Programs and Policy Associate

Issue Areas: Abortion Technologies and Health and Wellness

Position Overview: The Programs & Policy Associate provides much needed substantive and logistical support to a multi-level team working to advance the ability of every woman to achieve full reproductive freedom with access to the safest, most effective and preferred methods for controlling her fertility and protecting her health. The Associate will concentrate her/his efforts in our Abortion Technology program but will also support efforts to expand access to contraception and to limit exposure to harmful chemicals that impact a woman’s ability to become pregnant or carry a healthy pregnancy to term.

The Programs & Policy Associate is responsible for tracking policy and technology developments and for producing internal and external communications that convey the implications of those policies for women’s ability to promote their reproductive health. Examples include but are not limited to email alerts and updates for coalition partners and board members, press releases, op-eds, and social media content. The Associate will also assist with grant writing and reporting, and drafting updates for a growing list of individual donors. S/he will represent RHTP in coalitions and task forces, both in the advocacy community and on Capitol Hill and will play an active role in helping to convene diverse stakeholders who share RHTP’s vision for change. Responsibilities range from growing and cultivating a peer professional network, to serving as a resource for information on RHTP’s program priorities, to providing logistical support for meetings. The Associate will report directly to the President.

Organizational Description: The Reproductive Health Technologies Project was founded in 1992 to develop and implement a political strategy to bring mifepristone (or the abortion pill) to women in the US. RHTP is an advocacy organization; we do not provide direct services. RHTP plays a unique role in the reproductive health, rights and justice communities by seeking to improve the political climate so more and better options are available to women for preventing or ending an unwanted pregnancy, disease, and also for becoming pregnant and protecting fertility. RHTP convenes multi-disciplinary discussions that look at the science, ethics, politics and practice of different technologies; builds consensus for action among professional medical groups, advocacy organizations, academics, and product manufacturers; and implements strategic communications and advocacy campaigns as needed.

RHTP is a small organization and our impact depends on our ability to leverage diverse interests outside of the organization to pursue a shared vision. While staff members have unique program priorities, all staff members are expected to share 5 core competencies: written communication, oral communication, strategic thinking, effectively engage diverse constituencies, and organize, prioritize, and adapt strategies in a dynamic environment. In addition, staff members of RHTP need to play an active role in sustaining our organizational culture by demonstrating leadership and teamwork in their everyday roles. RHTP is an active learning environment and staff are encouraged and supported in efforts to grow their professional abilities.

• Draft and proofread public education and policy materials such as fact sheets, talking points, sample LTEs or Op-Eds, legislative analysis, research and policy briefs, board dockets and annual reports.
• Monitor and report news coverage, clinical research and policy developments in technologies of interest to RHTP including, mifepristone, HPV and HIV prevention, microbicides and female condom.
• Represent RHTP and our program goals in key policy forums and coalitions.
• Meet with policymakers to share information and advance RHTP priorities.
• Develop and grow a diverse professional network.
  
• Plan and coordinate internal and external meetings, conferences and events. This includes logistics and travel planning, preparing relevant materials, backstopping and coordinating follow-up as needed.
• Draft grant proposals and narrative reports and coordinate the production of related financial reports and budgets.
• Provide backup administrative support to senior staff.
• Provide strategic thinking and content for RHTP’s website and other social media platforms.
  

• Bachelor’s degree and at least three years of work experience.
• Qualified candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to reproductive health, rights and justice.
• Background knowledge of reproductive health technologies and policies that affect women’s access to reproductive health technologies and services are a plus.
  
• Hill experience preferred.
  
• Strong communication, research, writing, and analytical skills.
  
• Highly organized and detail oriented with a proven ability to work on multiple projects with competing deadlines.
  
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across differences of race, age, ethnicity, gender and income.
  
• A self-starter with strong interpersonal and problem solving skills.
  
• Demonstrated ability to interact across professional levels.
  
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, database management, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and other social media tools.