Senior Director, Campaigns

Senior Director of Campaigns

About Run for Something

Run for Something recruits and supports young, diverse progressives running for down\-ballot races to build sustainable power nationwide. Since 2017, RFS has engaged nearly 150,000 potential candidates, endorsed over 3,000, and celebrated 1,000\+ election victories. RFS alumni drive impactful changes in housing, abortion access, and education, shaping the Democratic Party's future.

RFS fosters a culture emphasizing work\-life balance, sustainability, and a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. With strategic, year\-round initiatives, RFS is dedicated to long\-term democracy\-building.

Learn more about our work and values on our Careers page.

Position Name: Senior Director of Campaigns

Reporting Structure: This role reports to the Senior Vice President of Programs

Location: Remote (U.S.)

Job Classification: Full\-time, Exempt

Essential Duties: This position is responsible for designing and executing programming focused on recruiting, developing, and supporting hundreds of young progressive candidates for local office. The essential duties of this position include the leadership of RFS’ Campaigns Team and the development of strategies aimed at reaching RFS’ local recruitment \& campaign support goals.

Position Summary:

Run for Something is seeking to hire a Senior Director of Campaigns. This role will report to the Senior Vice President of Programs. We have re\-envisioned the structure comprising programs and communications into one Strategic Initiatives team to generate more cohesion and mutually reinforcing support. We believe that by working toward shared outcomes, we can achieve the vision of a diverse pipeline of prospective candidates recruited from across the country that feeds into the endorsement and candidate support program with the tools and team to tell the impact of our story.

The Senior Director of Campaigns will serve as the lead strategist for RFS’ endorsement and candidate support programs. This role is primarily a people leadership and operational management role, responsible for translating organizational priorities into actionable plans, managing scalable systems and workflows, and managing the day\-to\-day operations of our four\-person Campaigns Team. This team is made\-up of expert campaign operatives, responsible for driving RFS’ local programs. This role is tasked with ensuring that each Campaigns Team member has the direction, resources, and motivation required to reach RFS’ ambitious candidate support goals. This role requires proven campaign management expertise as well as exceptional people management, collaboration, prioritization and project management skills.

As a team leader at RFS, the Senior Director of Campaigns must also contribute, integrate, and hold themselves accountable to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals set by RFS while also playing an active role in fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizational culture. The ideal applicant will also have demonstrated expertise in performance evaluation and staff development.

Responsibilities

Senior Director, Campaigns will help RFS accomplish our strategic imperatives via:* Campaigns Program Strategy \[40%]:

+ Under the supervision of the Senior Vice President of Programs, lead the development of RFS’ national candidate support program and goals.

• Build a program that is capable of supporting hundreds of endorsed campaigns each cycle, and ensure all endorsed candidates in assigned states receive high\-level support on all facets of their campaigns.
• Coordinate with RFS Finance and Compliance Team to ensure programming is properly classified and compliant with relevant campaign finance rules.

+ Translate organizational priorities into actionable strategies and workplans for Regional Directors to implement

+ Make strategic decisions about priorities, processes, and workflows, guiding the team through competing demands with clarity and calm.

+ Establish timelines and milestones, ensuring consistent follow\-through by self and team.

+ Develop and manage RFS’ annual endorsement calendar, using key filing deadlines, election dates, and other relevant information to ensure a smooth cadence; and ensure that key endorsement deadline reminders are effectively communicated.

• Coordinate across teams to ensure that the technical aspects of the endorsement process are completed in a timely manner.
• Coordinate with RFS’ Communications Team to ensure that information on newly endorsed candidates make it into external press releases and other publicity materials.

+ Own the election tracking process for endorsed candidates: this includes management of RFS’ election calendar, election night tracking assignments, and communication of results to the wider RFS Team (this may include support from team members outside of the campaigns department)

+ Manage Campaigns Team collaboration with RFS’ Recruitment \& Community Engagement Teams; help grow and diversify RFS’ local recruitment infrastructure; this includes:

• Align with the Recruitment Team on the cultivation of local recruitment partners, the development of state \& local recruitment targets, and Campaigns Team support for recruitment\-related events \& initiatives.
• Work with the Community Engagement Team to manage 1:1 Campaigns Team engagement with advanced pipeline candidates, the development of pipeline\-facing tools and resources, and on the execution of RFS’ pipeline\-facing events.

