Political Director - America Votes

Client Overview

America Votes works with over 400 state and national partner organizations to advance progressive policies, win elections and protect every American’s right to vote.

Since 2003, America Votes has been the common link between many of the largest and most influential issue and membership organizations in the country, serving as the coordination hub of the progressive community. America Votes’ work has brought together a wide range of causes and built a unified coalition that has transformed how the progressive community works. Together, they have engaged communities across the country to take action on critical issues – from fighting for working families, to advancing women’s healthcare, to protecting the environment and more – and mobilized millions of voters to turn out on Election Day.

America Votes works year-round nationally and in more than 20 key states, acting as a permanent campaign to continually advance progressive causes. America Votes provides a range of services to partners, including strategic planning, advocacy and electoral campaign coordination, data tools and targeting services, and on-the-ground leadership in key states.

America Votes also works to improve election systems and fight back against efforts to suppress voters, taking the lead throughout their state network to coordinate and execute advocacy campaigns with allies to reform elections and modernize the voting process.

America Votes is also committed to developing long-term roadmaps and setting critical goals for states in 2020. With an eye on redistricting and the consequences of extreme conservative gerrymanders, they are essential to building progressive power in the states, session-by-session and election-by-election.

America Votes and their partner organizations are at the heart of the progressive movement’s effort to win elections. In 2020, the America Votes coalition will deploy their largest-ever voter engagement and mobilization effort which will target millions of voters in key states.

Position Overview

America Votes is seeking a talented leader with a history of successfully executing issue and electoral campaign programs as well as building strong partnerships and coalitions to serve as National Political Director.

The Director leads the ongoing engagement and high-level program coordination of 60+ national partner organizations. Working collaboratively with partners, the Director will ensure programs and elections advance the shared long-term vision for progressive change. The Director will identify coalition-wide priorities and opportunities and develop a strategy to coordinate national and state-based partners’ programs, building a seamless and unique connection between state and national efforts.
 

The ideal candidate will have superb interpersonal skills, with an impressive history of forging strong relationships with multiple stakeholders and the ability to build trust and respect with partner organizations. 

This is an exciting opportunity for a proven leader to partner with the country’s leading progressive organizations to secure victories in 2020 and to serve as a member of the senior leadership team at a high-impact organization that will play a critical role in the 2020 elections.

Commitment to Racial Equity

America Votes is committed to advancing racial equity through organizational systems and policies that are consistently tested, evaluated and updated. Some organizational priorities include:

• Building reflective and equitable state and national networks and partnerships.
• Increasing engagement of state-based groups building power in communities of color in the planning process.
• Expanding the Community Power Builders program, designed to support organizations led by and working in communities of color as they emerge into the 501(c)(4) space.

Position Responsibilities

• Develop and drive America Votes’ strategy for the ongoing engagement and program coordination with national partner organizations.
• Design and direct the execution of strategic engagements with national partners and ensure they are informed, connected and collaborating toward shared goals.
• Provide vision and inspire action from stakeholders.
• Manage political department team in establishing and sustaining relationships with new and longstanding national partner groups.
• Maintain and expand systems to track and report partner programs and priorities, including key states and elections.
• Onboard and engage groups using the suites of tools and services provided to partner organizations.
• Coordinate national partners involvement with America Votes’ planning processes nationally and in states.
• Provide strategic guidance to partners for program and plan development.
• Identify new and needed coalition partners to help build the most reflective coalition.
• Represent America Votes at external convenings.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications

• 10-15 years of campaign management experience, including electoral and issue advocacy.
• Deep understanding of modern campaign tactics, data and targeting and ability to evaluate and execute winning campaign plans with a strong field component.
• Ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds; experience working in communities of color preferred.
• Excellent political judgement and discretion.
• Demonstrated ability in managing and leading coalitions with multi-issue agendas.
• Ability to negotiate, build consensus, resolve conflicts and strategically disagree.
• Outstanding listening, interpersonal, communication, time management and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Willingness to work campaign style hours and to travel, as needed.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Experience with independent activity program preferred.
• Spirit of service and a sense of humor preferred.