Position Description

Reporting to the President and CEO, the Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy is a senior executive leader responsible for the political strategy, government relations, advocacy, and civic engagement of Planned Parenthood of Michigan (PPMI) and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan (PPAM). This leader sets and directs the organization’s legislative and budget agenda, oversees all 501(c)(4) advocacy and electoral operations through PPAM, and positions the organization to protect and expand access to sexual and reproductive health care across Michigan. The Vice President leads the Government Affairs and Advocacy team, including the Senior Director of Government Affairs and the associate directors of constituency and field programs, and serves as a senior advisor to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team on political risk and opportunity. This leader will fully embody a commitment to race equity, evidenced in all interactions with colleagues, external stakeholders, and staff supervision.

Essential Functions

Strategic & Political Leadership

• Sets and leads multi-year political and legislative strategy aligned with PPMI’s mission and with state and national priorities for sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice.
• Advises the President and CEO and the Executive Leadership Team on political risk, opportunity, and positioning.
• Represents PPMI and PPAM in coalitions, negotiations, and high-level public forums, and serves as a senior spokesperson on policy and political matters.

501(c)(4) and Advocacy Oversight

• Provides executive oversight of all PPAM 501(c)(4) functions, including advocacy, electoral work, organizing, civic engagement, budgeting, and compliance.
• Serves as a senior staff liaison to the PPAM Board, in coordination with the President and CEO, and partners with board leadership on governance and political direction.
• Ensures compliance with IRS rules, campaign finance law, and lobbying regulations, and maintains a clear and well-managed line between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) activity.

Legislative & Government Relations

• Directs proactive and defensive strategy on abortion access, contraception, gender-affirming care, insurance and Medicaid coverage, and health equity.
• Leads the organization’s work to secure and protect state funding for Planned Parenthood, including appropriations, supplemental funding, and administrative pathways through state agencies.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with key stakeholders in the Legislature, state agencies, the Governor’s office, and local governments.
• Oversees lobbying activity and all required reporting, in coordination with the contract lobbying firm.

Elections, Endorsements & Campaign Finance

• Oversees PPAM’s endorsement process, candidate vetting, and political assessments.
• Designs and directs 501(c)(4)-appropriate electoral strategy and coordinated campaign work in support of endorsed candidates.
• Builds long-term candidate pipelines and coordinates political strategy with national and state partners.
• Provides executive oversight of PAC contributions and reporting and ensures full compliance with applicable law.

Fundraising & Capacity Building

• Develops and implements a 501(c)(4) fundraising strategy in partnership with development leadership.
• Engages high-capacity donors and political supporters.
• Builds scalable political infrastructure and clear performance metrics for the advocacy program.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Leads, develops, and evaluates the Government Affairs and Advocacy team, including the Senior Director of Government Affairs and the associate directors of constituency and field programs.
• Coordinates political and advocacy strategy with the communications, development, organizing, and data functions.
• Educates staff and board members on 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) distinctions and the requirements that come with them.
• Keeps the President and CEO informed on political strategy, C4 operations, and emerging risks through regular reporting, and operates as an extension of the CEO’s leadership rather than as a separate or autonomous function.
• Demonstrates a commitment to race equity, maintains current knowledge of PPMI’s race equity standards, and holds self and team accountable to them.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, a relevant field, or equivalent years of experience.
• At least ten years of senior-level leadership in political strategy, public policy, campaigns, or advocacy, with a demonstrated record of legislative or budget wins at the state level.
• Demonstrated experience with 501(c)(4) or campaign operations.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing teams.
• Deep political judgment and a sophisticated understanding of how Michigan government and the Legislature actually move.
• Deep understanding of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) compliance and campaign finance law.
• Demonstrated track record of managing 501(c)(4) operations cleanly and audit-ready, with sound internal controls and full compliance with campaign finance and lobbying law.
• Established credibility and strong relationships within the Michigan political landscape.
• In-depth knowledge of Michigan’s reproductive health care delivery system, the state and federal policy landscape, and the needs of underserved or marginalized communities.
• Proven success in legislative strategy, endorsements, electoral strategy, and political fundraising.
• Strong strategic judgment, executive presence, and the ability to advise and influence at the highest levels of an organization.
• Commitment to reproductive freedom, health equity, and justice.
• Willingness to travel and to work a flexible schedule that may involve some evening and weekend commitments.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve objectives in collaboration with other functional areas

• Demonstrated commitment to Planned Parenthood’s mission, vision and values

Ability to:

• Work under pressure on multiple projects concurrently and meet deadlines in a fast-paced work environment with frequent interruptions and changing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent the organization publicly and in sensitive negotiations.
• Work independently as well as collaboratively within a team environment.
• Lead and work in a remote environment.
• Handle stressful situations and provide a high level of customer service in a calm and professional manner.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Travel and accept a flexible work schedule that may involve some evening and weekend commitments.
• Solve problems, analyze information and data, and manage projects.
• Exercise a high degree of judgment and diplomacy and maintain confidentiality.

• Advanced degree (JD, MPP, MPH, MPA, or MBA). Substantial equivalent experience will be considered.
• Direct experience working in or with the Michigan Legislature or Michigan state government.
• Michigan Lobbyist Agent Registration.

Key Requirements

• Commitment to advancing race(+) equity in one's work: interest in expanding knowledge about the role that racial inequity plays in our society.
• Awareness of multiple group identities and their dynamics; bring a high level of self-awareness about personal identity, empathy, and humility to interpersonal interactions.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and directly as well as hear and act on feedback related to identity and equity.
• Strong sense of accountability to diversity, equity and inclusion principles and practices.
• Understand of the impact of identity dynamics on organizational culture.
• Commitment to Planned Parenthood's In This Together service ethos, workplace values, and service standards.