#WeCount Director

The Society of Family Planning advances a vision of just and equitable abortion and contraception, informed by science. By leveraging the powerful tools of science and medicine, we aim to ensure that abortion and contraception practices and policies are grounded in science and center people whose access to care is constrained by systems of oppression, and that all people have access to evidence-informed and person-centered abortion and contraception. To achieve our vision and desired impacts, we focus on the following strategies, as described in our 2023-2028 strategic plan:

• Convening a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and multidisciplinary community of all engaged in the science and medicine of abortion and contraception
• Supporting the production and resourcing of research primed for impact
• Organizing and leveraging research primed for impact
• Ensuring clinical care is evidence-informed and person-centered through guidance, medical education, and other activities
• Developing and supporting leaders in abortion and contraception to transform healthcare systems, and
• Aligning the organization’s governance, operations, and overall resources to be in service of the strategies designed to bring our collective vision to life

A project of the Society, #WeCount is a groundbreaking national research effort focused on quantifying and understanding abortion access in the wake of legislative changes, including the overturning of Roe v. Wade. By leveraging real-time data collection and collaborative partnerships, #WeCount serves as an essential tool for monitoring trends, informing policy, and amplifying the voices of those affected by these changes.

Role description

We seek a collaborative and driven professional to direct the continued implementation of #WeCount, a time-limited reporting effort that seeks to document the changes in abortion provision and attainment following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. #WeCount was initiated in spring of 2022, with data collection ongoing since that time and has released eight reports to date. This time-limited position will play a key role in supporting a service-oriented effort that seeks to ensure evidence on abortion volume is available and in tune with the evolving needs of the many partners who contribute to and use these findings. This is a remote position and is open to candidates living in the US who are within one hour of a major airport. It is anticipated that the person in this position will travel approximately 10% of the time. This position reports to the Senior Director of Research and Evaluation, supervises the #WeCount Data Manager, and collaborates closely with senior scholars on the #WeCount Steering Committee. This position is time-limited, attached to the life cycle of the #WeCount project (funded through April 2027).

Required skills

This position requires a dedicated training in public health, specifically quantitative analysis, and ideal candidates will have a terminal degree (eg, ScD, PhD, DrPH) in public health, data science, sociology, epidemiology, or a related field, with a focus on reproductive health or health equity strongly preferred. Similar to a post-doctoral position, this position is embedded in a robust mentorship structure with frequent collaboration with senior scholars across institutions.

Specific responsibilities

Activities include, but are not limited to, those described below.

Ensure excellence in data infrastructure (10%)

• Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of tools and processes for the ongoing work of collecting, storing, analyzing, and reporting data.
• Ensure excellence in the core data infrastructure, working in close #WeCount Manager.
• Lead the adaptation of infrastructure to incorporate new data points or reporting needs, ensuring scalability and alignment with the initiative’s goals, in partnership with the #WeCount Data Manager.
• Ensure robust documentation and version control for all data processes and systems, in collaboration with the #WeCount Data Manager.
• Manage process improvement efforts, including debriefing report releases and implementing updates to tools and workflows, partnering with the Senior Director of Research and Evaluation.

Lead real-time data collection and analysis efforts to measure shifts in abortion access and utilization (25%)

• Serve as a senior point of contact for participating sites, providing strategic oversight and operational guidance.
• Direct the #WeCount team regarding participant recruitment, onboarding, and engagement, ensuring clarity and consistency in communications.
• Supervise the data collection process, overseeing reminders, troubleshooting, and ensuring timely payments in collaboration with finance and the Senior Director of Research and Evaluation.
• Establish and oversee scalable processes for collecting new data points as needed, adapting infrastructure and workflows accordingly, in partnership with the #WeCount Data Manager.

Oversee data analysis and report development (25%)

• Direct the synthesis and presentation of raw data into actionable insights, ensuring high-quality analysis that meets the initiative’s strategic objectives, orchestrating the application of expertise from Society staff, #WeCount Research Co-Chairs, the Research Steering Committee, and other partners.
• Guide the development and management of tools for analyzing trends and generating key findings, working closely with the #WeCount Data Manager.
• Ensure transparency and reproducibility of data analysis through rigorous documentation in partnership with the #WeCount Data Manager.
• Lead the implementation of processes for imputing missing data and incorporating legal and policy changes into analyses.
• Review and approve final report documents, data tables, and machine-readable files for dissemination to partners and the public.

Translate complex data into accessible insights through publications, reports, and presentations (30%)

• Generate publications for submission to academic journals, ensuring insights from #WeCount data are discoverable in the academic discourse, working collaboratively with Society staff and the Research Steering Committee.
• Oversee the creation of compelling data visualizations and presentations to communicate findings effectively.
• Strategically plan and execute dissemination activities, including webinars, briefings, and targeted partner meetings, in close partnership with the Senior Director of Research and Evaluation.
• Support the #WeCount Data Manager on the development of #WeCount state profiles, showcasing state-specific legal status, trends, and visualizations.
• Respond to requests from partners for tailored data visualizations and reporting packages, working closely with the #WeCount Data Manager ensuring timely and accurate fulfillment.

Provide strategic and operational support (10%)

• Provide excellent supervision of the #WeCount Data Manager, creating the conditions for that position’s best work and aligning with organizational best practices.
• Collaborate with the Senior Director of Research and Evaluation to develop release timelines that align with organizational priorities and partner needs.
• Ensure compliance with institutional review board requirements and other ethical guidelines, as needed.
• Contribute to funding proposals, reporting, and sustainability efforts for the initiative.
• Contribute to implementing our Annual Meeting.

Qualifications

Highly-qualified applicants will meet many of the qualifications below, and have clarity on areas of growth.

• Expertise in data infrastructure design, data collection methods, and advanced analytics, including experience with automation and data visualization.
• Demonstrated command of statistical software, specifically R and Stata.
• Proven ability to synthesize and translate complex data into actionable insights for diverse audiences.
• Strong leadership and management skills, including experience contributing to multidisciplinary teams and fostering a collaborative work environment.
• Talent to responsively engage with diverse partners, in individual and group settings.
• Commitment to the Society’s strategic plan and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Vision.
• Enthusiasm for innovation and developing programming with an eye on strategy.
• Solutions-orientation, with a passion for identifying pragmatic, equitable, and sustainable ways to tackle big and small challenges.
• Ability to juggle competing demands and meet deadlines without sacrificing quality.
• Ability to make and communicate difficult decisions with empathy and clarity.
• Ability to listen to and engage with partners needs and concerns; sees feedback as an invitation, not a burden.
• Ability to build and sustain authentic relationships across lines of difference.
• High level of computer literacy, including confidence using Google Apps, Box, Zoom, Word, Excel, Slack, and Adobe software tools.
• Ability to work independently and with remote teams.
• Willingness to pitch in as needed; we are a small nonprofit and everyone contributes.
• Fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.