Job Description

The Position –  The Policy Director is part of a new leadership team and reports directly to the Executive Director. This position is hybrid with two days in-office either at the Richmond or Alexandria location. The role requires some non-traditional work hours, including Virginia-based travel and evening/weekend availability during the January – March General Assembly session. This position is full-time exempt (35 hours/ week). 

RRVA is at a point of exciting transformation as we build our team to meet the demands of a post-Roe landscape, achieve the goals of our new two-year strategic plan and help lead the passage of a state  Constitutional Amendment for Reproductive Freedom . The Policy Director will significantly impact the organization’s strategy and its ability to secure ongoing reproductive rights and access for all Virginians. 

We are an independent, state-based advocacy organization leading the charge for reproductive rights and freedom across the Commonwealth. We are a team of progressive people deeply committed to reproductive rights and freedom striving to support each other as work to secure reproductive rights and equity to the people of Virginia. Our team is collaborative and supportive; we encourage asking for help when it is needed and often pitch in across teams when things get busy. We are diverse and visionary thinkers. We value diversity of lived experience, and we welcome bold and creative ideas and ensure space to test those ideas. We own areas of work and decisions within a collaborative team. We believe that a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace makes us a more creative and more resilient organization. 

RRVA is made up of three entities: our main 501(c)(4) policy and political arm; the 501(c)(3) REPRO Rising Virginia Foundation, which oversees our issue advocacy, culture change and education programming; and the REPRO Rising Virginia Political Action Committee which works to elect pro- reproductive freedom candidates. Our staff are located across our offices in Alexandria and Richmond. 

About the Role: 

The Policy Director is an essential strategic leader within RRVA and is responsible for shaping and implementing the organization’s policy and legislative programming. This role involves collaborating with the Executive Director, managing a policy associate and communications manager, , and representing RRVA in state and local coalitions, and working with national partners to advance RRVA’s policy and legislative priorities. The Policy Director will play a key role in driving RRVA's mission to protect and advance reproductive freedom and build political power, to ensure that every Virginian can make personal reproductive healthcare decisions without shame, stigma, or interference. 

The role will collaborate with a diverse team and engage with stakeholders across Virginia.. The Policy Director will engage in direct lobbying at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond and build strong relationships with Virginia elected and appointed officials. The Policy Director will also participate in community engagement activities and represent RRVA at relevant events and coalitions to further the organization’s impact and reach. 

Role Responsibilities: 

• Minimum of 4 years of hiring, supervising and mentoring a team. In addition, experience with evaluating and developing direct reports. 
• Minimum 2 years of experience with developing and managing departmental budget. 
• Minimum 3 years of experience adapting strategies as new opportunities or challenges arise while ensuring alignment with to an organization’s mission and values. 
• Experience in aligning policy work with an organization’s mission and vision. 
• Minimum of 3 years of experience developing and implementing strategic plans for policy work based on a dynamic climate and insights gained from national trends. 
• Minimum 3 years of previous experience leading efforts to implement effective policy and communication strategies that align with an organization’s mission and values. 
• Experience in advancing legislation through drafting, analyzing, and policy-related materials to achieve impactful results. 
• Familiar with organizing and participating in legislative and policy- related events, representing the organization at local, state, and national forums and coalitions. 
• Familiar with providing expert policy guidance to partner organizations, legislative allies, and administration officials at all levels. In addition, act as a key policy resource, to ensure informed decision-making and strategic alignment. 
• Experienced in developing and maintaining strategic relationships that strengthen an organization’s role by cultivating new alliances with local, state, and national organizations, as well as elected and appointed leaders. 

Qualifications:  To thrive in this role, candidates must be experienced in the following areas: 

• Minimum of 3 years; 5 years preferred, of experience in legislative advocacy and issue-based campaigns, with a demonstrated commitment to centering the needs and voices of those most affected by reproductive or systemic injustice. 
• Minimum of 3 years of experience managing, mentoring, and professionally developing staff. 
• Minimum 2 years of experience implementing a strategic plan.
• Strong experience in understanding policy and/or regulatory language with an ability to translate it to a diverse audience and advise on implications and nuances. 
• Strong experience in navigating through complex challenges and seizing opportunities to further an organization’s mission, working collaboratively with a dedicated team and coalition partners to advance policies. 
• Experienced in recognizing long-term and short-term strategic needs and adapting to advance a policy agenda, depending on organizational, partner, and 
• Familiar with Virginia’s shifting political winds and understand the intended and unintended consequences of legislative or policy proposals. 

· Education: JD or MPP is preferred. 

Skills: 

• Strong communication skills that inspire action, winning over legislators and partners alike. 
• Experienced in distilling complex information and advance messages in media, legislative committees, and public spaces in a clear, culturally competent manner. 
• Strong strategic thinking capabilities to effectively win and maintain support to achieve results. 
• Relationship Building skills that help to connect with others and partner to achieve driven results.
• Collaborating with allies to solve complex problems. 
• Familiar with navigating in coalition spaces and the importance of working in interdisciplinary, culturally diverse coalitions in social justice and/or reproductive rights, health, and justice spaces. 
• Experienced Project Management skills that help to implement and manage multiple projects, building buy-in and supporting communication across teams. 
• Values and Mission Alignment by   sharing in an organization’s values of integrity, transparency and trust, equity, compassion and appreciation, a healthy and supportive work culture, multi-faceted growth and progress, and collective power. 

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability are paid 100% by RRVA. 
• Retirement plan with 3% matching. 
• Personal time off: One week of vacation for the first year,  after 2 to 5 years of service 15 days of vacation. 
• Sick days: 5 sick days a year. 
• Restorative Fridays: REPRO Rising Virginia recognizes the importance of a healthy equilibrium between the employee's professional and personal life. Therefore, the organization promotes employees to dictate their restorative Fridays. Employees can elect a full day, partial day or a few hours of restorative Fridays. This allows employees to choose the option that best meets their needs. (Restorative Fridays are observed outside of legislative session and post-Labor Day to Election). 
• Holidays: Extra days off for most federal and religious holidays (including, but not limited to three days for Thanksgiving, a week off over the December holidays, and 4-day weekends for Memorial Day and Labor Day). 

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy or caregiver status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. We encourage people from all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and experiences to apply. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application and interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Worker with Disabilities needing assistance applying please feel free to call the HR Office at (908)873-8434. 

Note to Potential Candidates:  Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary folks, and BIPOC are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every qualification in a job description. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization and strongly encourage you to apply, even if you do not believe you meet every qualification. 

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