Ohio Deputy State Director - Cycle Position

Organization Overview

America Votes works with over 400 state and national partner organizations to advance progressive policies, win elections, and protect every American's right to vote.

Since 2003, America Votes has been the common link between many of the largest and most influential issue and membership organizations in the country, serving as the coordination hub of the progressive community. America Votes' work has brought together a wide range of causes and built a unified coalition that has transformed how the progressive community works. Together, they have engaged communities across the country to act on critical issues - from fighting for working families, to defending reproductive freedom, to protecting the environment, and more - and mobilized millions of voters to turn out on Election Day.

America Votes works year-round nationally and in more than 20 states, acting as permanent campaign infrastructure to continually advance progressive causes and win elections. America Votes provides a range of services to partners, including strategic planning, advocacy and electoral campaign coordination, data tools and targeting services, and on-the-ground leadership in states.

America Votes also works to improve election systems and fight back against efforts to suppress voters, taking the lead throughout their state network to coordinate and execute advocacy campaigns with allies to reform elections and modernize the voting process.

Commitment to Racial Equity

As a leader of collaborative efforts to mobilize voters, protect voting rights, and win elections, America Votes is committed to advancing racial equity within our organization and across our coalition. We acknowledge the systematic racism that permeates all facets of our society, beginning with the foundational right to vote. America Votes is also engaging with an understanding of the ways gender, sexuality and other forms of oppression intersect with race and how those relationships impact inequities faced by our staff, our partners, and the communities that we engage in our work. America Votes strives to model our commitment to racial equity through our internal and external operations, programs, and partnerships. We acknowledge the inequitable structures that continue to exist and are moving forward with a sustained commitment in time, resources and people to challenge structural racism and work towards creating a reflective organization and democracy.

Position Overview

America Votes is seeking a talented staff or project manager and mid-senior campaign strategist for a full-time position as Ohio Deputy State Director. The Deputy State Director will take a strategic, collaborative, and flexible approach to their work with the state coalition and the coordination of strategies between state based partner organizations and national partners. The position will have responsibility in supporting the scale-up, direct support, and coordination of canvass operations. They will work with the America Votes team in Ohio and will support advancing team priorities and goals, with direct management responsibilities. The Deputy State Director works closely with dozens of partner organizations and allies within the state's progressive movement.

The ideal candidate will have expertise in electoral field program management, superb interpersonal skills, planning and decision making, passion for direct voter contact and canvassing, and the capacity to build trust with an inclusive, collaborative, and diverse coalition of partner organizations. This is an ideal role for someone with a proven track record in campaign work and is ready to take on more responsibility. This is a management position and reports directly to the Ohio State Director. This position is a 2024 cycle position and ends December 31, 2024

Location

This position is based in Columbus, Ohio with travel around the state.

Responsibilities

• Campaign Planning & Leadership : Facilitate innovative and creative solutions to challenges related to electoral and issue campaigns, short and long-term campaign planning for statewide and ballot level electoral and voter education plans. Create transparency to support evaluation, troubleshooting, effectiveness, and efficiency in progress towards goals. Facilitate ongoing conversations and collective actionable steps toward equity in the work of the coalition and partner members.
• Coalition Coordination: Plan and facilitate regular coalition meetings for organizations to create and share plans as well as progress toward goals; identify problems and new opportunities toward winning elections and advancing advocacy goals. Directly manage and provide leadership in the state with the development, implementation, and analysis of state campaign plans, with an emphasis on direct voter contact programs. Support state director in coalition work including in approaching campaign, electoral, and coalition work through a lens of racial equity. Model principles of equity, diversity and inclusion internally and externally. Be culturally competent and support work to build power with BIPOC-led and focused partners.
• Staff Management: Ensure a safe, welcoming, cohesive, and inspiring team culture for staff to excel in; role model and uphold the organization's values of creating an inclusive and equitable working environment for all members of the team.
• Project Management: Support the state director in implementing America Votes' organizational goals. Support team creation of work plans and team benchmarks for success. Manage special projects to deliver on team goals, both internal and external.
• Partner Campaign Support: Advocate for partner organizations and elevate quality programs in the state, assist organizations in identifying potential resources, and move resources to partner groups whenever possible. Support organizational and team focus on quality service to partners and stakeholders. Lead, organize, and facilitate coordinated and/or collaborative partner events, including coalition meetings, training and direct voter contact activities. Develop and execute training curriculums to advance the partner's program, as well as create and organize resources. Support program implementation through the voter file and other related tools including basic VAN administration.
• Product Creation: Lead and support the creation and development of written reports and products to tell the story of Ohio and support the coalition. Lead the development of content for reports and presentations for a diverse audience of stakeholders. Deliver presentations to stakeholders, sometimes on short timelines.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

