The Ohio Democratic Party is Hiring an Organizing Director
Sarah Ross
Organizing Director
Ohio Democratic Party
Columbus, Ohio
About Ohio
Over the next two years the Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) will build an organization to win highly consequential elections up and down the ballot. With new leadership comes a new vision for our Party, refocusing on the core fundamentals that move the needle. ODP is building back better as a focused, modern, and nimble force to elect Democrats statewide now and in the future.
Ohio is a top tier U.S. Senate pick up opportunity for national Democrats because of retiring Republican incumbents. The battle to save the Senate majority will be fought in Ohio. 2022 offers the chance to take control of the Ohio Supreme Court, make gains under new legislative maps, and win control of state government constitutional including Governor/Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Auditor. These opportunities give Democrats in Ohio early and strategic gains in rebuilding the Ohio Democratic Party.
About the Opportunity
The Ohio Democratic Party is seeking a talented, passionate professional to build and execute a robust organizing program in Ohio. The Organizing Director will design an integrated program of traditional/grassroots organizing, distributed/coalition organizing, and digital mobilization in all of Ohio’s 88 counties. This individual will hire, train, and manage a diverse team of organizing and outreach staff across the state; set goals and reporting for staff and relentlessly manage towards these goals. Equally as important, the Organizing Director will build and maintain strong and trusting relationships with local leaders, key stakeholders, county chairs and activist groups and create a professional staff culture that centers on community, empowerment, and willingness to solve problems.
Qualifications:
● At least three cycles on issue or electoral campaigns in organizing, and organizing leadership roles
● Experience creating clear, transparent processes for voter contact goal construction, accountability, and reporting for all organizing staff
● A proven track record of effective recruitment, management and development of a diverse staff
● Advanced Votebuilder, excel, and digital tool skills
● Comfortable and confident in public speaking, particularly with grassroots leaders
● Commitment to using data to inform decisions, while also maintaining a positive, quality-driven culture
● Access to a vehicle for frequent in -state travel and a valid driver's license for this Columbus, OH based position
Core Competencies:
● Excellent in interpersonal skills and building relationships
● Understanding of Ohio’s complex political and demographic realities
● Knowledge of volunteer and paid tactics, and when/how to deploy them effectively and efficiently
● Clear, effective, high-quality writer
● Highly communicative - responsive to internal and external requests, emails, and calls, within reason
● Multitasker - Able to juggle multiple activities yet not lose focus on top priorities or let something slip through the cracks
● Exceptional time management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities
● Committed to the values and practices of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace
with the ability to take feedback and learn
Personal Characteristics:
● Passionate and thoughtful about what and how they do work and whom they work with;
● Resilient, resourceful, and adaptive to priority shifts and change (big and small);
● Kind but willing to apply soft elbows when needed;
● Realistic but positive in outlook, not ego- or turf-driven, able to focus on opportunities when faced with challenges;
● Collaborative by nature;
● Fully invested in the success of Ohio Democrats.
Interested candidates should submit their resume and a detailed cover letter to HR Director Sarah Ross at SR...@ohiodems.org by July 9, 2021.
ODP recognizes that our success requires we be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and do their best work. We are focused on building a staff that is diverse of race, gender and gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin and all the other fascinating characteristics that make us different. Candidates of color, women, LGBTQI, and more are encouraged to apply.