Political Director

About the NYC Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO

The NYC Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO is a non-profit labor membership organization devoted to supporting, advancing and advocating for the working people of New York City. As the nation's largest regional labor federation, the NYC CLC brings together 300 local unions from every trade, occupation, public and private sector of the New York City economy. We represent more than one million workers, including teachers and municipal employees, truck drivers, healthcare workers, construction workers, first responders, retail workers, building service workers, transportation workers, hospitality workers, academic and cultural workers, and many more who are the backbone of today’s workforce.

Position Summary

The Political Director leads the NYC CLC’s political and electoral program, serving as a strategist, convener, and liaison across affiliates, candidates, labor partners, and elected officials. The role centers on building and coordinating collective Labor Movement power through strategic endorsements, voter mobilization, political communications, and grassroots engagement.

The Political Director works under the supervision of the President and the Chief of Staff. This role involves close collaboration across CLC departments to support our mission and shared initiatives. It also requires continuous engagement with CLC Affiliate union political staff to support their work to advance policies that benefit working people and strengthen the Labor Movement.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive electoral strategies aligned with affiliate priorities and broader Labor Movement goals.
• Lead and manage the CLC’s candidate endorsement process, including candidate vetting, affiliate coordination, and interviews.
• Oversee independent expenditure and member political engagement programs in support of endorsed candidates and ballot measures.
• Recruit and coordinate staff and member volunteers for canvassing, phone banks, rallies, campaign events, and other mobilization efforts.
• Collaborate closely with the NYC CLC Policy and Campaigns Director to ensure coordination between political activity and the CLC’s policy and legislative efforts.
• Work with program and administrative staff to manage political program budgets, timelines and resources and ensure compliance with campaign finance.
• Support the planning and coordination of the Council’s political work, including reporting and fundraising.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for affiliate political staff to ensure coordination across sectors and union constituencies.
• Convene regular group meetings with political directors from NYC CLC affiliate unions to promote alignment and shared strategy.
• Provide affiliates with strategic guidance, political analysis, and timely briefings on electoral cycles and candidate positioning.
• Represent the NYC CLC in various coalitions engaged in electoral or political work.
• Build and maintain working relationships with candidates, elected officials, and campaign staff.
• Develop and facilitate political education and training programs.

Qualifications

• BA required, graduate degree preferred.
• At least 7 years of experience in political organizing, electoral strategy, or campaign management, ideally in a labor or progressive political setting.
• Knowledge and understanding of the political structures and key players in New York City politics.
• Proven ability to coordinate large-scale political campaigns across multiple stakeholders and constituencies.
• Experience running independent expenditure programs and field operations including canvassing and phone banks.
• Expertise with political data tools including VAN/NGP.
• Strong understanding of labor union structure, especially in a federation context.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and political judgment.
• Understanding of campaign finance compliance.
• Ability to build strong relationships and facilitate collaboration among diverse stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and time management skills; able to manage complex projects in high-pressure environments.
• Commitment to the values of the Labor Movement, worker power, and social justice.
• Fluent written and oral Spanish preferred but not required.

Work Conditions

• This is a full-time position based in New York City.
• The position follows a hybrid schedule, requiring a minimum of three days per week in the office and allowing up to two days of remote work, subject to organizational needs and the political calendar.
• Evening and weekend work is expected, especially during election cycles and major events.
• Occasional travel within the five boroughs and to Albany is required.
• As part of a small staff, the Political Director is expected to work collaboratively with all program areas. During major events like the NYC Labor Day Parade, Workers Memorial Day, and various campaigns supporting affiliates, staff participation is “all hands on deck” and requires flexibility beyond usual responsibilities.