* Management and Oversight of the Campaigns Vertical \[45%]

+ Manage the day\-to\-day affairs of RFS’ 4\-person Campaigns Team, consisting of 3 Regional Directors and yourself; lead weekly departmental meetings.

+ Set clear goals and expectations, provide timely feedback, and support team members in meeting timelines and quality standards, addressing challenges early to keep work on track.

+ Develop a positive team culture that encourages innovation, allows flexibility, and builds camaraderie, while ensuring key goals and objectives are met; support and supervise direct reports in the development of annual engagement plans,

+ Conduct bi\-weekly one\-on\-ones with direct reports; ensure direct reports have the requisite guidance and resources to be successful; and identify where goals are falling short, proactively troubleshoot, and implement solutions\-oriented course corrections when needed.

+ Ensure direct reports follow all data collection processes and that weekly reports are submitted on time.

+ Uplift major/ongoing issues and proposed solutions to the Senior VP of Programs when required.

+ Manage, mentor, and coach staff in line with RFS values and performance management standards to ensure relevant key performance indicators are met; identify and support areas for professional development.

• Reporting, Analysis, And Internal Projects \[15%]:
• Attend and contribute to weekly Programs Team meetings, and provide regular progress reports to the Senior Vice President of Programs.
• Propose, manage, and track annual budgets for Campaign Team’s programs.
• Ensure the Campaign’s Team submits required reports on endorsed candidates, recruitment efforts, and partner engagement weekly; curate and disseminate the Campaign’s Team weekly “State \& Local Highlights” newsletter, based upon those reports
• Works with the Tech Team to track and manage data related to endorsed candidates and Regional programs
• Contribute to quarterly board reports and other internal/external reports as needed.
• Identify surfacing political trends, good stories, and other anecdotes that would benefit the broader organizational interests.
• Coordinate across departments on the development and implementation of specialized programs (Clerk Work, School Board Initiatives, etc.).
• Occasionally represents RFS at private, donor\-facing events.
• Help RFS’ communications team generate media coverage.
• Supports RFS' Development Team, by providing key information related to endorsed candidates and overall regional programming

Your role responsibilities may evolve to ensure they align with organizational priorities and that you can continuously contribute to our mission of recruiting and supporting young progressives running for down\-ballot offices.

Key Competencies and Qualifications

• Day\-to\-day management of RFS’ Campaigns Team, including oversight of the hiring process.
• Leadership and effective execution of RFS’ national endorsement process.
• Develop and successfully execute candidate support programming, in alignment with overall organizational goals.
• Evaluate and understand the dynamics around multiple races throughout the election cycle \- based on factors including, but not limited to: campaign progress, candidate needs, and election competitiveness. Allocate time and resources accordingly.
• Ensure direct reports have what they need in order to be successful in their roles.
• Ensure candidate and partnership benchmarks are met, tracking databases are updated weekly, and internal reports are submitted in a timely manner.

Qualifications

• 7\+ years of relevant political campaign experience, preferably at the local level.
• At least three cycles of experience serving as a campaign manager, caucus director, or in an equivalent management position.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and lead high\-performing staff
• Demonstrated ability to set expectations, provide feedback and hold team members accountable in a people management role.
• Ability to make and communicate decisions that shape team priorities across the team, leaders, and cross\-functional stakeholders.
• Ability to translate board organizational directives into clear, actionable, plans for direct reports
• Strong prioritization and project management skills
• Experience driving the development and execution of new programs.
• Ability to partner with internal and external stakeholders with a high level of trust, accountability, and transparency.
• Strong multitasking skills, balancing competing priorities, and meeting rolling deadlines are required.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communications skills.
• Proven ability to collaborate across teams and maintain transparency in workflows.
• Must be comfortable with extensive written and verbal reporting requirements.
• Must be comfortable with traveling 30% of the time.
• Must have knowledge of basic campaign finance rules and how to account for time across 501c3, 501c4, and PACs.
• Demonstrated time management skills transferable to working a four\-day work week.
• Commitment to diversity in our candidates and partners; and demonstrated ability to work in and contribute to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.
• Ability to demonstrate Run for Something’s organizational values
• Ability to work independently for extended periods of time in a remote environment.
• Strong commitment to the Run for Something mission.

Plus Qualifications

• Experience managing remote teams.
• Candidate recruitment and training experience.
• Experience running for a local or state\-level office.

Work Environment

• Run for Something operates as a fully remote organization, with team members collaborating from across the U.S. You will work from home or a location of your choosing.
• This role involves attending approximately two all\-staff or team events per year, which may include overnight travel. Reasonable accommodations are available for employees unable to travel or participate in gatherings.
• The position requires working core hours from Monday to Thursday, with occasional night and weekend work.
• To prioritize employee health and safety, all Run for Something employees must provide proof of COVID vaccination, with reasonable accommodations considered for disabilities, medical advice, or sincerely held religious beliefs.

Run for Something is committed to building diverse teams and fostering equitable, inclusive environments that maximize the skills, potential, and unique perspectives of our employees. We strongly encourage individuals from marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color, women, LGBTQIA\+ individuals, and those with disabilities, to apply—especially those historically underrepresented in elected office. Learn more about our commitment here.

Learn more about what it’s like to work at Run for Something on our Careers page.

Essential Physical Requirements

This remote position requires effective communication with colleagues and partners through phone, video, conference calls, and written channels like Slack and email. The role involves working on a computer for part or all of the workday and attending events that may span full or partial days. Travel may also be required, as previously mentioned.### Compensation \& Benefits

Salary for this position is set at $146,600\. In order to counter pay inequality and uphold internal parity, salaries are non\-negotiable for new and current employees. Run for Something salary bands for a given staff level are benchmarked to the 75th percentile for our sector, and all new employees are paid at the entry point of those bands. Employees then have the opportunity to progress through current salary bands through annual cost of living increases and performance\-based pay increases and into new salary bands through promotions.

Learn more about our compensation policy here.

Benefits at Run for Something include:

• Four\-Day Work Week (learn more here)
• Unlimited Paid Time Off policy
• Platinum Medical Insurance (100% of premium covered for employees; 50% of premium covered for dependents)
• Dental and Vision Insurance (100% of premium covered for both employees and dependents)
• Professional Development Stipend
• Treat Yourself Stipend ($500 a year to do something that brings you joy)
• Equipment Stipend
• 401k
• Work from Home Stipend
• Cell Phone/Internet Stipend
• 12 weeks paid family leave
• Paid Sabbatical (after 3 years of service to RFS)
• Employee Assistance Program
• \~ Four weeks in organization\-wide holiday closures, including a two\-week winter break
• Flexible, remote work environment
• Transition payment for departing employees

Learn more about our compensation policy here.

Benefits at Run for Something include:

• Four\-Day Work Week (learn more here)
• Unlimited Paid Time Off policy
• Platinum Medical Insurance (100% of premium covered for employees; 50% of premium covered for dependents)
• Dental and Vision Insurance (100% of premium covered for both employees and dependents)
• Professional Development Stipend
• Treat Yourself Stipend ($500 a year to do something that brings you joy)
• Equipment Stipend
• 401k with up to 2% matching
• Work from Home Stipend
• Cell Phone/Internet Stipend
• 12 weeks of paid family leave
• Paid Sabbatical (after 3 years of service to RFS)
• Employee Assistance Program
• \~ Four weeks in organization\-wide holiday closures, including a two\-week winter break
• Flexible, remote work environment

Work Authorization

Due to campaign finance restrictions, candidates must have valid work authorization and cannot be foreign nationals. We are legally restricted to hiring only U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (green card holders) for this position.

To Apply

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to early submissions.

If you need accommodations, contact us at hiring@runforsomething.net with the type of assistance you need. We offer various support, including alternative interview formats and application assistance, to ensure full participation.

For details on our interview process, please visit here.

Please do not contact us via phone, email, or social media for application inquiries. We cannot respond individually due to the high volume of applications. To ensure equity, we do not offer informational interviews for specific applicants. While applying can be challenging, we strive to keep all candidates informed about their status, though responses may occur after the application deadline.