Director of Advocacy

We offer a collaborative and innovative work environment, and this position can be based anywhere in the United States. Occasional travel, representing about 15% of the time, is required.

About the Role

The Director of Advocacy is responsible for managing campaigns in 3-4 different states to accomplish advocacy goals, establish and maintain partner and coalition relationships, and create strategies that map out the path to accomplishing short-, medium-, and long-term goals in their region on election security, ballot access, preventing election interference, and other program areas. This position reports directly to the Senior Director of Advocacy and works collaboratively with the Policy and Communications departments to ensure alignment with organizational priorities as well as in-state and national partners.

Responsibilities

• State Strategy and Campaign Management
  • Develop and drive the strategic approach to each assigned state, taking into consideration the political landscape, partner landscape, and policy context to maximize impact.
  • Collaborate with Directors of Policy and other VRL staff to determine strategic legislative imperatives that achieve short- and long-term policy goals, with a focus on both incremental and large-scale wins.
  • Build and effectively manage relationships with in-state lobbying firms, lawmakers and their staff, election administrators, and other decision-makers from both parties to achieve organizational goals.
  • Anticipate and deploy effective campaign tactics in collaboration with Policy, Communications, and coalition partners on the ground.
  • Design state-specific implementation strategies and ensure our legislative successes translate into real-world change and impact.
  • Demonstrate fluency in voting policy in order to engage substantively on strategy and influence decision-makers effectively within a legislative context.
  • Monitor election policy and legislative trends across states and keep up to date with developments, including monitoring electoral and political developments across states that impact state policy landscapes.
• External Partnerships and Coalition Management
  • Cultivate strong, trust-based relationships with in-state partner organizations, coalitions, strategic messengers, and key validators that support transparency, strategic alignment, and co-creation.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for in-state coalition partners, ensuring strong engagement, alignment, and relationship-building that scales shared impact and pro-democracy change.
  • Identify and recruit potential new partners in each state with particular attention given to under-represented voices, non-traditional allies, and ideological diversity.
  • Share expertise, intel, resources, and materials with state partners in order to grow collective power.
  • Support fundraising efforts of the development and advocacy teams, including helping with pitches, validation, material development, and state prospecting.

Requirements

• 5-8 years of relevant experience developing and executing high-quality legislative advocacy campaigns at the state or federal level.
• Strong strategic planning ability with a track record of translating a strategic vision into effective advocacy campaigns.
• Intimate familiarity with the legislative process and how to effectively navigate and organize within fast-paced legislative environments.
• Excellent relationship-building skills and ability to collaborate with the rest of the Voting Rights Lab team as well as external partners.
• Genuine comfort and experience working with diverse communities and across ideological lines — including with conservative, cross-partisan, or non-traditional partners.
• Organized, resourceful, flexible individual with strong time management skills and an ability to work both collaboratively and independently on tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated success as a nimble project manager.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the development of campaign materials, testimony, and other strategic communications.

Benefits

• Majority employer-funded medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan, with up to 6% employer match.
• Generous paid time off package, including:
  • Unlimited flexible vacation leave.
  • 2 weeks sick leave.
  • 13 paid holidays.
  • Winter holiday closure.
  • Other PTO opportunities such as parental leave and volunteer time.
• Flexible spending account for medical and dependent care.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Basic-term life and accidental death and dismemberment (ADD) insurance, with an employee buy-up option.
• Additional benefits include work-from-home benefits, cell phone benefits, and fitness benefits.

Pay

The Director of Advocacy is in the Director pay band, and the hiring range for this position is $110,000-$130,000 per year. The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may also vary depending on the candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other factors.