Mobilization and Campaigns Director

The Alliance for Youth Action (along with our sister 501(c)(3) organization the Alliance for Youth Organizing) is searching for a Mobilization and Campaigns Director who will lead programs that serve the leadership and staff of our multiracial affiliate network to create and execute strategic and effective advocacy, electoral, base building, and civic engagement campaigns. We are looking for someone with experience running advocacy and/or electoral programs who enjoys coaching and supporting staff to become better organizers, managers, and campaigners.

This role reports to the Vice President of Capacity Building, manages one staff position, and is a full-time position based in the United States with an end date of December 31, 2024, with the possibility for extension depending on organizational needs. (see Logistics, below). Alliance for Youth Organizing is a unionized workplace, and staff are represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, Local 32035; this is a management position that is not in the bargaining unit.

About the Alliance for Youth Action

The Alliance convenes, supports, and scales a national network of youth-led, locally rooted organizations growing civic engagement and social justice coast to coast. We truly are a multiracial network “of young people, by young people, for all people.” Our Affiliates and Partners run massive voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, train new young leaders, and run powerful campaigns to win on the progressive issues our generation cares about most. Our national team empowers this work by tracking down national resources for the network, building capacity for local groups, seeding new efforts, and coordinating national issue campaigns.

This role sits in the Capacity Building Department. This role will work alongside a second Director-level role in the department who supports capacity building on functions of an organization such as finance, development, or operations. This role will support capacity building to execute strategic programs that grow the political power of young people within our affiliated organization’s communities.

Please note: this role will not be developing national electoral or advocacy campaigns. This person will be an advisor and coach to staff at our network organizations who create their own statewide/local plans.

Job Responsibilities

Capacity Building 60% | Create services to build capacity in our network organizations so they have the tools to design and implement effective advocacy, base-building, civic engagement, and electoral programs.

Creating sample electoral and advocacy plans, templates, or other guides that help provide the framework for staff at network organizations.
Managing a Training Manager to develop and lead an issue and advocacy campaign training program and revamp our Shared Resource Library, creating virtual boot camps for campaign planning or other needed skills, and developing materials for in-person trainings and conferences.
Creating and facilitating virtual cohort/affinity group spaces for mobilization, organizing, advocacy, and field staff at network organizations.
Supporting network organizations in integrating advocacy programs with growing base building and electoral programs; including scaling existing programs and preparedness for rapid response.

Staff and Project Management 40% | Providing infrastructure to support requests and coordinate an effective team to support our network.

Manage Training Manager and potentially project managing other consultants and/or part time employees
Coordinating with expert consultants to give bespoke training and support to key affiliates
Providing tailored hands-on support to staff across the network based on agreed-upon goals and deliverables.
Work with other Alliance staff and stakeholders to design and implement multi-organizational training programs.

Key Qualifications & Experience

Baseline Skills
Ideal candidates will have at least five years of experience in similar roles with progressive political campaigns or similar organizations, with at least three years in a managerial level.
There are no formal education requirements for this position.
Experience working with underrepresented and/or diverse communities and an understanding of how disenfranchised communities can build power through organizing.
Ability to manage multiple projects, plan backward, anticipate obstacles, troubleshoot, and make smart judgment calls as needed.
A minimum of three years of previous staff management experience is preferred.
Electoral experience managing organizers, writing state plans, etc. Previous experience working in the states of the Alliance network is preferred but not required (AZ, FL, GA, MI, MS, MT, NC, NV, OH, TX, WI).
Organizing experience as a field, campus, or community organizer, working with voters and volunteers. Experience with youth organizing is preferred but not required.
Knowledge and/or relationships with c3 and c4 infrastructure groups and of the progressive ecosystem as a whole. This includes organizations such as State Voices, America Votes, and the Analyst Institute.
Comfort with technology and virtual communication systems, including Zoom, Google Hangouts, Slack, Asana, etc.
Training and Management
Proven ability to work collaboratively and project manage across teams to ensure goals, deliverables, and deadlines are met.
Track record of developing and maintaining trusting relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, an ability to meet people where they are, find common ground, and inspire collective action. Patience and the ability to work well with people who have various skill/experience levels.
Experience working with federated organization structure is preferred but not required.
Experience leading group and one-on-one trainings (in-person and virtual) to audiences with varying levels of technical skill.

Logistics

Compensation: $79,167 - $110,833 per year commensurate with experience.
Benefits: The Alliance offers a competitive benefits package covering:
Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance covering
100% of employee premiums
75% of premiums for employee dependents
Employer retirement contributions (SEP IRA) of 5% of salary
Employer paid life insurance, short and long term disability income protection insurance
Cell phone and internet stipends of $100 per month
WMATA transportation Smartbenefits for staff located in the DMV area
Professional development opportunities and funds
Generous paid time off policy through which staff accrue 10 hours of PTO per month
Unlimited sick leave
Paid family and medical leave up to 16 weeks
Paid Sabbatical (after 4 years of service)
15 paid holidays
Potential for end of year or other bonuses
Location: This is a full time position based in the United States. All Alliance staff are required to live within about an hour from major airports in most US states; more detail will be provided to finalists as relevant. Moving reimbursements are offered to employees who need to move for this position.
Travel: This position will include travel up to four times per year for all staff and departmental retreats, as well as other periodic travel to support Alliance Network organizations. Must be willing to work periodically long, irregular hours and to travel as needed.
COVID-19: At the Alliance, we require staff to be fully vaccinated and boosted, with reasonable exemptions for religious or medical needs.
End date: This position has an end date of December 31, 2024, with the possibility of extension based on organizational needs.

Commitment to Equity

At the Alliance for Youth Action, we want to create a world where our democracy works for everyone and where all people – no matter where they come from, what they look like, or how they identify – live in loving, safe, and thriving communities. As such, we value diversity and equity as central to our work. The Alliance for Youth Action is an equal opportunity employer and an inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. People of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, people of diverse sexual orientations, gender expressions, and identities are encouraged to apply.

Research suggests that women and Black, Indigenous and people of color may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who believes they have the skills and the drive necessary to succeed here to apply for this role.

To Apply

Please submit an application, and submit a single pdf document including the following:

Resume
A one-page cover letter that includes answers to the questions below:
Why are you interested in this role, particularly the coaching and training functions?
What excites you about youth organizing?

The Alliance has contracted with Falling Leaves LLC for backend and operational support around recruitment and hiring. Please reach out to Alvina Yeh (alvina@allianceforyouthorganizing.recruitee.com) with any questions.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. The ideal start date for this position is no later than March 25, 2024.