Senior Program Manager, Challenge States

ASEC is seeking a Senior Program Manager, Challenge States to expand its EC access program (in coordination with ASEC’s Emergency Contraception for Every Campus Program) which has strategic plans to expand access in states with extreme restrictions on reproductive rights (“challenge states”) and states with broad support for reproductive rights (“opportunity states”). The Senior Program Manager will work with ASEC’s Executive Director, Kelly Cleland, to identify 3 challenge states, most likely in the US Southeast, in which to focus the organization’s organizing efforts to expand availability of OTC EC (Plan B One-Step and generics) as well as prescription-only EC (ella).

The Senior Program Manager will be responsible for designing and implementing outreach and coalition-building efforts with state and community organizations and student leaders to advance access to EC through innovative strategies such as vending machines, provision from community outposts, direct peer distribution, and advance provision efforts for prescription-only EC.

CORE COMPETENCIES

ASEC seeks a candidate who is self-directed and productive in a remote work environment. A proven track record in organizing and alignment with ASEC’s mission are essential. In addition, a successful candidate will possess the following skills, knowledge, and abilities:

• Experience to build a replicable model for effective advocacy: ASEC works with campuses and communities around the country to implement EC access programs, including direct peer-to-peer distribution, vending machine advocacy, advocacy with campus and community health services. The Senior Program Manager (SPM) will build on their own organizing and coalition-building experience to identify areas of opportunity and relevant local, state and national organizations to expand community and campus access to EC.
• Knowledge to expand training and support infrastructure for student leaders and community activists: the SPM will develop robust training and support mechanisms for student leaders and community activists, including developing novel training mechanisms, providing support, and co-developing infrastructure to support local project needs.
• Skills to develop strategy and approach: ASEC has shaped the national conversation on EC access. The SPM will track relevant state and local law and policy related to EC and develop responsive strategies. The Senior Program Manager will represent ASEC in important conversations and develop strategies to disseminate the work.
• Decisive risk management and strategic problem solving: the SPM will anticipate challenges and find solutions. They will seek the necessary inputs, analyze the data at hand, identify potential risks, and make decisions. They can move forward even when information is incomplete, with the ability to review impact and consequences and openly learn from mistakes.
• Superb interpersonal communication and collaboration skills: The SPM will actively listen, connect easily and work well with colleagues across the ASEC network to gain trust and respect. They will demonstrate clear and concise information and idea-sharing, helping staff learn, grow, and thrive in their work. The SPM will facilitate collaboration and coordination among teams with different priorities.
• Agility: The SPM is able to react with curiosity and enthusiasm to shifting situations, adapt and creatively problem solve with a changing environment.
• Provide critical guidance, coaching and mentorship: The SPM will deliver guidance and feedback with care, encourage team members to directly share their concerns, and help develop their skills to make it a productive and valued experience. The ideal candidate faces conflict and responds with empathy and facts, understanding the benefits of conflict and support colleagues to embrace different perspectives and learn from others, to understand themselves and co-create new ideas.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

In addition to possessing the areas of expertise described above, the successful candidate will have some or all of the following qualifications:

• A BS or BA in public health or a related field, or equivalent lived experience
• At least 8 years of professional on-the-job experience in organizing & coalition-building
• Strong commitment to the values of sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice. Enthusiasm for talking about and researching sexual and reproductive health issues, including abortion.
• Demonstrated respect for youth, and experience working in an engaged way with communities often excluded from conversations about reproductive health, rights, and justice.
• Skills to develop engaging training materials and implement and evaluate training strategies
• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills and proven ability to represent the organization in national fora
• Proven ability to be successful in a self-paced, remote environment
• Ability to quickly and self-sufficiently learn new technical tools, including new software
• Fluency with MS Office, Google Docs, spreadsheets, and presentation preparation
• Ability to travel 15-25%
• Direct experience working with communities in states that restrict abortion, particularly Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee

Preferred qualifications for this position include:

• Experience developing responsive media strategies
• Experience mentoring and supervising interns and other early-career staff
• Experience working with policy advocates and understanding state legislative processes
• Master’s degree in relevant field