Director of Candidate Training Programs

General Responsibilities

Reporting to the Vice President of U.S. Programs, the Director of Candidate Training Programs will lead LGBTQ+ Victory Institute’s efforts to train LGBTQ+ people to secure positions in public service. This will include leading its signature Candidate & Campaign Trainings –bootcamp programs to train LGBTQ+ people to run for office – as well as specialized trainings and programs for LGBTQ+ candidates and elected officials. The Director of Candidate Training Programs serves as both a strategic leader and public-facing representative of the organization’s training programs, helping cultivate the next generation of LGBTQ+ public leaders and strengthening the organization’s national reach and impact.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic vision, growth, and implementation of several annual Candidate & Campaign Trainings (CCT) – from virtual one-hour programs to a full four-day bootcamp.
• Oversee participant recruitment, management of trainers, curriculum support, and event and venue logistics.
• Proactively ensure training participation reflects the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community.
• Design, develop, and continuously refine comprehensive leadership development curricula for LGBTQ+ candidates, campaign professionals, elected officials, and movement leaders.
• Create annual training goals, program timelines, and expansion strategies aligned with organizational priorities.
• Develop mechanisms for collecting participant data and evaluations to improve trainings and ensure diverse participation.
• Track key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess program impact, reach, and effectiveness.
• Oversee and support several programs auxiliary to trainings, including but not limited to the Victory Empowerment Fellowship, Trans Training Extension program, and LGBTQ+ Women Training Extension program.
• Seek and cultivate partnerships with external organizations and stakeholders to create opportunities that increase and/or expand training efforts and impact.
• Collaborate across the organization to build out visibility for Victory’s leadership development and training programs.
• Lead and support efforts for programmatic alumni engagement, including virtual convenings and in-person opportunities.
• Support other Victory Institute programs as needed, including the annual International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from four-year college or university; plus at least six years of related experience and/or training; or equivalent of education and/or experience.
• Experience as a trainer or in training management, with political or candidate training experience preferred.
• Strong facilitation and public speaking skills with experience engaging diverse audiences.
• Experience developing and/or executing curriculum plans strongly preferred.
• Able to manage projects independently and effectively.
• Able to collect, manage and execute on actionable tasks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to cultivate positive working relationships internally and externally.
• Ability and willingness to travel.
• Demonstrated passion for LGBTQ+ equality, representation, and public leadership.

Position Location and Schedule

Position location is Washington, DC, with a hybrid schedule of 3-days in-office. The position requires frequent travel including on weekends.

Pay

The salary for this position is $80,000 – $95,000. Please include salary requirements in your materials.

Benefits

Full-time staff are eligible for Victory Institute’s comprehensive benefits package including medical, vision, dental, health reimbursement account, medical flexible spending account, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, 401k, parental leave and generous paid time off.

Application

Victory Institute is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

To Apply: Send a resume and cover letter, along with salary requirements and how you learned about this opportunity to jobs@victoryinstitute.org. No phone calls or walk-ins please. For best consideration, please submit your materials before June 30, 2026.