QualificationsRequired

• Ideal candidates will have a minimum 5+ years experience in progressive political campaigns with at least 1 cycle of statewide experience, or similar transferable experience and three years' project management or staff management experience, including a track record of fostering a collaborative environment and consistent feedback.
• Expertise in electoral field program management, including outstanding organizing skills and the ability to write, evaluate, and execute winning campaign plans with a strong direct voter contact component.

• Experience working with underrepresented and/or historically marginalized communities, particularly in political and organizing settings.
• Demonstrated ability to build consensus, negotiate, and strategically disagree within a highly collaborative work environment; ability to be respected by progressive stakeholders, to be trusted to lead and to be able to practice confidentiality, discretion, and legal compliance in the work.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize the strengths of others; to coach, manage, and develop them as professionals; and to exemplify a people-management style that is results-oriented, inclusive, collaborative, and respectful.
• Strong sense of ownership and resilience with respect to planning ahead, finding alternative paths when needed, and moving forward after setbacks.
• Ability to work independently and to drive and manage own workload; ability to manage several tasks / projects concurrently and prioritize work effectively by making and meeting team goals.
• Ability to travel within the state (as needed); ability to work irregular and campaign style hours, especially during the peak months of the electoral cycle. Must be a self-starter with the ability to attend and lead meetings in person one-on-one, in small groups, and in large coalition meeting settings.
• Ideal candidates will have experience with standard presentation materials including Google Suite (Google Sheets, Google Slides, etc.) or Microsoft Suite (Excel, Power Point, etc).
• Candidates should have a spirit of service and curiosity, along with a diplomatic, professional approach to problem-solving in work with outside partners and while working internally, independently or on a team.
• Ability to lead and support the creation and development of written reports and products to tell the story of Ohio and support the coalition. Ability to understand and synthesize data, using it to inform strategy and problem solve across diverse audiences.

Preferred

• Experience directly managing staff, especially in a campaign environment.
• Knowledge of and experience with Ohio political landscape and / or independent expenditure political campaigns.
• Experience managing grants programs or fundraising campaigns.
• Strong VAN (Voter Activation Network) skills and familiarity with mail programs and ballot initiatives or willingness to learn.
• Experience managing staff towards goals and building a team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to present and facilitate large meetings.
• Experience or training in race equity / anti-racist frameworks; a general understanding of how power intersects with gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and class in organizing and electoral.

Compensation

Salary range is $80,000 - $85,000 annually ($6,667 - $7083/month), with a potential election year bonus, based on performance and the state's election landscape.

America Votes offers a competitive benefits package covering 100% of employee medical, dental, & vision insurance premiums, life insurance, long term disability coverage, a monthly cell phone stipend, personal professional development funds, parental leave, and 401 (K) after four months of continuous service with the organization.

America Votes provides a generous paid time off policy including paid vacation; paid sick leave and personal days; at least 10 Federal paid holidays including Juneteenth; and paid organizational time off from at least December 25 to January 1. This is a 2024 cycle position and ends December 31, 2024.

To Apply

Please submit a copy of your resume, a cover letter and three references to the application form.

If you experience any technical difficulties with our application form, please email recruiting@americavotes.org. Please note that only applications received through the application form will be considered. Please do not email us your application materials.

America Votes is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. America Votes does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under local, state or federal law. People of color, LGBTQ candidates, individuals with disabilities, and neurodivergent individuals are strongly encouraged to apply.