Director of Politics - Working Families - Brooklyn, NY
Kristin Burgess
Who We Are
The New York Working Families Party is a multiracial, working people’s political party building a NY for the many, not the few. In NY, we are in the fight of our lives. We must secure our party’s ballot line, which does so much to facilitate us doing politics to build the world we deserve. We must also use the moment to create the values-aligned, transformational, people-fueled political vehicle that will nurture and sustain an independent, progressive and working class base.
In the midst of a global crisis, in which New Yorkers find themselves at the epicenter, we must build the party of the frontlines-- to protect ourselves and shape the politics necessary to both deliver immediate relief and ensure we never have to endure a crisis like this again.
Who you are
The Working Families Party has the ability and is well-situated to shape and advance a governing agenda and co-governance model at the city and state level. The Director of Politics and Progressive Governance will be a senior strategist on the team focused on building the political infrastructure to meet our North Star.
The successful candidate for this role wakes up every day thinking about how to advance the New York Working Families Party’s political program through deep and broad relationships with a range of elected and non-elected partners, excellent training and political development programming, and successful campaign design and execution.
A successful candidate will have experience leading sophisticated electoral, legislative and organizing campaigns; a quick and high-level read on political scenarios and understanding of the ever-changing NY landscape; a deeply relational and transformational approach to politics; an excellent facility with written and verbal communication; and an enthusiasm for coalition-building and collaborative, innovative work. This position is building on the foundations of a highly respected legacy organization while developing a whole new approach to how we do politics. Bi-lingual Spanish/English strongly preferred; experience with paid and/or labor electoral programs preferred.
To apply, visit our jobs website.
Success in this role also requires
- Operating effectively in a fast-paced environment, including being willing to get your hands dirty and do what it takes to be successful with a lean team; continuously experimenting, learning and adapting; and holding uncertainty and being flexible while keeping an eye on a strategic North Star
- Building and managing high-performing teams, including a deep understanding of what it takes to produce and sustain great results
- Demonstrated commitment to (and experience in) centering equity and inclusion in your work - removing barriers to participation and engaging people across lines of race, class, age and geography, even and especially when it’s not the path of least resistance.
What You’ll Do
- Develop and Manage Political Relationships
- Meet, engage with, recruit political actors from candidates, elected officials, labor, community organizations, and activists to support WFP’s political priorities and also look towards identifying, recruiting and training potential candidates from movement ranks
- Support and help cohere groups of WFP electeds around a shared platform, strategy, and political identity
- Support Progressive Governance
- Deeply coordinate with WFP elected champions in interpreting and developing and sponsoring legislation critical to working families and communities. Cohere and align WFP elected around shared vision and strategy.
- Support, and lead when appropriate, coalition tables on aligned campaigns around issues of climate justice, progressive tax policy, economic and racial justice.
- Build a Political Program
- Identify and drive highly strategic and successful campaigns from electoral campaigns to political campaigns to shift the balance of power, bring in new people/deepen allies’ investment in the party, and create the conditions for transformational change in our state.
- Help design and lead excellent training programs for campaign staff, WFP staff and key leaders that both teach essential campaign skills and provide strong political development. Work in deep relationship with the national WFP membership experience and political development program.
- Work with the development team on grassroots and political fundraising for electoral activity and manage a political budget.
- Design and lead aligned strategy with affiliate and partner organization for integrated political work.
What Else You Should Know
The salary range for this position is $80,000 to $100,000 and will be adjusted based on an internal equitable scale that takes into consideration years of experience, geographic location, job description. We also offer excellent benefits, including unlimited vacation days.
To apply, visit our jobs website.
We are building a team of highly talented people who understand how to win and to build, and can sit at the intersection of organizing, movement building and political strategy. We have a start-up mentality, meaning that we are actively innovating to meet the needs of our base and to scale our operation, while being committed to deep learning, tracking and evaluating our work. The position is full-time and remotely based anywhere in the United States during the current health crisis. When safe to travel, you can be based anywhere in NY State, though regular travel to NYC and Albany is expected.
Working Families is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to economic and social justice. Women, people of color, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and members of other historically disenfranchised populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Any applicant who requires an accommodation in order to apply for or perform the essential functions of the job should contact us at jo...@workingfamilies.org with the subject line "Application Accommodation" to request such an accommodation.