Scholten for Congress: Political Director

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JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Summary:

The Political Director is a senior member of the Scholten for Congress campaign team responsible for developing and executing the political strategy for an incumbent U.S. House member in a competitive district. This person will be the lead staff member on the ground, overseeing the management of multiple staffers and interns while working to help build up our long-term campaign infrastructure and leadership profile. They will manage the campaign’s relationships with party leaders, labor unions, advocacy groups, local stakeholders, coalition partners, and donors to build and sustain support for the candidate.

The ideal candidate is someone who prioritizes responsiveness, creativity, and is able to effectively lead a small but mighty team. While we would love to have someone in this role who already calls Michigan home, we are more than happy to show someone why West Michigan is a place where they’d love to stay.

Key Responsibilities:

Staff Management & Volunteer Programs

• Supervise campaign interns and staff, including day-to-day task management and oversight of Democracy Summer or similar fellowships.

• Lead staff hiring, onboarding, and training processes in coordination with the Chief of Staff.

• Coordinate and manage volunteers, petition programs, and grassroots engagement efforts.

Political Strategy Development

• Work with the Chief of Staff to design and implement a political strategy aligned with the campaign’s overall goals.

• Identify and engage key political stakeholders and constituencies in the district. Relationship Management

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with local, state, and national political leaders, party organizations, elected officials, unions, and key advocacy groups.

• Interface with donors, from first-time hosts to seasoned friends of the campaign to ensure effective, responsive communication and well-built events.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for endorsements and coalition-building efforts.

_Political & Coalition Engagement _

• Design and execute a political plan that supports broad coalition-building within the district and nationally.

• Cultivate relationships with local leaders, elected officials, party infrastructure, unions, and political organizations.

• Lead endorsement outreach and management, including tracking, follow-ups, and completing questionnaires.

_Fundraising & Finance Coordination _

• Work closely with finance consultants and the compliance team to manage financial goals, reports, and donor strategy.

• Oversee call time operations including prep, strategy, CT memos, staffing, follow-ups, and CTAI/NGP updates alongside junior finance staff.

• Coordinate national fundraising strategies, prioritizing high-impact events and donor outreach.

• Draft and send donor communications including newsletters, direct mail, and acknowledgments, in coordination with other staff members.

• Work with the finance team to manage the campaign’s finance plan, coordinate fundraising events, maintain documentation, and prepare finance reports.

• Oversee coordination with digital vendors, reviewing content drafts and ensuring alignment with overall messaging strategy.

_Compliance, Budget, and Operations _

• Liaise with the compliance firm on FEC and state finance reports and other campaign compliance needs.

• Draft and manage campaign budgets (especially in off-year planning) and oversee day-to-day financial workflows.

• Process invoices, review financial reports, maintain up-to-date records, and lead coordination of reimbursements.

• Maintain internal systems including Google Drive, NGP, CTAI, and overall campaign records.

• Manage payroll approvals and internal team reimbursements.

• Coordinate scheduling and logistical overlap between campaign and official side.

Qualifications:

• Preferred 2–4 years of experience in political campaigns, government, or advocacy roles

• Strong understanding of the political landscape at the local, state, and federal levels

• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders

• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills

• Highly organized, self-motivated, and capable of working in a fast-paced environment

• Familiarity with the district and its communities is a strong plus

• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as needed

To Apply:

Please send a resume, cover letter, and 2–3 references to [email protected] with the subject line “Political Director – LAST NAME.”

Scholten for Congress is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. We strongly value the diversity of our employees and encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply, including women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQIA community