portal resources jobs companies n national women's health network assistant director, public policy

Assistant Director, Public Policy


NOTE: Remote work is permitted in this position, but due to the nature of the job requirements, the applicants must be based in the D.C. area.

Who We Are:

The National Women’s Health Network (NWHN) improves the health of all women by developing and promoting a critical analysis of health issues in order to affect policy and support women’s decision-making. The NWHN serves as a watchdog, and engages women in policy change efforts through interconnected grassroots organizing, network building and community education. The NWHN remains true to its feminist progressive roots by relying primarily on members and foundations for contributions and does not accept financial support from drug companies, insurance companies, manufacturers of medical devices, or tobacco companies. For more information on our mission and active campaigns, visit nwhn.org.

Job Description:

The Assistant Director, Public Policy position:

The Assistant Director, Public Policy helps to lead a dedicated, influential team with a long history of making important changes happen in the women’s health sphere [1]. Broadly, the Assistant Director, Public Policy leads legislative and regulatory advocacy activities, primarily at the federal level, as well as some state policy work. The Assistant Director also provides some communications support to amplify policy issues. Preferably based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the Assistant Director, Public Policy presents the Network’s positions before Congress, federal and state agencies, and works with allied organizations on campaigns that impact organizational goals.

The Assistant Director will report to the Executive Director.

Position Duties Include:

  • Design and implement legislative strategies at the federal and state levels to engage Network supporters and further Network goals
  • Develop and maintain relationships with Members of Congress and their staffs
  • Identify, track, and analyze the movement of key legislation and policy proposals affecting women’s health
  • Draft testimony, sign-on letters, comments, and other advocacy materials at both the state and federal levels
  • Track and sign onto external letters from the reproductive health, rights, and justice community, with approval from the Executive Director
  • Plan and execute lobby days and briefings with federal law makers
  • Initiate, develop and maintain relationships with allied organizations and identify collaboration opportunities
  • Represent the Network in multiple coalitions in a leadership capacity
  • Serve as a policy expert to the staff and board and provide content for reports and grants as well as guidance and recommendations on overall campaigns
  • Maintain a database of visits and contacts to federal lawmakers
  • Draft fact sheets, action alerts, testimony, position papers, and other policy related documents including web site content
  • Review fundraising appeals related to policy for accuracy and urgency
  • Amplify policy work to create TPs, LTEs and op-eds, and across digital platforms like the website and social media
  • Present at external meetings, webinars, trainings and conferences
  • Interface with the media as a policy expert and spokesperson for the Network
  • Write reports and updates for Board of Directors
  • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications/Requirements:

  • Minimum 5 years’ experience in women’s health policy
  • Advanced degree in law, public policy, or public health preferred but not required
  • Ability to research, analyze, summarize, and present legislative policy for a variety of non-legal audiences
  • Strong research, writing, and public speaking skills
  • Comfort working with WordPress, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook
  • Ability to work in coalition with other organizations on a variety of women’s health issues
  • Experience educating policy makers
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Strong time management skills
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
  • Ability to handle competing deadlines
  • Creative/inventive thinker
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively
  • Comfortable with telework technologies
  • Ability to travel as needed
  • Ability to represent the Network at external meetings and conferences
  • Strong commitment to women’s health care access and equity
  • Demonstrated commitment to and experience working on gender and racial equity centering communities of color in their approach to the work

Compensation and Benefits:

This is a full-time overtime exempt position. The Network offers 100% employer paid medical, dental, and vision, along with 403 (b) benefits, generous vacation and sick time policies, and paid parental leave. The salary is $70,000.00.

To Apply: 

To apply, please email your CV, cover letter, and three references to nwhn@nwhn.org [2]. Applications are reviewed until the position is filled. Please indicate “Assistant Director, Public Policy" in the subject line. No phone calls, please. We will only contact successful candidates.


Equal Opportunity Statement:

The National Women’s Health Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Network prohibits discrimination against its employees and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program.

Disclaimer: 

This description is intended to provide an overview of this position and is not all inclusive. The incumbent in this position will be expected to perform other duties as required. Responsibilities may change over time. This description is provided for informational purposes only and does not form the basis of a contract.


  1. https://nwhn.org/our-victories/
  2. mailto:nwhn@nwhn.org

Other openings you might be interested in

More remote jobs

Let us send you new openings similar to Assistant Director, Public Policy straight to your Inbox. Weekly or Daily. 7-day free trial 💌

The ability to work remotely increases employee happiness by 20 percent.