Sr. Director of Legislative Campaigns

Unite America • Denver, CO

7h • $165,000 - $190,000

About The Position

Unite America seeks a full-time Sr. Director of Legislative Campaigns to join its Campaigns team. Reporting to one of the two Vice Presidents of Campaigns, this person oversees due diligence, investment recommendations, and execution for a portfolio of legislative campaigns across Unite America’s priority issue areas. The role combines hands-on project management and execution with longer-term strategic development of campaign work in a growing organization and fast-paced political environment. The position is based at Unite America’s headquarters in Denver, Colorado, or may be remote. Travel may be expected 2–4 times per month for campaign efforts and broader organizational needs, including team meetings and retreats. Unite America offers a stipend to new hires willing to relocate.

Unite America is a nonpartisan philanthropic venture fund that invests in candidates, campaigns, and organizations to advance nonpartisan election reforms. Founded in 2014, the organization has a team of more than 35 people and has, since 2019, mobilized tens of millions of dollars from philanthropists to candidates and reform campaigns across the country. The organization is committed to a representative and functional government, diversity, equitable opportunity, and a culture of belonging.

Requirements

• At least eight years of experience leading state legislative campaigns, government affairs initiatives, public affairs efforts, or related political programs, with a demonstrated record of success in complex political environments.
• Experience developing legislative strategy and executing sophisticated advocacy campaigns at the state or multi-state level.
• Strong understanding of legislative procedure, committee dynamics, political incentives, and the roles of legislative leadership, governors, and other statewide officials.
• Experience managing contract lobbyists, government affairs teams, consultants, coalitions, or other in-state partners.
• Ability to translate political intelligence, policy developments, and campaign data into clear strategic recommendations.
• Experience developing and managing campaign plans, budgets, timelines, and performance measures.
• Demonstrated ability to allocate resources effectively, anticipate risks, and adjust strategy as political conditions change.
• Experience coordinating legislative, political, communications, legal, and grassroots strategies.
• Exceptional conflict-resolution skills and ability to promote a positive, productive team environment.
• Skilled relationship builder able to establish trust and credibility with stakeholders across the political and ideological spectrum.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to represent Unite America credibly with external audiences.
• Entrepreneurial, self-starting approach, strong critical-thinking skills, and ability to manage details, recognize trends, analyze data, and make strategic recommendations.
• Excellent project-management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities, shifting timelines, and competing demands while maintaining strong execution.
• Strong desire to fix a broken political system and passion for Unite America’s primary reform.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with grantmaking and philanthropic strategy and processes is preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Translate political intelligence, legislative developments, and organizational priorities into campaign plans, tactics, timelines, and decision points.
• Oversee proactive and defensive legislative campaigns across multiple states and adapt strategies as political conditions, leadership dynamics, and legislative pathways evolve.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for state lobbyists and campaign partners, leading priority-setting discussions and maintaining clear expectations and accountability.
• Build relationships with legislative leaders, elected officials, lobbyists, coalition partners, grantees, and other influential stakeholders.
• Coordinate legislative, political, communications, legal, coalition, grassroots, and research strategies in support of campaign objectives.
• Steward resources, manage budgets, and ensure compliance with applicable fiscal, legal, lobbying, and organizational policies.
• Analyze political intelligence, legislative activity, campaign data, and partner performance to inform investment decisions and longer-term state strategy.
• Serve as program officer for legislative grants and contracts, including due diligence, investment recommendations, proposals, agreements, ongoing management, and impact evaluation.
• Assess whether to fund existing in-state partners, retain lobbyists or consultants, help build new organizations, or operate campaign components directly.
• Monitor lobbyist, consultant, campaign, and grantee performance for accountability, timely deliverables, effective coordination, and measurable progress.
• Project-manage concurrent state legislative strategies, keeping deadlines, budgets, deliverables, and decision points on track and developing remediation plans when necessary.
• Anticipate legislative, political, legal, operational, and reputational risks and adjust campaign plans accordingly.
• Establish and improve systems for legislative planning, intelligence sharing, partner coordination, risk management, budget oversight, and performance tracking.
• Convene and facilitate campaign teams, establish clear ownership, and maintain proactive communication among internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide senior leaders with timely assessments of legislative developments, strategic options, investment needs, and recommended next steps.
• Collaborate across teams to evaluate opportunities, assess risks, and advise on strategies beyond campaigns.
• Model organizational values and contribute to a positive, mission-driven team culture.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation of $165,000–$190,000.
• 401(k) plan with up to a 3% employer contribution match.
• Medical, dental, and vision health care plan.
• Unlimited paid time off, including vacation, sick days, public holidays, and team-wide wellness days.
• Family leave, including maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
• Paid sabbatical after four years on staff.
• Training and professional development.
• Wellness resources.
• Relocation stipend for new hires willing to relocate.

What This Job Offers

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