Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC): VP of Political

LOCATION

SALARY

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DEPARTMENT

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JOB DESCRIPTION

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee

The DLCC’s sole mission is to win Democratic majorities and build Democratic power in state legislatures. To grow governing power, we battle to win and hold majorities, build their capacity to be self-sustaining and expand the map cycle over cycle to shape the future of this country. As the official party committee dedicated to state legislatures, we also represent and elevate our ballot level on the national stage to bring more attention and resources to this ballot level.

Over the last decade, a reimagined and reinvigorated Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee has reversed electoral trends and shifted the competitive state legislative map in this new decade. While fighting from behind due to Republicans’ massive war chest, rigged maps, and focus among Democrats and progressives on the federal level, the DLCC has won back a dozen majorities in the states – including a historic midterm election cycle in 2022 when Democrats flipped four chambers red to blue and the President’s party did not lose a single chamber for the first time in modern history.

The DLCC is an all-of-the-above committee that operates year-round, providing funds for the full scope of campaign work and running significant independent advertising to win races. The data, targeting, organizing, digital, communications and fundraising support, and strategic expertise we provide to states is invaluable. Winning state legislatures doesn’t happen in a single election — they are multi-cycle plays, and the DLCC’s work with our caucuses to lay the groundwork for future Democratic wins. And when the DLCC secures new majorities, Democrats move quickly on an agenda that protects fundamental freedoms and builds an economy for all.

The DLCC has momentum in our strategy for the decade, and we cannot let up. Extreme MAGA Republicans are showing no signs of slowing down their anti-democratic crusade and there’s a long fight ahead of us that will require more investment, attention, and resources for state legislative races. Every victory at our level of the ballot is a win for the future of the Democratic Party, and this year, we’re capitalizing on our progress so far to defend our ground and keep expanding the map for Democratic power.

Alongside our mission, we also value our team. We are explicit about our culture and values and how they impact our work and collaboration with others. The DLCC staff, along with our Board of Directors, are committed to holding ourselves to a standard of respect, inclusion, growth, and performance that meets the political and organizational requirements of the future we want to build.

Vice President, Political

The Vice President of Political is responsible for DLCC’s political strategy, team design, and effectiveness in building state power. The Vice President ensures that our strategy and the management of our political relationships deliver recognition of this ballot level in the Democratic Party’s political, policy, and electoral power. The Vice President of Political reports to the President of the DLCC and leads a political team of 20, including three direct reports.

Direct Reports

• Deputy Political Director

• Independent Expenditure (IE) Director

• Political Coordinator

The DLCC is a hybrid organization located in Washington, DC. This position is eligible for permanent remote work or flexible work arrangements.

The Vice President of Political is expected to model the values of the DLCC:

• CREDIBILITY: We are respected and trusted in words and actions.

• INCLUSIVE: The DLCC values the unique experience and perspective of all who work here. We strive to make all contributors feel welcomed, valued, and respected. We focus on outcomes, recognizing different people approach opportunities and challenges differently.

• INITIATIVE: We exhibit high levels of creativity in our work and need all team members to proactively contribute ideas to move our work forward.

• RESULTS DRIVEN: Our team undertakes projects professionally and executes them fully and to completion.

• RISK: We identify opportunities to employ new ideas and tactics and execute these ideas when we believe the potential reward outweighs the risk. We evaluate, learn, and improve our strategy, both when the risks pay off and when they do not.

• TEAMWORK: We work collaboratively, additively, and in sync with our colleagues. Our individual work considers the needs, capacity, and expertise of those we work alongside.

Responsibilities

• Develop and drive DLCC’s political and electoral strategy.

• Serve on DLCC’s Senior Leadership Team, driving organizational collaboration, alignment, and execution of DLCC’s strategy.

• Present political context and choice frameworks in organizational planning, budgeting, and tactical decision-making.

• Within the organizational strategic and budget framework, develop and manage DLCC’s political department and execute DLCC’s electoral and political departmental budgets across all DLCC-related entities, including coordinated and IE resources.

• Collaborate internally with all departments to ensure information is freely and comprehensively shared and resources are being strategically deployed.

• Ensure DLCC staff understand the political strategy and reasoning and the state-specific political and electoral landscape, power-building, and infrastructure development strategies.

• Drive effective organizational collaboration and execution within the Political team and across teams.

• Lead and manage the political team, routinely assess resource allocation and performance, and provide feedback to improve work quality and develop skills.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive network of national and state Democratic and progressive movement relationships that strengthen DLCC’s understanding of political trends and data.

• Shape, align, and drive national legislative resources around DLCC’s short and long-term political strategy.

• Convene regular briefings with state legislative partners, allies, stakeholders, and funders.

• Represent the DLCC at national and in-state partner and ally meetings and events.

• Serve as an on-the-record spokesperson.

