Elections Director

Salary: $80,000-$90,000

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Reports to: Executive Director

Positions Reporting to this Position: None

Location: Hybrid; anywhere in Georgia with frequent travel to Atlanta and other parts of the state, especially during election cycles

Description

The Georgia Conservation Voters family of organizations includes Georgia Conservation Voters, Inc., Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund, and Georgia Conservation Voters Action Fund. The Georgia Conservation Voters' (GCV) mission is to advocate for public policies that advance a more just and sustainable future, campaign for candidates prioritizing climate and environmental justice, and hold elected officials accountable for their actions and votes. The Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund (GCVEF) mobilizes Georgians to advance climate and environmental justice through education, advocacy, and other forms of civic engagement. The Georgia Conservation Voters Action Fund (GCVAF) campaigns for climate champions. These complementary organizations hold Georgia legislators and policymakers accountable for their actions on climate and environmental justice.

The Elections Director leads Georgia Conservation Voters’ endorsement and coordinated political program, with responsibility for recruiting, endorsing, training, and electing climate champions across Georgia. This role owns the strategy, execution, and outcomes of GCV’s coordinated electoral work, including Public Service Commission races, statewide and state legislative races, and targeted local contests. The Elections Director is responsible for candidate recruitment and training, endorsement processes, direct voter contact (DVC), volunteer engagement, and compliance with all applicable campaign finance and coordination rules.

The Elections Director reports to the Executive Director and works closely with the Legislative Director, Communications team, and external partners to ensure electoral work advances GCV’s long-term policy and power-building goals.

Core Responsibilities

Candidate Recruitment & Development

• Lead proactive candidate recruitment efforts to identify, vet, and cultivate potential climate champions for state and local office.
• Develop and manage candidate training programs, including onboarding, issue education, campaign fundamentals, and compliance guidance.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of candidates aligned with GCV’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Serve as a key point of contact for recruited and endorsed candidates throughout the election cycle.

Endorsement Strategy & Governance

• Lead GCV’s endorsement strategy across statewide, legislative, and local races, including Public Service Commission elections.
• Manage the full endorsement process, including questionnaires, interviews, scoring, recommendations, and board approvals.
• Ensure endorsement decisions align with GCV’s mission, strategic priorities, and long-term power-building goals.
• Coordinate endorsement timelines in accordance with election calendars and organizational governance requirements.

Candidate Contributions & GCVictory Fund Management

• Manage all candidate contribution activity through the GCVictory Fund, including solicitation, approval, tracking, and distribution of contributions to endorsed candidates.
• Ensure all candidate contributions comply with state campaign finance laws, contribution limits, reporting requirements, and internal GCV policies.
• Coordinate with finance and operations staff to ensure timely processing, documentation, and reporting of candidate contributions and in-kind support.
• Maintain clear records of contribution decisions, rationale, and compliance documentation for audit and regulatory purposes.

Coordinated Political Campaign Management (GCVictory)

• Own and manage the GCVictory coordinated political program, including campaign planning, execution, and evaluation.
• Develop and implement coordinated electoral campaign plans with clear goals, timelines, and performance metrics.
• Lead Direct Voter Contact (DVC) programs, including phone banks, canvases, volunteer events, and voter engagement actions.
• Track progress toward electoral goals, including win rates, contact targets, and volunteer participation.

Volunteer, Intern, & Field Leadership

• Recruit, train, and manage Victory interns and volunteers in alignment with GCV’s Ladder of Engagement.
• Oversee intern programming, including organizing training, digital engagement, and campus or community outreach.
• Build and sustain a statewide volunteer base to support endorsed candidates and coordinated campaigns.
• Ensure consistent follow-up, accountability, and recognition for volunteers and interns.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure all coordinated political activity complies with state and federal campaign finance laws and GCV firewall policies.
• Coordinate with finance and operations staff to track in-kind contributions, expenditures, and reporting requirements.
• Maintain accurate documentation and records for compliance, audits, and post-election reporting.
• Monitor compliance risks and proactively address issues related to endorsements, coordination, and contributions.

Coordination with Legislative & Communications Teams

• Coordinate with the Legislative Director to ensure endorsement strategy and electoral pressure align with legislative priorities and long-term policy goals.
• Share intelligence that may inform legislative strategy and policymaker accountability efforts.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to support endorsement announcements, voter education, and campaign-related messaging.
• Maintain clear boundaries between coordinated political work, independent expenditure, primary purpose, and C3 activity.

Management & Internal Collaboration

• Supervise electoral program staff, interns, and contractors as applicable.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director on electoral strategy, risk assessment, and major decision points.
• Contribute to organizational planning related to elections, candidate development, and long-term bench building.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of experience in political campaigns, coordinated political programs, or electoral organizing.
• Demonstrated experience recruiting, training, and supporting candidates for public office.
• Proven experience managing endorsement processes and coordinated campaign activity.
• Strong understanding of campaign finance law, coordination rules, and compliance requirements.
• Experience leading field programs, volunteers, and interns at scale.
• Strong political judgment and ability to make decisions under time pressure.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to environmental justice, democracy, and GCV’s mission.

Georgia Conservation Voters provides paid vacation and sick leave; health, vision, and dental insurance; and a 401(k) retirement plan. GCV also supports a healthy work-life balance by offering flexible working practices, including flexible working locations and flexible hours, extensive time off, professional development support, and holistic health support, including therapy reimbursement