Wisconsin State Director

Working Families Party has been in Wisconsin for nearly a decade, and has accrued relationships with many elected officials and grassroots organizational partners in Milwaukee and across the state, as well as a reputation for strong electoral programs and training. After playing key roles in a number of recent elections, in the coming years we seek to grow the electoral coalition building and tactics of Working Families Party in Wisconsin. Additionally we aim to recruit, train and formalize a state committee that will apply for a charter and become responsible for local endorsements.

The WI State Director is responsible for developing the WI chapter of the Working Families Party, a political party of, by and for the multiracial working class. The State Director drives the strategy and vision for the development, growth, stability and power of the Working Families Party (527 PAC) and Working Families Power (c4) in Wisconsin. In this role, the State Director will maintain relationships with key electeds, candidates, and grassroots organizational leaders; ensure the execution of endorsement processes; develop and implement issue and electoral campaign activities; recruit and manage a diverse and talented team of staff and consultants; support a robust and aggressive communications program including being a spokesperson for the organization; build WFP as an organizing shop with strong member engagement and grassroots power; raise funds for the Party’s program and coalition partners; and oversee the legal and administrative functions to stay in compliance with federal and local reporting and laws. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Works with allied organizations and leaders to sets organizational priorities, and multi-county electoral electoral and issue programs for the state;
• Raises $500k+ annually to carry out the objectives of the organization and to grow the capacity of the organization to set more ambitious goals over time;
• Serves as the chief spokesperson for the WI Party and the broader progressive coalition in the state; generates media attention and builds public awareness of Working Families initiatives and campaigns;
• Recruits and staffs an organizing committee to begin the process of applying for a WFP local charter and building local bylaws
• Devises and executes the electoral and issue strategy of the organization;
• Builds a political network: cultivates relationships with allies, partners, constituency leaders, elected officials and their staff, stakeholders, donors, and foundations to expand Working Families’ base of support;
• Holds values-based alignment and processes to move stakeholders through complex decision making and process; 
• High emotional intelligence and ability to meet a wide range of WFP stakeholders where they are, from staff to elected officials to Party leaders and beyond; 
• Recruits, hires, trains and manages talented staff to carry out the organization’s mission;
• Ensures that the organization operates according to democratic rules of governance and in compliance with local, state and federal laws;

Skills and Qualifications

• Required:
• 7 or more years of relevant professional experience. Relevant experience includes (but is not limited to) working in political, policy, union, advocacy, legal, journalistic, or government settings;
• Strong management skills and at least 3 years of supervisory experience;
• Demonstrated fundraising experience;
• Excellent relational and coalition building skills;
• Excellent analytical skills and sound judgment;
• Strong verbal and writing skills; the ability to communicate persuasively in a charged atmosphere;
• Must be a results-oriented self-starter able to work under significant pressure on several projects at one time;
• Commitment to organizing in the pursuit of social and economic justice; and
• Experience with electoral tactics and tech tools including but not limited to VAN or other voter file, mobilize.us, P2P text, broadcast sms, predictive dialers, canvassing apps, relational apps, etc.
• Valid driver’s license

Preferred not required:

• Existing relationships with WI progressive and working class elected officials and 501c4 and PAC grassroots organizations and coalitions;
• Network of potential funders, individual donors, or volunteers in WI;
• Experience recruiting and building a board of directors or similar body; and
• Desirable fluency in second language, preferably Spanish or one spoken by the multiracial working class
• Regular access to a car for in-state travel