Arena Careers

Job Post: Movement Politics Director

Organization: Michigan United

Nature of Work: Hybrid: 501(c)(3) & 501(c)(4)

The Movement Politics Director will lead Michigan United and Michigan United Action’s long-term strategy to build grassroots political power and elect candidates who reflect the experiences of our base. This role will develop and execute plans to take over local and state offices with a unified, values-driven slate of leaders, while shaping political campaigns that extend beyond elections into governance. The person in this role will manage staff and member committees, lead volunteer mobilizations, oversee candidate engagement, and drive political education and direct actions. The Director will also support fundraising, media strategy, and compliance reporting, while playing a key role in hiring, onboarding, and organizational planning. This position requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to building a multiracial democracy rooted in movement politics. Read more about Michigan United’s theory of change here.

About Michigan United

Michigan United is a statewide organization of community members and institutions working together to fight for the dignity and potential of every person. We organize around issues including immigrants’ rights, criminal justice reform, environmental justice, rural concerns, healthcare, and civic engagement. Together with our affiliated 501(c)(4), Michigan United Action, we build long-term political power and work to transform political and economic systems to prioritize people and the planet.

Our offices are in Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Flint. As a racial and economic justice organization, we strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, including those of diverse racial and ethnic identities, genders, income levels, immigration statuses, and lived experiences, to apply.

Michigan United is represented by SOUL of MU & MUA (Statewide Organized United Labor of Michigan United and Michigan United Action). It is affiliated with the Newspaper Guild of Detroit, Local 34022. This position will not be part of the bargaining unit.

Position Details and Responsibilities

Strategy & Power-Building:

• Design and execute the organization’s movement politics strategy focused on long-term power-building, not just election wins.
• Identify and map priority local and state-level races (school board, city council, county commission, state house/senate) where we can build governing power.
• Align electoral work with ongoing base-building and issue campaigns to ensure consistent leadership development and community engagement.

Candidate Pipeline Development:

• Recruit candidates directly from our membership and organizing base (canvassers, tenant leaders, parent organizers, etc.).
• Develop and deliver candidate pipeline training on messaging, fundraising, field operations, progressive values, and co-governance.
• Vet and assess candidates for alignment with organizational values, co-governance readiness, and community accountability.
• Maintain a dynamic pipeline list: “ready now,” “ready soon,” and “needs development.”

Deep Canvassing & Narrative Work:

• Lead deep canvassing programs that bring working-class voters into our shared race + class narrative about what government can and should deliver.
• Train staff and volunteers on values-based voter conversations that counter racial and economic division.
• Feed what canvassers learn back into political education and campaign messaging.

Member-led Endorsements & Campaign Support:

• Coordinate the member-led endorsement process and present recommendations to the Executive Director and board.
• Provide support to endorsed campaigns, including field planning, volunteer mobilization, and coalition outreach.
• Track campaign outcomes (wins, losses, lessons learned) to refine strategy.

Co-Governance & Accountability:

• Maintain strong relationships with endorsed and elected leaders post-election.
• Set up co-governance structures: regular check-ins, shared policy priorities, community input processes, and mobilization for key votes.
• Ensure elected officials remain accountable to the communities that elected them and are aligned with organizational issue priorities.

Leadership Development:

• Work with organizing staff to build structured leadership pathways — volunteer ? precinct leader ? candidate ? elected office.
• Coordinate participation in leadership institutes or develop local capacity to run similar trainings.

Compliance & Partnerships:

• Coordinate c3/c4/PAC activity to ensure legal compliance in messaging and program design.
• Build and maintain partnerships with state tables, labor unions, allied PACs, and other movement organizations to strengthen shared power.

Measurement & Reporting:

• Track power-building indicators, including:
  • Number of leaders in the pipeline
  • Candidates trained, endorsed, and elected
  • Co-governance wins (key votes, budgets, ordinances, appointments)
  • Deep canvassing voter contact volume and narrative impact
• Prepare reporting for the Executive Director, board, funders, and partners.

The above responsibilities are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel classified in this manner. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

• A skilled political organizer who understands both field strategy and values-based messaging.
• Comfortable developing and training new leaders, especially working-class, BIPOC, and directly impacted people stepping into politics for the first time.
• Able to talk about race, class, and government in a way that brings people in, not push them away.
• Familiar with 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC structures and what activities are allowed in each.
• Experienced working in close coordination with field and organizing teams.
• Strong strategic judgment, relational organizing ability, and a commitment to accountability to the base.
• Highly organized, able to manage multiple timelines, stakeholders, and moving parts.
• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy, or a related field OR 5+ years of relevant experience in political organizing, electoral campaigns, or movement leadership.
• Minimum of 3 years of management experience overseeing staff or large volunteer teams.

Additional Job Specifications

• Job Classification: FLSA-Exempt, Full-Time
• Job Length: At-will
• Compensation: $80,000
• Work Schedule: 40 hours/week, Primarily Weekdays with Some Evenings / Weekends.
• Location: Hybrid: On-site & Virtual
• Benefits: Health, Vision, Dental, PTO, 401K, Discretionary Year-End Contributions, etc.

Application Process

If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply via Paylocity . If you are unable to apply via the link, please send your application to [email protected]. Applications should include a resume, letter of interest, and three professional references. Please ensure your cover letter highlights your experience related to the responsibilities outlined in the job description and your commitment to Michigan United's mission.

Michigan United is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As a racial, gender, and economic justice organization, we actively encourage underrepresented individuals based on race, ethnicity, income, gender identity, and sexual orientation, as well as those who share the life experiences of the members we serve, to apply.

Timeline: Submissions will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Michigan United contracts with BOOM LLC for backend & operational support including hiring and employment. BOOM LLC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Those that identify as queer, trans, non-binary, Black, Indigenous, people of color, disabled, parents, are/have been system-impacted, are immigrants, and anyone who has experienced systemic oppression and/or gender-based violence are encouraged to apply. We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment.