Senior Director of Political Strategy and Partnerships

ProgressNow • Richmond, VA

1d • Remote

About The Position

ProgressNow is seeking a Senior Director of Political Strategy and Partnerships to strengthen connections between our state affiliates and the broader movement, including national organizations and stakeholders. This is a senior role for someone who excels at building relationships and identifying opportunities for collaboration. You will help create access and opportunities for affiliate leaders by building and leveraging relationships in Washington, DC and nationally, while also serving as a strategic partner to state affiliates. This role reports to the Managing Director and manages the Advocacy Manager. While this position is remote, preference for this role will be given to candidates in the Washington, DC metro area, or within a reasonable commuting distance.

Requirements

• A strong political relationship-builder with 7-10 years experience navigating national advocacy or electoral spaces.
• Well-connected or able to quickly build relationships within national progressive networks.
• A strategic thinker who can identify opportunities and connect people and organizations effectively.
• A clear and confident communicator.
• Comfortable managing high-profile relationships, events, and partners.
• Strong at managing multiple priorities and relationships across a large network.
• Adaptable in fast-paced, evolving environments.
• Committed to progressive values and building collective power.
• Experience in political campaigns or advocacy campaigns.
• Strong track record of building and maintaining external relationships.
• Experience working across multiple organizations or stakeholders.
• Experience managing consultants, vendors, or coalitions.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with progressive, state-based organizations or affiliate networks.
• Experience with event strategy and execution, including convenings or conferences.
• Familiarity with communications, digital strategy, or campaign planning, particularly in a 501(c)4 environment.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with national movement and labor partners, funders, and coalitions.
• Identify and create opportunities for ProgressNow and ProgressNow affiliates to engage with key national figures, including facilitating introductions, meetings, and creating opportunities for collaboration.
• Represent ProgressNow and its affiliates in DC-based and national spaces.
• Track trends in the political and advocacy landscape and translate them into opportunities for the network.
• Build strong relationships with affiliate executive directors.
• Support affiliates in navigating strategic decisions, challenges, and opportunities.
• Connect affiliates to resources, partners, and opportunities that strengthen their work and impact.
• Provide strategic guidance to affiliates on advocacy and electoral campaigns as needed.
• Help shape and strengthen ProgressNow’s external brand and positioning within the broader movement.
• Work in close partnership with development staff to manage donor relationships and help convert political and partner connections into funding opportunities.
• Lead planning and execution of key network convenings, including Commference.
• Ensure events reflect organizational priorities and deliver value to affiliates and partners.
• Identify opportunities to elevate affiliate work and amplify network impact externally.
• Manage external consultants and vendors supporting partnerships, external communications, and events.
• Align consultant work with organizational priorities and ensure strong coordination with internal teams.
• Contribute to organization-wide strategy and decision-making as a member of the senior leadership team.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams to align affiliate needs, external partnerships, and organizational priorities.
• Support department planning and workload management to ensure execution across shared departmental priorities.
• Directly supervise one staff member, providing ongoing mentorship and coaching.
• Conduct regular check-ins, performance conversations and annual evaluations.

Benefits

• Unlimited vacation with a requirement that each staff member take at least 2 weeks each year.
• Eight paid holidays as well as an office closure annually between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• Employer-paid health, vision, and dental insurance
• A 401K plan with 3% employer match
• Annual professional development stipend

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed