Policy Director

Position Overview

REPRO Rising Virginia (RRVA) is pleased to seek applications and nominations for the position of Policy Director. As Virginia’s only independent, state-based reproductive rights and freedom advocacy organization, RRVA plays a pivotal role in protecting and advancing reproductive rights and fighting for increased access to reproductive healthcare throughout the Commonwealth. With a dedicated team and strong community partnerships, RRVA is at a critical moment of transformation and growth as it seeks to focus its impact and adapt to the evolving post-Roe landscape.

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 working closely with the Executive Director, staff, and state and national partners to advance RRVA’s policy and legislative priorities. The Policy Director will play a key role in driving RRVA’s mission to build political power for reproductive freedom and ensure that every Virginian can make personal reproductive healthcare decisions without stigma or interference.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will bring at least 2-5 years 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. Additionally, 2 or more years of experience managing staff or consultants is required. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, experience implementing strategic planning, and strong organizational abilities are essential. The Policy Director will lead efforts to implement effective policy and communication strategies that align with RRVA’s mission and values.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Policy Director will collaborate with a diverse team and engage with stakeholders across Virginia and beyond. This role requires a deep sense of integrity, collaboration, and dedication to equitable practices both in the workplace and the field. 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.

History and Mission

REPRO Rising Virginia is a bold, effective, and trusted leader in the political fight for Reproductive Freedom in Virginia. RRVA advocates for laws and policies that guarantee the right to bodily autonomy, including access to abortion care without barriers. RRVA elects pro-reproductive freedom candidates at the state and local levels, holding lawmakers accountable to the people of Virginia. Centered in racial and gender justice, REPRO Rising Virginia educates people in the communities, as well as policymakers, about the broad range of issues encompassing sexual and reproductive health and rights. With an annual combined budget of approximately $2 million, RRVA is well-positioned to continue its critical work in advancing reproductive justice and healthcare access.

RRVA consists of three entities: their main 501(c)(4) policy and political arm; the 501(c)(3) REPRO Rising Virginia Foundation, which oversees its issue advocacy, culture change, and educational programming; and the REPRO Rising Virginia Political Action Committee (PAC), which works to elect pro-reproductive freedom candidates. RRVA’s staff are located across offices in Alexandria and Richmond. Learn more about RRVA’s team here.

RRVA’s Policy Work

RRVA is dedicated to advancing reproductive rights and freedom by ensuring all Virginians have access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare. RRVA’s policy work focuses on enacting proactive legislation that protects reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy at both state and local levels.

RRVA advocates for laws that guarantee real, affordable, and timely access to essential reproductive health services. The organization supports legislative champions and holds elected officials accountable for their voting records through initiatives like the Legislative Scorecard, which evaluates lawmakers based on their support or opposition to reproductive rights issues. Key strategies include direct lobbying, grassroots mobilization, and storytelling to drive policy and culture change. A primary focus is passing a Constitutional Amendment for Reproductive Freedom, which requires strategic legislative and electoral engagement.

Opportunities and Challenges Facing the Policy Director

REPRO Rising Virginia (RRVA) is at a critical moment of opportunity, where the Policy Director will significantly impact the organization’s strategy and its ability to secure ongoing reproductive rights and access for all Virginians. Reporting to the Executive Director, as well as overseeing a Policy Fellow, and hiring a new policy support position, the Policy Director will lead in several key areas:

• Set Policy Strategy: Develop and implement strategic plans for RRVA’s policy work based on Virginia’s dynamic political climate and insights gained from national trends. Adapt strategies as new opportunities or challenges arise, ensuring alignment with RRVA’s mission and values.
• Advance Legislation: Lead efforts to advance RRVA’s agenda in the General Assembly, with local governments, and among key stakeholders. Draft, analyze, and shape legislation and policy-related materials to achieve impactful results. Organize and participate in RRVA’s legislative and policy-related events, representing the organization at local, state, and national forums and coalitions.
• Advise on Policy: Provide expert policy guidance to partner organizations, legislative allies, and administration officials at all levels. Act as a key policy resource for RRVA’s staff, Executive Director, donors, members, and reproductive healthcare providers across the state, ensuring informed decision-making and strategic alignment.
• Build and Cultivate Partnerships: Develop and maintain strategic relationships that promote reproductive freedom for all Virginians. Strengthen RRVA’s role as a valued partner within Virginia’s diverse, progressive coalition space by cultivating new alliances with local, state, and national organizations, as well as elected and appointed leaders.
• Manage and Lead: Strengthen RRVA’s Policy Team by hiring, supervising, and mentoring a new Policy Associate and Policy Fellow. Supervise, mentor, evaluate, and professionally develop direct reports when hired. With support from staff, develop and manage a departmental budget. Contribute to RRVA’s strategic direction, departmental goals, and decision-making processes, embodying the organization’s values in all internal and external interactions.

Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate

While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

• Policy and Legal Analysis: You bring at least 2-5 years 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. You are trained or experienced in understanding policy and regulatory language, can translate it for others, and advise on implications and nuances. A JD or MPP is preferred.
• Communication: Your words inspire action, winning over legislators and partners alike through persuasive verbal and written communication skills. You confidently distill complex information and advance messages in media, legislative committees, and public spaces in a clear, culturally competent manner.
• Strategic Thinking and Judgment: You understand what it takes to win and maintain support to achieve results. You recognize both long-term and short-term strategic needs and adapt to advance a policy agenda, depending on organizational, partner, and political changes. You are attuned to Virginia’s shifting political winds and understand the intended and unintended consequences of legislative or policy proposals.
• Relationship Building: You quickly connect with others and partner to achieve results. You pride yourself on bringing allies together to solve complex problems. You understand how to navigate coalition spaces and the importance of working in interdisciplinary, culturally diverse coalitions in social and reproductive rights, health, and justice spaces.
• Results Orientation: Winning legislative victories is your end goal, and you have the accomplishments to show for it. You have overcome roadblocks before, and you are eager to do so again.
• Project Management: You expertly orchestrate the implementation of multiple projects, building buy-in and supporting communication across teams. You plan backward and anticipate obstacles.
• Team Management: You thrive on team development and leadership. In prior roles, you built and supervised teams. Mentorship and inspiring growth across the team are your superpowers. At least 2 or more years of experience managing staff or consultants is required.
• Values and Mission Aligned: You share RRVA’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. You strive to live these values in your work, giving grace to yourself and others in RRVA’s shared learning and efforts.

Role Specifications and Benefits

Position Details: The Policy Director role is based in RRVA’s Richmond office and reports to the Executive Director. While the position is temporarily remote due to COVID-19, it will transition to a hybrid model upon the office’s reopening. The role requires some non-traditional work hours, including Virginia-based travel and evening and weekend availability during the January – March General Assembly session. This is a full-time, exempt position (35 hours per week).

Compensation: The starting salary range is $75,000 – 90,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Benefits: RRVA provides comprehensive benefits, including medical insurance with 70% employer coverage, vision and dental insurance with 80% employer coverage, life insurance, and short-term and long-term disability insurance with 100% employer coverage. A retirement plan with a 3% employer match is also offered, along with a $2,500 professional development stipend to support growth and advancement.

Time Off: Recognizing the prevalence of burnout in advocacy and nonprofit spaces, RRVA currently offers every other Friday off outside of critical programming periods, such as November to January. The organization supports a balanced work environment with 7-hour workdays, extended time off for federal holidays—including three days for Thanksgiving, a week off over the December holidays, and 4-day weekends for Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day—and generous paid time off for sick, personal, parental, and vacation leave. Additionally, Responsive Time Off (RTO) is provided to staff with marginalized identities who may need time off during periods of public or community crisis.

To Apply

More information about REPRO Rising Virginia may be found at: reprorisingva.org.

A 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 single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. RRVA is committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization and strongly encourages you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.

This search is being led by Cara Pearsall, Alejandra (Ale) Villa, and Danielle Higa of NPAG. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Candidates may submit a cover letter outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume, via NPAG’s website.

REPRO Rising Virginia is an equal-opportunity employer and proudly values diversity. 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, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment.