Senior Specialist, Opposition Research
Full-Time
Job Description
Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. Planned Parenthood organizations serve all people with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates, which operate non-profit health centers across the U.S. PPFA also works to educate the public on and advocate for issues of sexual and reproductive health. Formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a separate non-profit membership organization tax-exempt under section 501(c)(4). The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy, and limited electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education in furtherance of the Planned Parenthood mission.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and Planned Parenthood Action Fund seek an incisive and prudent Opposition Researcher. This job reports to the Director, Security Risk Intelligence Program in the Enterprise Protection department of the Safety, Security & Workplace Service division. Enterprise Protection is responsible for establishing operational standards designed to enhance safety & security throughout the organization, at our offices, and for our staff and guests. We partner closely with cross-functional groups to ensure that all of our facilities, special events, staff, and guests are safe, critical to achieving the organization’s mission through safely accessible sexual reproductive health care.
Purpose:
- The Senior Specialist, Opposition Research focuses on the collection, validation, and organization of information related to opposition actors, networks, and narratives in order to mitigate risks to Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), its affiliates, and sexual and reproductive health care. The Senior Specialist integrates opposition research with broader risk information related to procurement, personnel, events, and facilities.
Engagement:
- Coordinate with intelligence and other internal teams on risk, aligning collection priorities with organizational needs and upcoming operational or strategic initiatives.
- Share findings and situational updates with cross-functional stakeholders, supporting coordinated understanding of opposition activity.
- Participate in briefings, scenario planning, and response discussions as requested.
- Contribute to the development of a forward-looking intelligence program that supports executive decision-making and security risk management.
- Foster a collaborative, mission-driven culture that prioritizes discretion, confidentiality, and inclusion.
Delivery:
- Execute open-source collection plans to identify and document opposition activity, narratives, and emerging risks relevant to PPFA, affiliates, and sexual and reproductive health care.
- Conduct open-source and database research to support due diligence on event participants, vendors, partner organizations, and individuals engaged in organizational activities in alignment with established privacy, legal, and other policies.
- Monitor and track disinformation and misinformation narratives that could influence brand, reputational, or operational risk.
- Produce concise research summaries, opposition profiles, and backgrounders that inform risk assessments, procurement reviews, personnel vetting, and event security planning.
- Maintain organized data repositories and knowledge management systems.
- Complete special projects and research tasks as assigned.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
- 2 years of experience in investigative research, intelligence collection, open-source research, or risk reporting, preferably in a security environment.
- Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, Security Studies, Journalism, Communications, Sociology, Criminal Justice, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience conducting thorough Internet-based research, including Boolean logic, search engine, and database resources, as well as utilizing Internet sources, such as data exploitation, and commercial and industry-based databases.
- Ability to recognize and respond to problems with potential solutions in a highly professional, confidential, and sensitive manner.
- Ability to collect, retain, and memorialize historical and recent data on opposition personalities, organizations, and incidents related to anti-sexual reproductive health care violence and disruption.
- Occasionally available outside of normal working hours to support operational needs.
- Ability to work collaboratively and flexibly with a dynamic, fast-moving team, completing multiple tasks with poise, accuracy, and confidence.
- Flexibility and ability to adapt quickly changing priorities and ambiguous situations.
- Commitment to PPFA’s mission and diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly surrounding race equity.
- A deep commitment to Planned Parenthood’s mission of promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health
Salary: $80,000 – $83,000 a year
Travel: Less than 10%
Planned Parenthood’s cultural ethos, “In This Together”, reflects our commitment to building a workplace culture that fosters belonging, promotes learning throughout the employee lifecycle, and recognizes individual contributions to our mission.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America participates in the E-Verify program. Planned Parenthood Federation of America is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a non-discriminatory work environment, and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Planned Parenthood Federation of America is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, customer focus, and innovation.
