Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, Director of State Policy
About Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity
URGE is a Reproductive Justice organization driven by young people, for young people. We are creating a world where we all can live with the justice, freedom, safety, and joy we deserve.
URGE centers the leadership of young people 18-30 years old, including women, people of color, immigrants, LGBTQIA+ people, and people working to make ends meet and infuses Reproductive Justice principles and values throughout our work. Working across the progressive landscape, URGE works together to build strong communities where sexual health is valued, Reproductive Justice is sacrosanct, and each body is celebrated and supported.
As a state-driven national organization, URGE organizes our communities, provides a political home for young people, advocates for meaningful policy change, and shifts culture, working in states where the challenges and opportunities are greatest.
If you are ready to bring your whole self into the fight for justice, URGE will have your back every step of the way. Now is the time to discover your power, claim the conversation, and build your movement.
For more information on URGE, please visit our website.
The Opportunity
URGE’s policy advocacy strategy centers the voices and priorities of young people to advance local, state and federal policy that ensures reproductive justice for our communities. The role of the policy department is to engage young people on issues of sexual and reproductive health, rights, justice, gender equity, democracy, other key issues and priorities, and support their advocacy to local, state, and federal decision makers. The policy department works closely with our field, communications, and voter engagement teams to create and wield political power that can be leveraged to impact policy and culture change at the state level and nationally.
Director of State Policy candidates must have knowledge of and commitment to progressive state policy issues, substantial experience with state legislative process, experience with lobbying and lobbying strategies, experience with coalitions, and experience successfully supervising a team to meet goals and advance policy wins.
The Director of State Policy will plan, implement, and advance URGE’s multi-state policy agenda across URGE’s investment states (California, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Kansas, and Ohio), developing strategies to advance reproductive justice and build power for young people. This position will serve as a thought leader and spokesperson on behalf of URGE, directing URGE’s engagement across state legislatures and developing winning campaigns that engage our base and create real change in the lives of young people. This role will drive state advocacy campaigns on reproductive justice (RJ) issues identified in URGE’s Young People's Policy Agenda, including: abortion access, defending trans youth from attacks, protecting democracy, access to healthcare and comprehensive sex education, and economic justice.
The Director of State Policy, in coordination with the Senior Federal Policy & Advocacy Director, and working with a three-person team, will mobilize alongside the URGE organizing teams on state policy initiatives, and represent the organization on key state RJ issues. This position will report to the Deputy Director of Programs & Policy and currently supervises three (3) regional movement building and policy directors, each of whom holds a 2-state region.
Contact
DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Liz Lombard, Managing Director and Angie Sessoms, Managing Associate. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the Angie Sessoms directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.
DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
About DSG | Koya
DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.