NJ Political Director
Working Families Party
New Jersey, USA
Posted on Wednesday, May 22, 2024
About the Working Families Party
The Working Families Party (WFP) is the progressive party for the multiracial working class, fighting for a nation that works for the many, not the few. We recruit, train, and support transformational candidates up and down the ballot — and run them to win.
We believe that no matter where we come from or what our color, most of us want the same things. We want to earn enough to thrive, not just survive, and leave a better future for our kids. We want healthy food and clean water, safe neighborhoods and a safe world. We want to be free.
The Working Families Party is regular people coming together across our differences to make a better future for us all. We’re a multiracial party that fights for workers over bosses and people over the powerful. We want an America which realizes the promise – unrealized in our history – of freedom and equality for all.
The Working Families Party is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented, and multi-talented individual to fill the critical role of New Jersey Political Director. The New Jersey Political Director role includes building and executing electoral campaigns, assisting with coalition work and legislative work, and managing key in-state political relationships. It will also include working with state affiliates and partner organizations on electoral strategy and planning. The ideal candidate will possess significant electoral campaigning experience, advocacy, organizing, and/or electoral campaigning experience, with at least one cycle of electoral experience.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to help shape the future of progressive politics in New Jersey at a critical time ahead of the 2025 election cycle. This position will be supervised by the NJ State Director and includes opportunities for professional development in organizing, elections, legislative work, and communications.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Collaborate with the NJ State Director in organizing and leading election strategy and aligning NJ WFP’s partners on strategy, goals, execution and implementation.
- Develop electoral tactics that build the WFP in New Jersey.
- Assist the NJ State Director with the electoral endorsement process and support endorsed candidates as necessary.
- With the NJ State Director, candidate recruitment and development, including assessing leaders interested in running for office and/or working on political campaigns.
- Develop, strengthen and activate new and existing relationships with partners, local leaders, community stakeholders, and grassroots organizations to identify grassroots and progressive candidates to run for office.
- Represent NJ WFP in statewide coalitions as needed.
- Work with the NJ State Director and WFP Development staff to aid in fundraising.
- Managing legislative priorities as needed, including public testimony and partner collaboration as directed.
Additional Responsibilities:
Skills and Qualifications
- 3-5 years experience in campaigns, advocacy, or organizing, with at least one year of electoral experience. Campaign management experience is a plus.
- Significant experience with New Jersey politics and issue areas. Relationships with NJ elected officials, labor unions, and/or community groups are preferred.
- Has the capacity to design, evaluate and oversee electoral programs and coach candidates. Experience creating and managing budgets is a plus.
- Knowledge of all aspects of electoral campaigning, including field, paid media, earned, volunteer recruitment and campaign finance.
- Knowledge of voter contact tools, data management systems, and digital organizing techniques.
- Managing competing priorities and projects, and intelligently prioritizing one’s time on the most essential work that advances the Party’s agenda.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and motivate diverse groups of people.
- Excellent leadership and communication skills, with a high degree of comfort facilitating meetings, getting to strategic decisions, assessing effectiveness and impact, and quickly pivoting to execution.
- The ability to quickly assess new situations and make strategic judgements.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends from time to time.
What Else Should You Know
- Compensation: The final salary for this role will be determined based on our Pay Scale, which takes into consideration years of experience, geographic location, and final job description. The final salary offer will fall into one of the following ranges depending on where you live:
- National Market (most locations, e.g., Warren County, Camden County, Burlington County)
- $60,000 to $80,000 High Market
- $69,000 to $87,500 Very High Market (e.g., Essex County, Bergen County): $75,000 to $95,000
- We also offer a robust benefit package for full time employees including paid time off; health, dental, vision, and life insurance; flexible spending accounts; and remote work support. Benefits are available after the first month of employment. The locations listed above are just examples and not an exhaustive list. We also offer a robust benefit package for full time employees including paid time off; health, dental, vision, and life insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement plan options; professional development funding; and remote work support.
- Location: This position is full time and based in New Jersey. Employees will need to have a car and be willing to travel around the state.
- Schedule: Full Time, Permanent
- Union Affiliation: WFP is a unionized workplace. This is a non-managerial role eligible to join WFP's staff bargaining unit after six months of employment. WFP's union employees are represented by the New York Metropolitan Area Joint Board, Workers United union.
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 jobs@workingfamilies.org with the subject line "Application Accommodation" to request such an accommodation.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
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 jobs@workingfamilies.org with the subject line "Application Accommodation" to request such an accommodation.