Director of Public Policy, State

Job Description

Job Description

Title: Director of State Policy

Status: Full-time, Regular, Exempt

Reports to: Vice President for Public Policy

Location: Washington, D.C. Hybrid or New York, NY Hybrid

Date Posted: June 2026

Organization:

Founded in 1968, the Guttmacher Institute is a global leader in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Through a unique and interrelated program of high-quality research, evidence-based advocacy and strategic communications, the Institute works to generate new ideas, encourage enlightened public debate, and promote sound policy and program development; its overarching goal is to ensure the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all people worldwide. The Institute is engaged in building a more inclusive, transparent and equitable organization.

Position Summary:

The Director of State Policy is a senior position responsible for managing all aspects of Guttmacher’s work to lead a state policy and partnerships strategy to advance abortion and contraception rights, health and access. Reporting to the Vice President for Public Policy, the Director works with a broad range of stakeholders to bring Guttmacher data, analysis, partnerships and convening power, and strategic expertise to bear to support state partnerships and policy agendas, and manages the State Policy Team. An expectation of this position is to take an active role in advancing an organizational culture that centers equity and justice, collaboration, integrity, nimbleness and a global perspective, seeing connections across SRHR issues and different contexts throughout the world. The Director must be committed to supporting an equitable and inclusive work environment and managing relations with a diverse staff, including staff under their own supervision.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Work with the Vice President of Public Policy and other programmatic directors to translate the Institute’s Strategic Plan into actionable initiatives with measurable milestones and results.
• Serve as a member of the division’s Management Team responsible for managing the division’s work in pursuit of the Institute’s vision, goals and priorities; collaborate with the Executive Leadership Team and other division Management Teams to create a high-performing, impactful and collaborative organization.
• Ensure that program and policy strategies have clear objectives, outputs and outcomes, and that those efforts are integrated and complementary across the division and the Institute.
• Inform nimble strategy iteration by monitoring the state policy and legal landscape, watching trends and consulting with key informants, resulting in rich intelligence gathering.
• Stimulate, encourage and contribute to the development of new idea sand approaches and work with the VP to create a culture of innovation in policy analysis, partnerships and advocacy.

Direct the Institute’s State Public Policy and Partnerships Agenda

• Develop a program aimed at deepening the Institute’s impact in states through collaborative partnerships with state advocates, legislators and other stakeholders.
• Provide day-to-day management of the State Policy team.
• Build trust and strong partnerships with a broad base of progressive allies, legal experts, providers and more; seek their input to help shape the Institute’s priorities; and ensure they are equipped with timely evidence and incisive analysis in support of their policy goals.
• Maintain deep expertise of state policy issues and provider oversee provision of technical expertise to policymakers and advocates.
• Collaborate with the Institute’s research and communications staff to support creation of policy-relevant research and shape and disseminate policy-related messaging.
• Represent the Institute with the media and at external meetings and conferences, including at high-level events and with critical stakeholders.
• Collaborate with staff across the Institute to bring an innovative policy perspective to Guttmacher’s research and communications.
• Develop and review written materials in a range of formats and for a range of audiences. Serve as a key national thought leader on state reproductive rights policy.
• Represent the Institute in meetings with donors and contribute to grant proposals.

Division Management and Supervision

• Guide and supervise state policy staff, including setting clear direction and performance expectations, building individual skills and assessing progress.
• Work with division leadership and Finance and Administration staff to coordinate budgetary and administrative work of the division.
• Manage project-specific work to ensure that it meets its objectives, is completed within a set timeframe and budget, and is high-quality.
• Promote a culture of high-performance grounded in the Institute’s guiding principles of equity and justice, collaboration, integrity, nimbleness and a global perspective, seeing connections across SRHR issues and different contexts throughout the world.
• Performs other job-related tasks as appropriate.

Qualifications and Skills:

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in the fields of sexual and reproductive health and rights; deep state policy expertise and experience.
• Deep understanding of the role of state advocates in the SRHR policy-making landscape and a network of relationships.
• Proven track record on collaborative partnerships; understanding the value of mutually beneficial and impactful working partnerships.
• Strong supervisory skills, with the ability to assess and manage performance in pursuit of ambitious goals, retain high-performers and develop staff.
• Strong management and organizational skills with a capacity to marshal the talents of a diverse, competent and creative team and build a culture of belonging and inclusion.
• Strong leadership skills, with the foresight and ability to design new initiatives, and steer a program toward maintaining its strategic focus.
• Deep commitment to the impact of the programs they oversee, including possessing the ability to overcome obstacles individually or as a team, make hard decisions, and move everyone forward productively.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills.
• Ability to develop solid working relationships with senior leadership across the Institute and represent the Institute in high-level contexts externally.
• Ability to foster an inclusive workplace, where all staff feel respected, heard, engaged and valued.
• Compelling and thoughtful communication style that meets the needs of internal and external audiences and engenders trust and collaboration.
• Able to travel up to 20% of the time.

Salary and benefits

The salary range for this position is between $188,800 to $217,100 and will be commensurate with experience. This range is specific to the New York and DC area, and base pay may vary depending on a wide range of factors. New hires are typically brought into the organization between the minimum to midpoint of the salary range posted depending on knowledge, skills and experience, and qualifications. Internal equity considerations will be reviewed before making a final offer. The Guttmacher Institute practices a hybrid work schedule, requiring in-office attendance currently 4 days per month.

We offer excellent benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; vacation, personal, and sick time; paid parental leave; tuition reimbursement; commuting subsidy; and a 401(k) plan with employer match.

Guttmacher Institute strives to provide the training and support for staff needed to be successful in their positions and to grow professionally.

Please note that telephone inquiries will not be acknowledged. No agencies, please.

The Guttmacher Institute seeks to foster a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment, where every employee’s unique talents are valued and recognized as an asset to the achievement of our mission.