cultural awareness:

All employees are required to demonstrate the importance of the ethical and cultural awareness commitment of Planned Parenthood by:

• Demonstrating empathy; recognizing inherent worth, and treating individuals with respect;

• Protecting confidentiality of staff;

• Appreciating the Planned Parenthood culture and its function in human behavior, and recognizing cultural strengths;

• Seeking to understand patient’s cultures and value of diversity to be able to provide competent services.

Customer Service:

• Builds and maintains positive, quality relationships with customers, both internal (colleagues) and external (patients, clients, donors etc)

• Demonstrates commitment to exceeding customer expectations at every opportunity

• Responds positively to customer concerns and demonstrates effective problem solving skills

• Consistently interacts positively with internal and external customers

Mandatory Reporting:

Planned Parenthood has zero tolerance for non-compliance with our policies and procedures for addressing situations that endanger the welfare of minors, including our policies and procedures relating to state mandatory reporting laws.  This position is responsible for reporting all situations that endanger the welfare of minors as well as our policies and procedures relating to state mandatory reporting laws. 

Qualifications:

The position requires flexibility, strong presentation, writing and interpersonal skills. It frequently requires decision-making, independent judgment and/or action, creativity, problem analysis, and use of discretion. Job involves travel and will sometimes require more than 37.5 hours per week, including evening and weekend meetings.

• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, and presentation skills; strong, effective oral and written communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with community partners, interacts effectively with diverse groups of individuals, and cultivates new relationships and supporter networks.

• Ability to successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, follows through, and meets deadlines.

• Ability to recruit and support volunteers.

• Demonstrated computer proficiency, including interactive online messaging software and internet tools.

• A facility with new media (social networking, blogging, etc.) and basic competency with donor database software.

• Strong trouble-shooting, problem-solving and project management skills; the ability to be creative, take initiative and be accountable.

• Excellent organizational and networking skills; the ability to work independently and as a team member; ability to respond creatively to challenges and be pro-active in developing new strategies for overcoming obstacles and meeting goals.

• Solid understanding of women’s/reproductive health issues, media relations and advocacy; a background in political science and/or communications strongly preferred.

• Familiarity with local, state and federal legislative processes in New York State.

• Energetic, entrepreneurial and flexible; travel around the agency’s four-county service area and some evenings and weekends required.

• Ability to represent the agency professionally at all business levels.

• Bachelors Degree required preferably with a concentration in political or social sciences.

• Ideal candidate will have experience in communications, media relations and political advocacy.

• Must be committed to the mission of PPMHV.

Certificates, licenses and registrations:

• Valid NY State Driver’s License required (to meet the travel-throughout-the-agency requirement on an immediate and non pre-arranged basis)

Essential Functions: include, but are not limited to, the following:

Community & Media Relations:

• Maintain communication with FPA/PPFA liaisons and attend PPFA and FPA public policy conferences and trainings as appropriate.

• Work with VP of Education & Public Affairs to disseminate news/publicity/information to promote PPMHV and keep the agency’s message in front of PPMHV supporters, the general public, key community allies and elected officials.

• Work with VP of Education & Public Affairs and Social Media Manager to develop messaging to raise and expand awareness of and community support for PPMHV, including email messages, blogs and local content for website, e-newsletters and agency publications.

• Collaborate with Social Media Manager to develop and maintain PPMHV’s on-line presence on social networking sites like, Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, Instagram, etc. and inform, educate and engage Planned Parenthood's on-line constituency about specific issues.

• Assist in the development and implementation of advocacy campaigns to educate and engage PPMHV activists and advance our legislative and electoral priorities. This will include online and offline strategies such as advocacy events, phone banks, canvassing initiatives, community building activities, and online actions.

• Develop and maintain public policy/activist contact lists in Convio and VAN

• Develop media contacts; coordinate calls and requests from media and respond as appropriate

• Track pertinent local, state and federal legislation and articulate PPMHV’s position on important issues to key constituents. Prepare fact sheets, reports, pitch stories and draft content for op-ed pieces, letters to the editor, and other public affairs materials as needed.

• Establish relationships with PPMHV’s service area’s elected representatives and their key staff members.

• Coordinate Action Fund communications (e.g. issue education materials, correspondence, etc.)

• Coordinate Board, volunteer and activist contacts with legislators (including calls, letters, personal visits) and coordinate online campaigns.

• Coordinate lobby days in Albany and Washington and elected official visits to PPMHV sites.

• Develop and maintain public policy contact lists and activists in the Raisers Edge database.

Grassroots Organizing:

• In coordination with Development, Education and Outreach staff, increase community support and visibility for PPMHV , especially in diverse communities, by organizing friend-raising events, networking parties, public policy/education and advocacy events.

• Represent PPMHV’s policy/advocacy interests at County, State and National levels. Collaborate with FPA, PPFA and other family planning providers and coalition partners

• Provide staff support for the Action Fund and/or any evolving structures to support Planned Parenthood Advocates of NY.

• Build a strong activist base by recruiting, training and engaging community volunteers and mobilizing online activists to assist with advocacy efforts and advance PPMHV’s legislative agenda. Cultivate PPMHV Activist coalitions who support PPMHV’s work.

• Work with college activist groups on campuses across the Hudson Valley region. Provide agency support to campus campaigns and events. Help identify and develop college activists on campuses.

• Coordinate with VP of Health Center Operations and Health Center Managers to run Health Center Advocacy Programs which provides patients with opportunities to get involved in advocacy campaigns and take action to support specific legislative initiatives at local, state and national levels.

• Work with VP of Organizational Development to recruit and train college campus Health Center Escort volunteers.

• Assess outreach & advocacy volunteer needs; recruit and place volunteers as needed and manage interns.

• Maintain progress reports and provide Public Affairs reports and updates as needed.

• Other duties as assigned

Physical demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to continuously talk and hear, frequently sit, stand, walk, reach, grasp, handle small objects, use repetitive motions of the hands and wrists. Work requires occasional bending. Rarely requires repetitive motion of the feet. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 lbs., operate a computer including keyboard, and operate a multi-key telephone. Must be able to maintain a flexible schedule and during peak activity periods work in excess of 7.5 hours per day and/or 37.5 hours per week.

Work Environment:

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Travel:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will have to travel to other work locations at various times. Own transportation is required, with a valid driver’s license, inspection, registration and adequate insurance.

Other:

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee will also perform other reasonable related duties as assigned by the supervisor or management.

1. Management reserves the right to change, assign or reassign job duties, hours, and locations as needed. This document is for management communication only and not intended to imply a written or implied contract of employment.

2. I have read and understand this job description. I agree to accept the responsibilities and duties as outlined.

3. I understand that PPMHV is an “at-will” employer.

Employee Signature: _______________________ Date:____________________

Approved by:

Supervisor: ___________________________________ Date:__________________

Human Resources: _______________________________ Date:_____________________

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