Campaign Director – National Paid Leave Campaign

The National Partnership for Women & Families seeks a politically-savvy, highly motivated federal campaign director with an established record of success advancing a federal legislative issue campaign. This is a terrific position for a seasoned campaign leader with a passion for gender, race and economic equity, a can-do attitude and a desire to be part of a dynamic, collaborative team that works closely with external partners in government, advocacy, business and the media to advance a national policy goal. Candidates who are passionate about fighting for women who are most often marginalized are highly encouraged to apply.

The goal of the National Partnership's national paid leave campaign is to win a national paid family and medical leave law in the next three to five years, building on federal momentum, state-level victories and private-sector advances that have distinguished the organization’s and the paid leave movement’s work over the last few years. A national paid leave policy will substantially improve the lives of 100 million+ working people in the United States who do not have paid family and medical leave now – especially women of color, women who are paid low wages, people with disabilities and their family caregivers, who are often disproportionately forced to make difficult choices because of their inability to access paid leave. A national paid leave plan should guarantee all working people time to care without suffering financial devastation when a new child arrives or a personal or family member’s serious illness or injury strikes. This victory will help change our country’s culture to recognize the value and dignity of care, promote gender and economic equity, strengthen the U.S. economy and advance U.S. competitiveness in the world.

Position Summary

The campaign director will help create and execute a holistic strategy intended to win a national paid leave law, building on the National Partnership’s and our allies’ strengths and developing new capacity and relationships with passion and creativity. The person in this position will focus simultaneously on the national and state policy and political landscapes and federal legislative dynamics, with the ability to see – and seize – opportunities to advance the campaign’s policy goals. The campaign director will work jointly with the campaign’s communications director and under the supervision of the vice president for workplace policies and strategies. They will join and manage members of a dynamic and committed team and will work closely with internal and external stakeholders. This position will focus primarily on 501(c)(3)-permissible activities (including direct and grassroots lobbying), but a portion of the director’s time will be spent building out 501(c)(4) activities, sitting at (c)(4) tables and helping the organization to build the capacity and impact of its c(4) Action Fund program.

Responsibilities

The campaign director will work closely with National Partnership organizational leaders and the campaign’s leadership, including a new communications director for the campaign. The campaign director will:

• Help create and provide day-to-day management for overseeing a campaign plan that will advance paid leave on the national agenda and in Congress.
• Develop relationships with and facilitate the engagement of advocates and influencers at the national and state levels.
• Help develop more robust state-based efforts to promote federal paid leave policy, including advising state policy campaigns on strategy (in consultation with National Partnership policy staff) and advising state advocates on federal policy activities.
• Initiate, help develop and disseminate high-impact toolkits, explainer, outreach and engagement materials for all key stakeholders, and work with policy staff to develop reports, issue briefs and other policy- and research-based products to advance the campaign’s policy goals.
• Lead activities of the National Partnership’s existing big-table National Work and Family Coalition, advise partners on strategic opportunities and represent the National Partnership in other coalitions (or oversee staff who are doing so).
• Supervise activities of staff who manage day-to-day work with federal legislators, advocacy partners, private sector stakeholders, coalition partners and researchers related to paid leave and, in some cases, other workplace policy issues.
• Participate in building and nurturing funder relationships.

Qualifications and Attributes

• Eight or more years of progressively responsible work experience in federal legislative or political campaigns, or both – or significant experience in a large state that has provided exposure to national political and legislative dynamics.
• Prior experience leading or co-leading a federal legislative coalition – or strong working relationships with a range of advocacy organizations relevant to paid family and medical leave – and a genuine desire to work in close partnership with other advocacy organizations and allies to win a national paid leave law.
• Experience working in racially diverse teams and coalitions, and creating equitable and inclusive environments, with an ability to build strong, trusting relationships that include seeking and adapting to perspectives from all members.
• Sophisticated understanding of the federal policymaking process and experience working with federal policymakers as well as lawmakers, influencers and grasstops at the state and local levels.
• Appreciation of policy details – and a commitment to promoting strong federal legislation while defending against harmful, ineffective policy proposals.
• Sophisticated understanding of the inter-related nature and political dynamics of a range of economic, health, gender and other domestic policies that impact women and families.
• The ability to communicate clearly and persuasively in written documents and oral presentations – leveraging data, narrative and your intrinsic passion to motivate, persuade and mobilize a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated skill and comfort managing mid- and junior-level staff and pride in fostering respectful team dynamics.
• Eagerness to work closely with a highly energetic, detail-oriented and passionate Vice President for Workplace Policies and Strategies, organizational leaders and peers.
• Ability and willingness to work on evenings and weekends to attend events or conferences, and to travel occasionally.
• This position must be based in Washington, D.C.

To Apply

Applications should be submitted to jobs@nationalpartnership.org (subject line: Campaign Director, Paid Leave Campaign). Please submit a resume, a cover letter explaining the unique skills or experience you would bring to this position and your vision for a country in which every working family has paid family and medical leave, two writing samples or links that demonstrate strategic thinking, planning or analysis, and references. Applications will only be accepted by email, and the position will remain open until a qualified candidate is chosen.

The salary range for this position is $110,000-125,000, with exact salary depending on experience and new staff rarely starting at the top of the range. The National Partnership provides a generous benefits package.

About the Organization

For more than 45 years, the National Partnership for Women & Families has fought for every major policy advance that has helped this nation’s women and families. Our mission is to foster a society in which all people can participate fully and equally, and all women and families can live with dignity and achieve economic security – a society in which workplaces are fair and family friendly, women’s reproductive health and rights are secure and everyone has access to high quality, affordable health care that is patient- and family-centered. Founded in 1971 as the Women’s Legal Defense Fund, the National Partnership for Women & Families is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)3 organization located in Washington, D.C.

The National Partnership is committed to equal employment opportunity. We value and encourage diversity and seek applications from all qualified applicants without regard to gender, race, color, national origin, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status or any other factor protected by law. Women, men, people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQI individuals and veterans are encouraged to apply. Please see "EEO is the Law" for more information on Equal Employment Opportunities.