Sr. Director of Legislative Campaigns

Unite America • Denver, CO

5d

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 role oversees due diligence, investment recommendations, and execution for a portfolio of legislative campaigns across the organization’s priority issue areas. The position combines hands-on project management and execution with longer-term strategic development of campaign work.

The successful candidate will understand the legislative process and be comfortable in a fast-paced political environment. They will be a diligent, dynamic self-starter who proactively identifies and addresses challenges and opportunities and contributes to team culture and leadership. The position is based at Unite America’s Denver, Colorado headquarters or may be remote. Travel may be expected two to four times per month for campaign efforts and broader organizational needs, including team meetings and retreats. Unite America offers a stipend for 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, it has a team of more than 35 people and has mobilized tens of millions of dollars from philanthropists to support candidates and reform campaigns. The organization seeks to build a more representative and functional government and an inclusive workplace where diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives are respected and heard.

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.
• Strong desire to fix the political system and passion for Unite America’s primary reform.
• Exceptional conflict-resolution skills and ability to promote a positive, productive team environment.
• Strong relationship-building skills, including the ability to establish trust and credibility across political and ideological perspectives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to represent Unite America credibly with elected officials, donors, partners, national organizations, and other 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 legislative priorities, shifting timelines, and competing demands while maintaining a high level of execution.

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, adapting strategies as political conditions, leadership dynamics, and legislative pathways evolve.
• Serve as the primary contact for state lobbyists and campaign partners; lead priority-setting discussions and maintain expectations and accountability.
• Build and maintain 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 a portfolio of 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 multiple concurrent state legislative strategies, keeping deadlines, budgets, deliverables, and decision points on track and developing remediation plans when needed.
• 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