Application Guide
How to Apply for Director, Care Experience and Engagement
at Ppfa
🏢 About Ppfa
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is the nation's leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care, as well as the largest provider of sex education. Working here means directly contributing to a mission that affects millions of people, with a deep commitment to equity, compassion, and non-judgmental care. The 'In This Together' ethos reflects a culture that values belonging, continuous learning, and recognition of individual contributions to the mission.
About This Role
As Director of Care Experience and Engagement, you will lead PPFA's efforts to design and improve the end-to-end patient experience across a vast network of affiliates, ensuring care is accessible, respectful, and equitable. You will develop strategies to engage patients and communities, using data and feedback to drive continuous improvement in care delivery. This role is pivotal in translating Planned Parenthood's mission into tangible, patient-centered practices nationwide.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve meeting with affiliate leaders to discuss patient feedback trends, analyzing survey data to identify areas for improvement, and collaborating with the communications team to develop patient engagement campaigns. You might also spend time designing a new training program for staff on trauma-informed care or preparing for an upcoming site visit to a health center. The role balances strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and hands-on implementation to enhance the care experience nationwide.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Ppfa Is Looking For
- Proven experience in patient experience, customer experience, or service design within a healthcare or nonprofit setting, with a track record of improving care delivery at scale.
- Strong understanding of health equity and the unique barriers to care faced by marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, and low-income populations.
- Exceptional leadership and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence and align diverse stakeholders across a federated network of affiliates.
- Data-driven mindset, with experience using patient feedback, surveys, and metrics to inform strategy and measure impact.
- Willingness and ability to travel domestically up to 40% of the time to engage with affiliates and partners.
📝 Tips for Applying to Ppfa
Highlight any experience working within a federated or affiliate-based organization, as PPFA values candidates who understand its unique structure.
Demonstrate your commitment to reproductive health and equity by referencing specific projects or initiatives you've led that improved access or experience for underserved populations.
Use the phrase 'In This Together' or reference PPFA's cultural ethos in your cover letter to show alignment with their values.
Quantify your achievements in patient experience or engagement, such as improved satisfaction scores, reduced disparities, or increased patient retention.
Address your willingness to travel up to 40% explicitly, as this is a key requirement and will be screened for early in the process.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your passion for Planned Parenthood's mission and how your personal or professional background aligns with their commitment to equitable care.", "Specific examples of how you've used patient feedback and data to redesign care experiences and improve outcomes.", 'Your ability to lead cross-functional teams and collaborate with affiliates or similar decentralized networks to drive change.', 'How you would approach engaging patients and communities to co-create solutions, ensuring diverse voices are heard.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Familiarize yourself with PPFA's structure: the difference between the national office and independent affiliates, and how they collaborate.
- → Research recent PPFA initiatives or reports on patient experience, health equity, and community engagement to understand current priorities.
- → Understand the political and legal landscape surrounding reproductive health care in the U.S., including recent legislation and its impact on care delivery.
- → Look into the 'In This Together' cultural ethos and how it manifests in PPFA's workplace, as it will likely be a topic in interviews.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Avoid generic language about 'helping people' without connecting it to Planned Parenthood's specific mission and the role's focus on care experience.
- Do not overlook the federated model of PPFA; failing to acknowledge the affiliate structure and its implications for implementing change is a common mistake.
- Avoid downplaying the importance of travel; if you are not genuinely willing to travel up to 40%, this role may not be a fit.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!