Senior Director, Campaigns

Run For Something Action Fund

21d•$146,600•Remote

About The Position

Run for Something is seeking to hire a Senior Director of Campaigns. This role will report to the Senior Vice President of Programs. We have re-envisioned the structure comprising programs and communications into one Strategic Initiatives team to generate more cohesion and mutually reinforcing support. We believe that by working toward shared outcomes, we can achieve the vision of a diverse pipeline of prospective candidates recruited from across the country that feeds into the endorsement and candidate support program with the tools and team to tell the impact of our story. The Senior Director of Campaigns will serve as the lead strategist for RFS’ endorsement and candidate support programs. This role is primarily a people leadership and operational management role, responsible for translating organizational priorities into actionable plans, managing scalable systems and workflows, and managing the day-to-day operations of our four-person Campaigns Team. This team is made-up of expert campaign operatives, responsible for driving RFS’ local programs. This role is tasked with ensuring that each Campaigns Team member has the direction, resources, and motivation required to reach RFS’ ambitious candidate support goals. This role requires proven campaign management expertise as well as exceptional people management, collaboration, prioritization and project management skills. As a team leader at RFS, the Senior Director of Campaigns must also contribute, integrate, and hold themselves accountable to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals set by RFS while also playing an active role in fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizational culture. The ideal applicant will also have demonstrated expertise in performance evaluation and staff development.

Requirements

7+ years of relevant political campaign experience, preferably at the local level.
At least three cycles of experience serving as a campaign manager, caucus director, or in an equivalent management position.
Demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and lead high-performing staff
Demonstrated ability to set expectations, provide feedback and hold team members accountable in a people management role.
Ability to make and communicate decisions that shape team priorities across the team, leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders.
Ability to translate board organizational directives into clear, actionable, plans for direct reports
Strong prioritization and project management skills
Experience driving the development and execution of new programs.
Ability to partner with internal and external stakeholders with a high level of trust, accountability, and transparency.
Strong multitasking skills, balancing competing priorities, and meeting rolling deadlines are required.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communications skills.
Proven ability to collaborate across teams and maintain transparency in workflows.
Must be comfortable with extensive written and verbal reporting requirements.
Must be comfortable with traveling 30% of the time.
Must have knowledge of basic campaign finance rules and how to account for time across 501c3, 501c4, and PACs.
Demonstrated time management skills transferable to working a four-day work week.
Commitment to diversity in our candidates and partners; and demonstrated ability to work in and contribute to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.
Ability to demonstrate Run for Something’s organizational values
Ability to work independently for extended periods of time in a remote environment.
Strong commitment to the Run for Something mission.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing remote teams.
Candidate recruitment and training experience.
Experience running for a local or state-level office.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Senior Vice President of Programs, lead the development of RFS’ national candidate support program and goals.
Build a program that is capable of supporting hundreds of endorsed campaigns each cycle, and ensure all endorsed candidates in assigned states receive high-level support on all facets of their campaigns.
Coordinate with RFS Finance and Compliance Team to ensure programming is properly classified and compliant with relevant campaign finance rules.
Translate organizational priorities into actionable strategies and workplans for Regional Directors to implement
Make strategic decisions about priorities, processes, and workflows, guiding the team through competing demands with clarity and calm.
Establish timelines and milestones, ensuring consistent follow-through by self and team.
Develop and manage RFS’ annual endorsement calendar, using key filing deadlines, election dates, and other relevant information to ensure a smooth cadence; and ensure that key endorsement deadline reminders are effectively communicated.
Coordinate across teams to ensure that the technical aspects of the endorsement process are completed in a timely manner.
Coordinate with RFS’ Communications Team to ensure that information on newly endorsed candidates make it into external press releases and other publicity materials.
Own the election tracking process for endorsed candidates: this includes management of RFS’ election calendar, election night tracking assignments, and communication of results to the wider RFS Team (this may include support from team members outside of the campaigns department)
Manage Campaigns Team collaboration with RFS’ Recruitment & Community Engagement Teams; help grow and diversify RFS’ local recruitment infrastructure; this includes:
Align with the Recruitment Team on the cultivation of local recruitment partners, the development of state & local recruitment targets, and Campaigns Team support for recruitment-related events & initiatives.
Work with the Community Engagement Team to manage 1:1 Campaigns Team engagement with advanced pipeline candidates, the development of pipeline-facing tools and resources, and on the execution of RFS’ pipeline-facing events.
Manage the day-to-day affairs of RFS’ 4-person Campaigns Team, consisting of 3 Regional Directors and yourself; lead weekly departmental meetings.
Set clear goals and expectations, provide timely feedback, and support team members in meeting timelines and quality standards, addressing challenges early to keep work on track.
Develop a positive team culture that encourages innovation, allows flexibility, and builds camaraderie, while ensuring key goals and objectives are met; support and supervise direct reports in the development of annual engagement plans,
Conduct bi-weekly one-on-ones with direct reports; ensure direct reports have the requisite guidance and resources to be successful; and identify where goals are falling short, proactively troubleshoot, and implement solutions-oriented course corrections when needed.
Ensure direct reports follow all data collection processes and that weekly reports are submitted on time.
Uplift major/ongoing issues and proposed solutions to the Senior VP of Programs when required.
Manage, mentor, and coach staff in line with RFS values and performance management standards to ensure relevant key performance indicators are met; identify and support areas for professional development.
Attend and contribute to weekly Programs Team meetings, and provide regular progress reports to the Senior Vice President of Programs.
Propose, manage, and track annual budgets for Campaign Team’s programs.
Ensure the Campaign’s Team submits required reports on endorsed candidates, recruitment efforts, and partner engagement weekly; curate and disseminate the Campaign’s Team weekly “State & Local Highlights” newsletter, based upon those reports
Works with the Tech Team to track and manage data related to endorsed candidates and Regional programs
Contribute to quarterly board reports and other internal/external reports as needed.
Identify surfacing political trends, good stories, and other anecdotes that would benefit the broader organizational interests.
Coordinate across departments on the development and implementation of specialized programs (Clerk Work, School Board Initiatives, etc.).
Occasionally represents RFS at private, donor-facing events.
Help RFS’ communications team generate media coverage.
Supports RFS' Development Team, by providing key information related to endorsed candidates and overall regional programming

Benefits

Four-Day Work Week
Unlimited Paid Time Off policy
Platinum Medical Insurance (100% of premium covered for employees; 50% of premium covered for dependents)
Dental and Vision Insurance (100% of premium covered for both employees and dependents)
Professional Development Stipend
Treat Yourself Stipend ($500 a year to do something that brings you joy)
Equipment Stipend
401k
Work from Home Stipend
Cell Phone/Internet Stipend
12 weeks paid family leave
Paid Sabbatical (after 3 years of service to RFS)
Employee Assistance Program
~ Four weeks in organization-wide holiday closures, including a two-week winter break
Flexible, remote work environment
Transition payment for departing employees
401k with up to 2% matching