Political Capacity Director

Political Capacity Director

The Alliance for Youth Action (along with our sister 501(c)(3) organization the Alliance for Youth Organizing) is searching for a Political Director. This position plays a crucial role in strengthening the electoral capacity of the Network by providing direct coaching and support to senior staff particularly executive directors in the development and execution of their political and electoral programs. This person will also play a key role in the development of a national youth political strategy including designing a template program plan and rubric for evaluation leading to highquality political programs executed across our network. This person will also lead the Alliances participation in key state coalition tables to help coordinate youth vote efforts and target downballot races.

This role will support capacity building of our network to execute strategic programs that grow the political power of young people within our affiliated organizations communities. In 2025 we are focused on developing and implementing a shared political analysis and aligned strategy across the network with a clear focus on defining membership and base building leadership development and local political/policy wins across the network. In 2026 we will focus on electoral/political programs and winning back power in key races up and down the ballot.

Sitting at the intersection of strategic leadership partnershipbuilding and program innovation the ideal candidate brings:

• Deep experience in electoral programs community organizing and powerbuilding

• A nuanced understanding of how race and power shape civic engagement

• A track record of managing complex multipartner initiatives

• And strong skills in program design evaluation and coaching.

This role reports to the Senior Director of Capacity Building and is a fulltime exempt position based in the United States (see Logistics below). Alliance for Youth Organizing is a unionized workplace and staff are represented by the WashingtonBaltimore 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 youthled 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 getoutthevote 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 and seeding new efforts.

Job Responsibilities

Program Support (60%): Coach and support the development of the Networks electoral programs

• Support the Capacity Building team and broader organization in meeting our cycle goals to execute highquality political programming up and down the ballot across our statebased partners.

• Lead in the development of work with our statebased partners to identify downballot targets electoral goals and the strategies and tactics to lead those goals.

• Coach train and develop network leaders to enhance their strategic thinking around programmatic effectiveness and overall capacity to achieve their electoral goals.

• Offer guidance on strategic decisionmaking related to political initiatives to senior network staff and Executive Directors in our network.

• Assist with the development and refinement of program plans through writing and editing support.

• Conduct regular oneonone coaching sessions to foster individual and organizational growth.

• Provide onsite support through visits and trainings as necessary to ensure effective program implementation and impact.

Partnership Management (20%): Develop coalition partnerships to influence youth vote programs

• Lead the Alliance and the networks participation in key state coalitions to shape strategies on youth vote campaigns.

• Work with statebased affiliates and partners to develop downballot targets and clarify electoral goals.

• Foster strong relationships between affiliates and statebased partners to increase collaboration and impact across our network.

• Support the development of external partnerships at the national level to coordinate youth vote efforts.

National Programs (20%): Provide strategic advice and support on national programs

• Work in partnership with the Senior Director of Capacity Building to create a framework for effective political programs including a template plan for our network affiliates.

• Advise on tactics universes and other strategies to consider to meet highlevel goals.

• Provide support to the VP of Grantmaking on the National Political Plan Development and Research by conducting indepth political research to inform the development of the national political plan. This research will include analyzing national and statelevel political trends and identifying key local races to prioritize.

• Work with Grantmaking & Partnerships to support the creation of a political program rubric and the development of tools or processes for evaluating program effectiveness and implementation.

• Collaborate closely with the Senior Director of National Training and Program in running national direct voter contact initiatives to fill gaps.

Qualifications

• 4 cycles of electoral campaign experience with organizing background preferred and at least one cycle as a candidate or ballot initiative Campaign Manager or leading an electoral program.

• Proven track record of setting a strategic vision at the department or organizational level aligning largescale projects with broader mission objectives and adapting to a rapidly shifting political landscape.

• Knowledge of voter analytics and tools that strengthen organizing strategies. Ability to apply insights from data to elevate campaign impact.

• Skilled in coaching performance management and fostering the professional growth of other leaders.

• Experience with developing c3 c4 primary purpose and c4 electoral programs.

• Ability to build trusting relationships with partners network members and colleagues across varying levels of management.

• Ability to cultivate highlevel partnerships with state and national organizations philanthropic partners and grassroots community leaders. Experience leading multistakeholder collaborations strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to integrate equity principles into organizational culture campaigns and coalition work. History of successful interventions in problematic dynamics and advancing racial equity in the workplace.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills adept at articulating strategic priorities to diverse audiences and comfortable representing the organization publicly.

Key Competencies

• Ability to backwards map from a longterm outcome to manage a project from start to finish bringing stakeholders along and meeting hard deadlines.

• Aptitude for identifying and prioritizing organizational needs charting clear pathways to achieve them and navigating complex dynamic movement landscapes.

• Skilled at building consensus securing buyin and motivating crossorganizational teams and partners to achieve shared goals.

• Champions creative solutions processes and technologies to continually enhance program efficacy and meet evolving movement needs.

• Ability to work autonomously and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Holds oneself and team accountable for delivering measurable outcomes. Able to own missteps repair harm and maintain strong relational trust.

Logistics

• Compensation: $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 fulltime position based in the United States. All Alliance staff are required to live within about an hour from an airport with frequent flights to DC and to our network locations; eligible airports are listed here. Moving reimbursements are offered to employees who need to move for this position.

• Travel: Under nonpandemic circumstances domestic travel for this role may be up to 30% of this position. Must be willing to work periodically long irregular hours and to travel as needed.

Commitment to Equity

At the Alliance for Youth Organizing 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 Organizing 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.

Some candidates may feel discouraged from applying if they dont match every job requirement we encourage you to apply anyway.

To Apply

Please bysubmitting answers to the required questions as well asa single PDF document includingthe following:

• Resume

• Three references (we will reach out to you first before contacting them)

Please reach out toif you have any questions.

The Priority Deadline to apply is June 6 2025 with a target start date of July 28 2025.