Associate Director, Political Affairs

Job Title: Associate Director, Political Affairs Type: Full-Time, Salaried, Exempt

Location: Los Angeles - Hybrid remote (two days in-person] or fully remote based in California

Reports to: Managing Director Direct reports: none

Start date: January 2026 Application closing date: Open until filled.

Salary Range: $87,026 - $104,134, commensurate with experience.

To apply:

Please email your resume to hr@eqca.org

Job Overview

The Associate Director of Political Affairs plays a key role in advancing Equality California’s political and electoral priorities. Reporting to the Managing Director, the Associate Director helps to execute the organization’s endorsement, fundraising, and campaign strategies— bridging high-level strategy with day-to-day program execution. This position manages key projects, staff, and relationships to strengthen Equality California’s influence across California’s political landscape and supports electoral efforts in partnership with Silver State Equality, Nevada’s statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization.

Strategy & Electoral Programs

• Partner with the Managing Director to implement the organization’s overall political strategy, including candidate and ballot-measure endorsements, independent expenditure partnerships, and resource prioritization.
• Coordinate Equality California’s endorsement process—overseeing candidate questionnaires, interview scheduling, research, and preparation of PAC materials and memos.
• Work with the PAC Chair and Committee to identify, recruit, assess, and endorse pro-equality candidates and ballot measures at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Collaborate with outside consultants and campaign partners to design and execute media, mail, and field plans in support of endorsed candidates and ballot measures.
• Provide ongoing support to endorsed candidates and their campaign teams.
• Support Silver State Equality’s electoral efforts in Nevada, coordinating strategy and resource alignment across both organizations where appropriate
• Support nonpartisan civic-engagement programs in collaboration with program staff, including voter-registration, mobilization, and education initiatives.
• Support the State Legislative and National Policy Director in advancing the organization’s state and federal policy efforts, helping to align political, policy, and organizing strategies.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

• Partner with the Managing Director, Development Director, and consultants to raise funds for Equality California’s state and federal PACs.
• Coordinate and support PAC fundraising events—including the annual PAC Retreat—and assist in securing sponsorships and contributions for endorsed candidates and ballot measures.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with political donors, institutional funders, and allied organizations; provide regular campaign updates and engagement opportunities.
• Support the development of fundraising collateral, donor briefings, and reports for senior leadershipand PAC members.

Representation & External Partnerships

• Represent Equality California in political, civic, and community coalitions, advancing LGBTQ+ representation and pro-equality priorities.
• Serve as a public representative of the organization at events, press conferences, and meetings with elected officials, candidates, volunteers, and community leaders.
• Strengthen relationships with political partners, campaigns, and allied organizations to expand Equality California’s reach and impact.

Organizing & Advocacy

• Coordinate the organization’s political and legislative organizing efforts, particularly around local and state policies impacting LGBTQ+ communities.
• Execute Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts for endorsed candidates and ballot measures, including recruiting and coordinating staff and volunteers for phonebanks, text banks, and canvasses.
• Work across teams to align political, organizing, and communications strategies to advance inclusive policies and build political power statewide.

Management & Leadership

• Supervise staff, fellows, and interns within the Political Department, fostering professional growth and a culture of accountability and collaboration.
• Support performance management processes, provide regular feedback, and contribute to department-wide planning and evaluation.
• Ensure timely preparation of political materials, briefings, and reports for internal and external audiences.

