Political Strategist, DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia)
Working Families Party
Washington, DC, USA
USD 85k-105k / year
Posted on Jun 14, 2025
About the Working Families Party
The Working Families Party (WFP) is the progressive party for the multiracial working class, fighting for a nation that works for the many, not the few. We recruit, train, and support transformational candidates up and down the ballot — and run them to win.
We believe that no matter where we come from or what our color, most of us want the same things. We want to earn enough to thrive, not just survive, and leave a better future for our kids. We want healthy food and clean water, safe neighborhoods and a safe world. We want to be free.
The Working Families Party is regular people coming together across our differences to make a better future for us all. We’re a multiracial party that fights for workers over bosses and people over the powerful. We want an America which realizes the promise – unrealized in our history – of freedom and equality for all.
The Working Families Party (WFP) seeks a strategic and relationship-driven Political Strategist to help build long-term progressive power across the DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) region. This role focuses on coalition building, policy and legislative advocacy, donor development, and managing independent expenditure (IE) campaigns—not solely through electoral politics, but by developing deep, sustained partnerships with labor unions, community organizations, grassroots coalitions, and policy leaders. Rooted in movement-building, the Political Strategist will work closely with national and regional WFP teams to expand the party’s presence, lead issue-based campaigns, cultivate sustainable funding sources, and position WFP as a trusted and strategic force in the DMV political ecosystem.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Strengthen partnerships with labor unions, advocacy groups, and grassroots organizations to advance WFP’s regional policy and legislative priorities.
- Coordinate regular internal planning meetings across political, communications, and development teams to ensure seamless integration and accountability.
- Facilitate collaboration with regional Wolf Pack leaders to drive organizing efforts, champion progressive issues, and execute strategic electoral initiatives.
- In DC, collaborate with the Senior Political Director to establish a formal party structure focusing on ballot access, candidate recruitment, and issue campaigns.
- In Maryland, support C3/C4 development for issue-based and legislative campaigns, working closely with allied organizations.
- In Virginia, expand WFP’s presence by deepening relationships with labor unions and local groups to position the organization as a strategic partner in the 2025 state elections and future cycles.
- Cultivate relationships with major donors, labor unions, and institutional funders to sustain and expand WFP’s work in the DMV.
- In Virginia, funding can be diversified beyond individual donors and broadened to include support from labor and national institutional donors.
- Collaborate with the national development team on grant proposals and fundraising strategies.
- Support the cultivation and development of relationships with state-based foundations and 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) intermediaries that share aligned priorities and values.
- Offer and coordinate value-based political services (mail, digital, texting) to aligned candidates and partners.
- Drive and assist in implementing fundraising events, digital engagement strategies, and broader grassroots efforts to build organizational capacity.
- The fundraising goal is to raise between $200,000 and $300,000 by the end of the year.
- Oversee IE campaigns to ensure alignment with WFP’s long-term goals.
- Supervise external vendors and consultants, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and monitoring performance metrics to evaluate impact.
- Ensure IEs and advocacy work reinforce WFP’s brand and base-building objectives.
- Collect and analyze data to assess effectiveness and inform future cycles.
- Develop and drive campaigns around economic, racial, and worker justice issues at the local and state levels.
- Coordinate with lawmakers, allied organizations, and activists to advance progressive policies.
- Track and report on policy wins, challenges, and trends to inform regional and national strategy.
- Develop rapid-response strategies for policy battles and political moments that require immediate action or public positioning.
- Schedule and coordinate internal and external meetings, including coalition calls, campaign briefings, and strategy sessions
- Develop and circulate agendas, take detailed notes, and track action items and deadlines to ensure effective management.
- Draft briefing memos, endorsement questionnaires, campaign plans, and talking points
- Assist with writing, editing, and formatting proposals, one-pagers, and strategic planning materials.
- Support the tracking and submission of expenses, consultant invoices, and payments for campaign or programmatic work.
- Assist with ensuring political activity is properly documented for compliance and reporting purposes.
1) Coalition & Movement Building (35%)
2) Donor & Fundraising Strategy (30%)
3) Independent Expenditure (IEs) & Strategic Campaigns (15%)
4) Policy & Legislative Advocacy (10%)
5) Administrative Duties
Skills and Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in political strategy, community organizing, or campaign management (issue-based and/or electoral).
- Demonstrated understanding of electoral processes and strategy and issue-based campaigns.
- Knowledge of local, state, and national political environment; a focus on the DMV region is preferred.
- Experience managing or overseeing independent expenditure (IE) campaigns.
- Success in donor cultivation and stewardship; confident making direct asks and presenting organizational priorities.
- Experience leading or participating in fundraising strategies such as grant writing, donor meetings, and fundraising events.
- Strong base-building and organizing skills, with the ability to mobilize people, build coalitions, and drive coordinated campaign actions.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to draft campaign materials, strategic memos, or proposals.
- Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to balance multiple deadlines, stakeholders, and moving pieces.
- A passion and commitment to social, economic, and racial justice.
What Else Should You Know
- Compensation: The final salary for this role will be determined based on our Pay Scale, which takes into consideration years of experience, geographic location, and final job description. The upper end of the salary range is reserved for individuals who significantly exceed the minimum qualifications and years of experience. The final salary offer will fall into one of the following ranges depending on where you live:
- National Market (most locations): $85,000 to $91,667
- High Market (e.g., Denver, Portland, Sacramento): $91,668 to $98,333
- Very High Market (e.g., New York, San Francisco, Boston): $98,334 to $105,000
- The locations listed above are just examples and not an exhaustive list. We also offer a robust benefit package for full time employees including paid time off; health, dental, vision, and life insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement plan options; professional development funding; and remote work support.
- Location and Travel: This role is mostly remote with travel to events two to three times per year. Residency in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area preferred.
- Schedule: Full Time. Permanent.
- Union Affiliation: WFP is a unionized workplace. This is a non-managerial role eligible to join WFP's staff bargaining unit after six months of employment. WFP's union employees are represented by the New York Metropolitan Area Joint Board, Workers United union.
- Applicants must be currently authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor, or take over sponsorship of, employment visas at this time.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor, or take over sponsorship of, employment visas at this time.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Working Families is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to economic and social justice. Women, people of color, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and members of other historically disenfranchised populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Any applicant who requires an accommodation in order to apply for or perform the essential functions of the job should contact us at [email protected] with the subject line "Application Accommodation" to request such an accommodation.