Position: State Partnerships Director

About State Alignment Lab 

The State Alignment Lab (SAL) is a new, behind-the-scenes nonprofit supporting a vibrant and diverse ecosystem of state coalitions and organizations advancing reproductive health, rights, and justice in the United States. SAL focuses on providing state organizations with the infrastructure and backbone support they need to thrive by working to:

1. Connect state partners with colleagues, experts, and resources to ensure states have access to the best our field has to offer.
2. Make it easier for state partners to collaborate by providing hands-on support, tools, and expertise.
3. Convene advocates to create opportunities for shared learning and coordination within and across states.

Together, these efforts strengthen state-based reproductive health, rights, and justice movements regardless of geography or environment. The State Alignment Lab is a non-branded, fiscally-sponsored project of NEO Philanthropy. While SAL does not yet have a website, more information will be provided to candidates who advance to interviews.

The Opportunity

SAL is hiring its fourth and fifth full-time team members to be a part of envisioning and building its core programs and networks. The new State Partnerships Director will work collaboratively with the Executive Director and a new State Repro Hub Director. The State Partnerships Director will supervise the Senior Collaboration Manager and lead a broad group of consultants supporting state-based projects and engagements. The Director will bring significant experience successfully building coalitions and fostering collaboration in state movement contexts, strong relational skills to support groups in building shared goals, and extensive knowledge and understanding of the reproductive rights, health, and justice movement. Through these strengths, the Director will build and oversee a team and network of consultants to provide facilitation, thought partnership, and capacity to support intra- and cross-state movement building, and to lead those projects directly in the interim. They will lead the ongoing development of collaborative tools, manage coalition support projects, and support convenings in partnership with state advocates. 

Outcomes and Efforts

In the next two years, the State Partnerships Director will:

1. Lead, execute, and expand collaboration support for state advocacy groups. The Director will define and expand the offerings of SAL’s collaboration and convening work, overseeing and growing this core program area. They will supervise the Senior Collaboration Manager and external consultants on some projects and directly manage others while building the team. They will assess the need and level of support SAL can provide, ensure all partners receive high-quality support that strengthens connections, clarifies strategy, and builds capacity. Projects may include conducting landscape analysis, surfacing needs of a group, designing and incubating effective coalitions, and facilitating group processes and events. The Director will surface equity points and help groups navigate power dynamics and define and uphold values, including those of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, in their norms and strategies.

1. Expand the network of state advocates who know and see SAL as a valuable resource. The Director will hold deep and authentic relationships with state movement leaders to support connection with and between advocates. They will support groups in navigating conflict, building bridges and shared purpose, and moving work forward.  They will spark collaboration and innovation and facilitate a community of practice for consultants and experts providing support. They will be a trusted navigator, helping organizations build power and strength to meet their goals.

1. Gather and share learnings and reflections to inform SAL’s offerings and state strategies. The Director will co-create collaboration and facilitation tools in partnership with consultants and partner organizations. They will create metrics and evaluation frameworks to assess impact, collect and analyze feedback, and share insights to ensure SAL can strengthen collaboration within the ecosystem.

1. Contribute to SAL’s ability to support state repro ecosystems as a thought partner, connector, and builder. The Director will serve as a leader within SAL, participating in planning and organizational development activities and contributing to knowledge, learning, and strategic growth. They will support programming across SAL on an ad hoc basis, including convening design, helpdesk inquiries, and represent SAL to stakeholders and at conferences and retreats. They will strive to bring SAL’s values into practice in all interactions.

Who You Are

The best person for this role is someone who has deep relationships and is a trusted leader in building an effective state or regional movement coalition or collaboration. You are seen as an advisor and thought partner who understands the challenges movements and their leaders face in navigating complex history and power dynamics of a diverse field. You center relationships and hold space for different perspectives, ensuring that the voices of those closest to the issue are heard and valued. You enjoy building and supporting a team and are willing to wear many hats from large scale campaign planning and meeting facilitation to event support when necessary.

What Experience and Expertise You Bring

1. At least three (3) years of experience leading state coalitions or complex group management at the state level or in a national organization that provides technical support to state movements or groups.
2. At least five (5) years of senior leadership experience and the ability to strategize with state partners and be a thought partner to executive leaders.
3. Significant experience bringing together groups effectively, supporting diverse perspectives and voices, managing through tension or misalignment, and creating a group process for repair and progress.
4. Existing knowledge and senior-level connections in state advocacy repro organizations and understanding of state-based coalition and campaign strategies.
5. Experience managing outside contractors and consultants
6. Ability to oversee and support the design, execution and facilitation of large, complex convenings, resulting in clear outcomes and sustained work.
7. Ability and willingness to travel approximately 5-7 times a year, to team meetings, key conferences, and to lead or support in-person convenings.

Core Competencies for all SAL staff

1. Deep commitment to and enthusiasm for a collaborative, equitable, and effective reproductive health, rights, and justice movement led by state advocates.
2. Familiarity and comfort with reproductive health, rights, and justice values and those of fellow movement partners.
3. Builder with the ability to succeed in a start-up environment and help develop structures; someone who can both dream big and bring that dream into reality.
4. Resourceful problem solver who is skilled at utilizing any type of information system.
5. Experience working remotely and building remote teams.
6. Willingness to pitch in as needed; SAL is a small nonprofit and everyone contributes to necessary administrative work.

Compensation & Benefits