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties, and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your role within the organization and the overall operational needs of the organization.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to represent the organization professionally to internal and external stakeholders.
• English proficiency (professional working level) is required for specific job tasks and only when necessary to perform essential functions. This requirement is limited to job-related duties; we do not maintain an English-only policy.
• At least two election cycles of experience working on candidate, ballot-measure, independent-expenditure, or issue-advocacy campaigns (combination preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects, set priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced political environment.
• Experience supervising or mentoring staff, interns, or consultants and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Experience in PAC and/or candidate fundraising, including event organization and donor cultivation, strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with PDI, EveryAction, NGP VAN, ActBlue ,and other political engagement or fundraising platforms preferred.
• Strong administrative and organizational skills, including preparation of memos, briefings, and materials for senior leadership and volunteer committees.
• Knowledge of California’s political landscape and understanding of state and local legislative and electoral processes preferred.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly, including occasional evenings, weekends, and extended trips during election or GOTV periods.
• Deep commitment to advancing LGBTQ+ equality, racial and social justice, and to the mission and values of Equality California.
• Proven ability to work effectively across diverse teams, cultures, and communities with professionalism, humility, and integrity.

Education

Transferable work experience in lieu of formal education is acceptable.

Travel

This role requires travel and overnight stays for events in California and Nevada. Some driving for business may be required. This position will be expected to travel at least 25% of the time. You must possess a valid driver's license and personal auto insurance coverage.

Union Representation. We recognize the Communications Workers of America (CWA) as your role's exclusive collective bargaining representative.

To apply:

Please email your resume to hr@eqca.org

Policies at Equality California:

Equality California is an equal employment opportunity employer. Equality California does not make employment decisions or discriminate based on protected characteristics including, but not limited to, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles (which includes, but is not limited to, such hairstyles as braids, locks, and twists)), creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sex, gender (including gender identity and/or gender expression), sexual orientation, age, disability (physical or mental, citizenship, military or veteran status, reproductive health decision making, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state, and federal law. We strongly encourage diverse candidates to apply, including, but not limited to, women, people of color, people of diverse gender identities, and non-LGBTQ+ allies.

Qualified Applicants with Criminal Histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with the requirements of the California Consumer Reporting Agencies Act and Los Angeles’s Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

Reasonable Accommodations

• Equality California complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the human
• resources department at 213.355.3051 or hr@eqca.org.
  • Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities
  • Act (ADA) and California’s civil rights law, it is the policy of Equality
  • California to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a
  • qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation
  • would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for
  • reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including
  • the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please
  • contact the human resources department at 213.355.3051 or hr@eqca.org.
  • Equality California will ensure that people with
  • disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If reasonable
  • accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview
  • process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other
  • benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the human resources
  • department at 213.355.3051 or hr@eqca.org.
  • It is the policy of Equality California that
  • qualified individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against
  • because of their disabilities regarding job application procedures,
  • hiring, and other terms and conditions of employment. Further, the policy
  • of Equality California is to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified
  • individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process.
  • Equality California is prepared to modify or adjust the job application
  • process or the job or work environment to make reasonable accommodations
  • to the known physical or mental limitations of the applicant or employee
  • to enable the applicant or employee to be considered for the position he
  • or she desires, to perform the essential functions of the position in question,
  • or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by
  • other similarly situated employees without disabilities, unless the
  • accommodation will impose an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation
  • is needed, please contact the human resources department at 213.355.3051
  • or hr@eqca.org.
  • If you require a reasonable accommodation in
  • completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment
  • testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process,
  • please direct your inquiries to the human resources department at
  1. 355.3051 or
  • hr@eqca.org.
  • To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

• • Cost-free medical coverage
  • Dental and vision plans
  • $50 per month for internet; $50 per month for mobile phone usage
  • 12 paid holidays + your Birthday is a paid holiday
  • 2 paid floating religious/cultural days
  • 2 paid personal days
  • 8 hours paid for civic participation
  • Winter Break (5 paid days off at the end of the year)
  • 15 days of vacation accrued per year.
  • $1500 for every two years of service
  • 401k retirement plan with match
  • Company-sponsored life insurance, long-term, and short-term disability coverage.

• Exceptional written,verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the abilityto represent the organization professionally to internal and external stakeholders.
• English proficiency (professional workinglevel) is requiredfor specific job tasks and only when necessary to perform essential functions. This requirement is limited to job-related duties; we do not maintain an English-only policy.