Wichita, KS: Grassroots Organizer, Planned Parenthood Great Plains

[Rachel Sweet]

Planned Parenthood Great Plains (PPGP) seeks an Organizer for this 21st Century health care provider and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that every individual has the knowledge, opportunity and freedom to make informed, private decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. Reporting directly to the Regional Director of Public Policy and Organizing in Kansas and Missouri, the Organizer will implement grassroots organizing and advocacy initiatives in the Wichita area and throughout the state of Kansas. The Organizer will work closely with other members of the Planned Parenthood Public Affairs and External Affairs teams; provide guidance to volunteers, interns and practicum students; and assist in administrative duties, fundraising and special events. A collaborative work style, strong work ethic, and enthusiasm for building bridges between staff, Board, donors and other key stakeholders are essential.

OBJECTIVES FOR WICHITA ORGANIZER

The Wichita Organizer will be responsible for grassroots efforts to organize, educate, empower and mobilize supporters to take action in support of Planned Parenthood's mission through list-building, outreach, volunteer recruitment and supervision, phone banking, canvassing and online networking. The Organizer will recruit and support activists in targeted geographic areas who will become informed on local, state and national reproductive health issues; educate their community and elected officials; and take action to further PPGP’s public affairs goals. The Organizer will also work closely with other members of the Planned Parenthood Education, External Affairs, and Development teams to conduct outreach activities and assist with local fundraising events as needed. 

Public Affairs Position Responsibilities

• Conduct grassroots, pro-Planned Parenthood organizing in legislative districts, on area campuses, and at public events.
• Significantly increase PPGP’s supporter list and volunteer base. 
• Recruit, train and mobilize volunteers and patients to carry out PPGP’s grassroots organizing plan via one-on-one, phone, mail and online communication.
• Recruit, train and support volunteer leaders.
• Plan and facilitate monthly health action team meetings.
• Recruit, train and manage interns.
• Represent PPGP within local progressive coalitions; work with other progressive organizations to achieve cross-movement goals. 
• Maintain/update activist databases; track organizing activities; and generate monthly, quarterly and annual reports.
• Coordinate and implement Planned Parenthood-sponsored legislative activities, lobby days, rallies and media events.
• Work with communications staff to inform PPGP supporters of local, state and national legislation and public policies that affect PPGP.
• Collaborate with Health Services and the Public Affairs team to develop and engage patients in a health center advocacy program. 
• Execute electoral activities through PPGP Votes, including candidate recruitment, endorsement and training; and direct voter contact.
• Collaborate with the External Affairs team on community outreach activities, including representing PPGP at health fairs, schools and community events.
• Provide support for PPGP’s Development activities, including support for local fundraising events, as needed.
• Attend PPGP staff meetings as specified by supervisor.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience and Qualifications

• Although it is unlikely that any one individual will bring all of the qualifications and experiences listed below, the successful candidate will have many of the following attributes:
•  Commitment to PPGP’s mission, purpose, and values.
• A smart, intellectually curious, strategic and creative professional with a Bachelor’s Degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university, one to three years related experience and/or training in advocacy/organizing work or related area; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of and experience with Microsoft Office, the Internet, and relational databases. VAN experience is strongly preferred.
• Must be committed to inter- and intra-agency team work.
• Must be driven, motivated, a self-starter, and able to work productively and effectively with sometimes minimal and remote supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manipulate figures and data with speed and accuracy.
• A multi-disciplinary thinker with strong analytical skills and the ability to understand new concepts; to translate PPGP’s mission and work to diverse constituencies; and to solve complex problems.
• Ethical, principled, and exercises good judgment.   
• Must be able to travel within PPGP’s region, most frequently to Topeka and across southern Kansas.
• Evening and weekend work is required.

EOE/AA—PPGP is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace and Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veteran/LGBTQ inclusive.

Only those candidates including a cover letter with salary requirements will be considered for this position.

THE WORK OF PPGP

 

Planned Parenthood Great Plains has been a leading provider of sexual and reproductive health care for nearly 85 years, serving women, men, and families in communities across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Each year, we provide care to nearly 30,000 people in our 11 health centers and reach nearly 5,500 people through our comprehensive sex education programming. We believe that every person deserves to have access to the resources and information they need in order to make decisions about their own health.

PPGP is working to expand and revitalize its health center footprint in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma regions, and reinvigorate its education, outreach, and advocacy initiatives to educate a new generation of reproductive health and rights supporters and to promote greater access to affordable contraception, preventive treatment, safe abortion, and other critical reproductive health services.

 

As an affiliate of, and accredited by, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), PPGP operates 11 high-quality health centers throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, with a centralized call center and online appointment scheduling. PPGP serves people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse needs. PPGP currently provides reproductive health services in Little Rock AR; Wichita, KS; Columbia, MO; the Kansas City metro area; and Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK. The medical staff includes board certified OB/GYN and family medicine physicians, as well as nurse practitioners. PPGP’s nurse practitioners collaborate with physicians to provide sexual and reproductive health care, perform examinations, and diagnose and treat infections. PPGP accepts Medicaid and private insurance in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Our health centers provided comprehensive reproductive health services to nearly 30,000 patients.

 

PPGP provides comprehensive, age-appropriate sexuality education to more than 5,500 participants each year across our four states. Our education programs promote responsible behavior and honest communication with peers, parents and adults. Teens are given information about how to deal with social pressure and are given medically accurate information about contraception. Programs offer a variety of interactive sexuality education presentations to schools, churches, and community groups on a broad range of topics.

 

PPGP is a leading advocate for the sexual and reproductive rights of women and men in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, working tirelessly to block legislation that restricts access to sex education, contraception, and abortion. To conduct more in-depth advocacy efforts, PPGP created Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes (PPGPV), a sister corporation of PPGP organized under IRS Section 501(c)4. This classification allows PPGPV to engage in political activities and make additional lobbying expenditures that would not be allowed under PPGP’s 501(c)3 tax status. PPGPV maintains professional lobbying programs in Little Rock, Topeka, Jefferson City, and Oklahoma City; monitors federal, state and local legislation and analyzes its effects on PPGP and our patients; informs supporters about proposed legislation and encourages contact with their legislators; and recruits, trains and supports volunteers to work in a variety of advocacy roles.

TO APPLY

Apply here: https://jobs.lever.co/ppgreatplains/e21ca693-a3e0-4757-bd6a-2ed6f4dfe80e