• Serve on relevant boards on behalf of DLCC and represent its interests.

Outcomes

• The DLCC has the best national and state political intelligence and data available.

• DLCC’s political data and intelligence are timely and presentable for use in setting, evaluating, and adjusting strategy and aligning partners.

• Direct reports are developing the necessary skills and getting the feedback they need to execute successful political programs and manage knowledge and data successfully on behalf of the organization.

• DLCC’s Vice President of Political creates and maintains effective cross-departmental relationships and collaboration and establishes meaningful professional relationships with other political and progressive operatives in similar roles.

• DLCC's Vice President of Political is knowledgeable about new and emerging technologies and tactics being deployed and tested in campaigns up and down the ballot and by other political committees and spenders in the space.

• DLCC's Vice President of Political owns DLCC's political strategy and budget and resource allocations for both coordinated and independent expenditure activity.

• DLCC's Vice President of Political is an expert on the legislative map, political opportunities, and how we build and maintain legislative majorities and power in states and is able to translate that expertise internally and with varied external audiences.

• DLCC priorities are aligned to make maximum electoral gains to influence the 2031 redistricting process.

• DLCC’s Vice President of Political is DLCC’s resident expert on redistricting and supports our partnership with the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.

• DLCC’s Vice President of Political delivers timely and relevant updates and recommendations on political strategy and spending to the executive director and president.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 15+ years of experience, including several of the following experiences: managing a political or progressive organization’s political or strategy departments, leading national campaigns, developing multi-state political strategy, leading progressive organization engagement in political activities, and collaborating with other departments to move forward an organization’s goals.

• Experience with state politics is preferred but not required,

• Mission-driven with a commitment to electing state legislative Democrats.

• Authentic relationship builder, able to build trust and deliver mutually beneficial outcomes.

• Thoughtful, innovative political strategist, able to learn quickly and challenge one’s own and other’s thinking to get the best results.

• A clear and persuasive communicator.

• Strong collaborator capable of getting the best results within an organization

• Experience managing staff and coordinating consultant work.

Physical Requirements

The DLCC is committed to supporting employees of varying abilities and to providing reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to thrive at the DLCC.

The requirements of this role, related to its physical demands, described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully.

All DLCC employees must be able to operate a computer and use a cell phone. For roles at the DLCC that include frequent business travel expectations, we can discuss reasonable alternatives to travel in some instances. Most roles also require communicating with key external stakeholders of the organization in person, via the telephone, or via email. Applicants with questions about accommodations may request to speak with our ADA liaison, Nytoyia Laughlin.

Essential functions of the role include:

● Working from a computer for long periods of time.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will frequently be required to communicate with stakeholders using the telephone, email, and in person (including public speaking and meeting facilitation).

• This position requires the employee to frequently travel across Washington, D.C. to attend events, meetings, and conferences offsite.

• This position will require the employee to frequently travel across the country to meet with stakeholders as well as attend meetings and conferences offsite.

How to Apply

The salary for the Vice President, Political is $195,000 - $220,000 on an annualized basis, commensurate with experience and qualifications. The DLCC offers a generous benefits package, including:

• More than 25 days of paid time off, including for Federal holidays, time off around Federal holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Years, vacation, sick, and personal days.

• Fully paid health/vision/dental insurance for the employee + spouse/partner + dependents.

• Up to 6% retirement employer contribution.

• Employer contribution of $500 to employee’s Flexible Spending Account and opportunity to withhold pre-tax income for Dependent Care Account.

• Up to $5,000 employer-paid Health Reimbursement Account for IVF-related costs or Adoption Assistance, and up to $2,500 for employer-paid Health Reimbursement Account for out-of-pocket dental and orthodontic expenses.

• Up to $2,500 in reimbursement for travel costs to access medical care.

• Monthly $100 student loan payment benefit.

• Monthly $100 mobile phone reimbursement.

• and more.

To apply for this position, please complete an electronic application at https://www.dlcc.org/careers. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until November 12, 2024. The DLCC may review applications after this deadline in limited circumstances, but this is not a guarantee that your application will be considered if it is not submitted by November 12, 2024. Only complete applications through the application portal will be accepted. You must also include a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to be considered for this position. When an applicant with a disability needs accommodation to have an equal opportunity to compete for this position, they may request it in writing by emailing jobs(at)dlcc.org. No calls, please. Applicants will be screened on a rolling basis.

The DLCC is committed to an inclusive and equitable environment and diversity among its staff and recognizes that its continued success requires the highest commitment to engaging, retaining, and supporting a diverse staff that provides the best quality services to supporters and constituents. The DLCC is an equal opportunity employer and it is our policy to recruit, hire, train, promote and administer any and all personnel actions without regard to sex, race, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, personal appearance, marital status, family responsibilities, genetic information, or any other legally protected basis. The DLCC will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination and any such conduct is strictly prohibited.