Arizona Program Manager

Position Description

America Votes is seeking a well-organized self-starter for a full-time position as the Arizona Program Manager. The Arizona Program Manager plays a key role in the advancement of the progressive movement and winning elections in the state. This person will support the America Votes team in Arizona with information gathering and partner coordination on some of the most exciting progressive electoral and issue work taking place in the state. The position works directly with the America Votes team, as well as dozens of progressive partners across the state, in the planning and execution of electoral and advocacy campaigns, the coordination of field programs, and the utilization of best practices to ensure quality plans and maximize our collective efforts. This position is ideal for someone who has some work experience in direct voter contact, is eager to learn, and has a passion for helping others do their best work, loves canvass programs, and is excited about the details and tools that power direct voter contact programs.

Responsibilities

• Project Management: Support the state team in implementing America Votes' organizational goals, including REI goals. Participate in team creation of work plans and team benchmarks for success. Support special projects to deliver on team goals.
• Partner Support: Support coalition partners through the development of campaign plans (electoral, voting rights and issue campaigns). This may include providing technical and organizing assistance for individual partner organizations or groups of partners , responding to programmatic requests, and supporting the implementation of winning strategies. Work with the state data director to support data needs of partner programs. Portfolio may include some tools support including VAN and some grant management.
• Support Coalition Management: Work with the state team by tracking electoral and advocacy programs aligned with the coalition plan, providing technical assistance including scaling up tactics and basic use of tools like VAN, and supporting best practices in our collective strategy. This work may include providing logistical support to coalition meetings, supporting core areas of the coalition coordination, supporting strategic conversations around winning strategies, and/or supporting work groups. Maintaining external communications with partners (i.e. may include weekly emails) and workgroup listservs, meeting follow-up, regular phone calls, etc. Support and create content for reports and deliver presentations to diverse sets of stakeholders, sometimes on short timelines.
• Direct Voter Contact Program Support: Support coalition campaign work on field tactics implementation (like canvassing), including supporting the integration of best practices and universe coverage. Facilitate creative solutions to challenges related to electoral and issue campaigns. Support electoral and advocacy program implementation across partner organizations including script development and program timing and support some partners in using VAN (Voter Activation Network). This work includes planning, implementation and post-program assessment and may include developing systems or updating existing systems to manage the information.
• Program Implementation Management: Lead meetings of coalition partners, which may include work groups on election-related topics such as down ballot (legislative, school board, etc) races. Support events of America Votes partners and allies including coalition meetings and trainings. Support program implementation through the voter file and other tools including basic VAN administration and support in using direct voter contact tools.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• Ideal candidates will have at least 2 years of experience in progressive political campaigns, progressive non-profits or similar organizations (with a campaign focus), or similar transferable experience. Ideal candidates will have experience with direct voter contact and canvass operations.
• Experience working with underrepresented and/or historically marginalized communities, particularly in electoral or political settings.
• Strong sense of ownership and resilience with respect to planning ahead, finding alternative paths when needed, and moving forward after setbacks. Demonstrated ability to move people to action and hold them accountable with and without formal authority.
• At least one cycle (minimum of 12 months) of experience with campaign field operations including canvass operations and script writing. Familiarity with VAN (Voter Activation Network) or similar systems.
• Demonstrated ability to build consensus, negotiate, and strategically disagree within a highly collaborative work environment; ability to be respected by progressive stakeholders, and to be able to practice confidentiality, discretion and legal compliance in the work.
• Ability to build strong relationships with partners and allies and to cultivate those relationships over the long term.
• Ability to work independently and to drive and manage own workload; ability to manage several tasks/projects concurrently and prioritize work effectively by making and meeting team goals.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office / Google Drive with emphasis on using Excel, Powerpoint, Google Slides and Google Sheets. Must have the ability to manage a high volume of campaign data as well as create informational decks/slideshows.
• Ability to travel within the state (as needed); ability to work irregular campaign style hours, especially during the peak months of the electoral cycle. Attend and lead meetings in person one-on-one, in small groups, and in large coalition meeting settings.
• Candidates should have a spirit of service and curiosity, along with a diplomatic approach to problem-solving in work with outside partners and while working independently or on a team.

Preferred

• Ideal candidates will have experience with data and targeting, using data to inform organizing and electoral campaign strategies. Understanding of common voter contact methods like canvass, mail, and phone programs and applying those to persuasion and mobilization efforts, including early vote.
• Knowledge of and experience with Arizona political landscape and/or independent expenditure political campaigns.
• Experience using voter contact tools like Get Thru or Scale to Win. Familiarity with digital tools. High level of competency with google sheets and manipulating a large volume of data
• Experience with vote by mail and get out the vote programs
• Experience administering programs using VAN or willingness to learn.
• Experience or training in race equity/anti-racist frameworks; a general understanding of how power. intersects with gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and class in organizing and electoral settings.

America Votes offers a competitive benefits package covering 100% of employee medical, dental, & vision insurance premiums, life insurance, long term disability coverage, a monthly cell phone stipend, personal professional development funds, parental leave, and 401 (K) after four months of continuous service with the organization.

America Votes provides a generous paid time off policy including paid vacation; paid sick leave and personal days; at least 10 Federal paid holidays including Juneteenth; and paid organizational time off from at least December 25 to January 1. The position is represented by the America Votes Workers Union.