Research Director, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, Washington, DC

[Shelbi Warner]

 

DLCC: Research Director

 

Be a part of the team that will be instrumental to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) taking back our state legislatures and—by winning crucial redistricting fights— remaking the U.S. Congress to re-enfranchise millions of voters and end the GOP-led gridlock that’s paralyzing our government.

 

Our task is no less than to teach a generation of voters about the central role their state legislatures play in their day-to-day lives, and in the shaping of the country.

 

The mission is to win Democratic majorities and build Democratic power in state legislatures.

 

Position

 

The Research Director serves as the organizational leader for research and information across the Committee’s departments, specifically focused on political, communications, finance and digital. The Research Director serves on the DLCC Leadership Team and works closely with the team to access needs and integrate research into its day-to-day operations. The Research Director must be able to work across DLCC departments and manage laterally to use research to achieve both short-term and long-term targets and objectives.

 

The Research Director is expected to model the values of the DLCC:

 

·                     Transparency

·                     Credibility

·                     Initiative

·                     Teamwork

·                     Focus on Results

         

Responsibilities

 

• ·         Create and implement a department work plan in coordination with DLCC leadership, other teams, and consultants.
  
• ·         Work closely with the communications, finance, digital, and political teams to help shape communications and response strategy.
  
• ·         Be accountable for the accuracy of all research, including communications materials, digital content, remarks, and other materials.
  
• ·         Possess and maintain a strong knowledge of current events such as state legislative agendas, judicial activity, political news, etc.
  
• ·         Design and execute research projects, adjust work plans as necessary, implement feedback, and edit products.
  
• ·         Create in-state research need assessments.
  
• ·         Responsible for aggregating and cataloging state legislative research into progressive infrastructures.
  
• ·         Analyze the state legislative research landscape in states, drive best practices and research calendars in legislative caucus campaign programs.
  
• ·         Responsible for working with research partners and consultants.  
  
• ·         Ensure strategic research efforts stay current with best practices in public records research and new developments in research resources.
  
• ·         Participate in DLCC strategic planning, bringing professional insight and the interests and needs of the research department to the process.
  
• ·         Work cross-functionally with other senior leadership and staff at DLCC to support the DLCC research needs.
  
• ·         Ensure that departmental resource allocation matches the strategic priorities of the department and the organization.
  
• ·         Ensure all department staff understand the organizational and departmental strategy, have the opportunity to ask questions, and provide regular performance feedback.
  
• ·         Other duties as assigned.
  

 

Expected Outcomes

 

• DLCC research systems provide a timely and accurate synopsis of information related to state legislators and state legislative politics.
• Research and information shared internally and externally is both timely and accurate.
• Research and information is used to support organizational and departmental targets and objectives.
• Be the driver of state infrastructure and work the political team to find solutions.

 

Qualifications

 

• 5-7 years of political research experience.
• Expertise at political and public records research both online and offline.
• Ability to access relevant research information and navigate available databases.
• Skilled at understanding how research can be communicated to influence a public debate.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills to construct and present fact-based narratives that contribute to achieving organizational goals. 
• Ability to manage multiple projects at once, keep pace with the 24-hour news cycle, work quickly and accurately, and have the situational awareness to adjust plans based on shifting priorities.
• A willingness to work flexible hours; this position requires frequent evening and weekend work to respond to breaking news.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational and editing skills.
• Specific knowledge of Lexis-Nexis, campaign finance databases, the legislative process, vote analysis, statistical data gathering, and primary source materials.

 

How to Apply

 

Salary to commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition, the DLCC offers a generous benefit package.

 

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and professional references to jo...@dlcc.org by March 10, 2017. Please reference "Research Director" in subject line.  No calls please.

 

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), is committed to diversity among its staff, and recognizes that its continued success requires the highest commitment to obtaining and retaining a diverse staff that provides the best quality services to supporters and constituents. The DLCC is an equal opportunity employer and it is our policy to recruit, hire, train, promote and administer any and all personnel actions without regard to sex, race, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, personal appearance, marital status, family responsibilities, genetic information, or any other legally protected basis. The DLCC will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination and any such conduct is strictly prohibited.