Pennsylvania Voice is seeking a strategist, facilitator, and visionary to lead Pennsylvania Voice’s Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-centered Voting Rights and Reflective Democracy department. 

The Democracy Campaign Director reports to the Senior Director of Partnership & Programs and manages two team members, as well as consultants. The work is self-directed. Excellent work-planning, communication, interpersonal, and team management skills are required. 

The position is well suited for someone familiar with organizing and movement power building; who possesses a strong skill set (advocacy, communications, lobbying, and policy analysis skills); and ais committed to guiding and leading state legislative and administrative campaigns among Pennsylvania BIPOC leaders to defend voting rights; expand access to the ballot box; and create a just and reflective democracy for Black, Latinx, AAPI, Arab, and other Pennsylvanians of color. 

About Pennsylvania Voice:
Established in 2010, Pennsylvania Voice is the 501c(3) table for more than 55 state and local-based organizations, working year-round to create a more accessible, inclusive, and representative democracy by amplifying the voices, leadership, and expertise of communities that have historically experienced deliberate barriers to civic participation. Our partnership is grounded in the belief that a fair and just society will be achieved through collective power; that democracy requires full participation and equitable representation; and that the pathway to power in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania must include Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and AAPI communities. 

Together, we win shared policy and civic engagement victories to build long-term power. 

A team of experienced organizers/strategists staff Pennsylvania Voice. We coordinate, support, convene, and co-create with a diverse community of statewide and local leaders, each representing distinct organizations, around three program areas: 

• Civic Engagement: Year-round integrated voter engagement campaigns that increase voting, voter registration, and participation in civic life among all Pennsylvanians and specifically Black, Indigenous, and communities of color
• Voting Rights and Access: Modernizing elections to make voting more convenient and fully accessible to all
• Reflective Democracy: Investment in community leadership and governance that is accountable to community interests and needs

An explicit commitment to racial equity frames our partnership, our programs, and our culture.

Responsibilities:

The Campaign Director holds goal-setting, structure, process, and planning for the Democracy Campaigns Department. Almost all of the work happens in the state legislative and administrative arena.

The Director is responsible for the bottom line implementation of an annual Democracy Campaign department plan, which will include a budget and program plan for two distinct campaigns–one focused on voting rights, and one on reflective democracy, each led by a workgroup of partners and staffed by a campaign manager. Campaign plans and budgets encompass the contributions and needs of multiple organizations, and names the division of labor among staff and partner organizations to meet goals.  

Specific duties include:

• Inspiring and leading vision and strategy toward big picture, systemic change, especially at the state legislative and administrative level.Team leadership, management, and coaching among two director reports and consultants, including:
  • Establishing consistent check-ins that offer: thought partnership, advice, support, and feedback.
  • Providing professional development opportunities and mentorship.
  • Pitching in on campaign work as determined by strategy and a clearly identified division of labor.
• Policy review and analysis, geared toward providing coalition partners with the ability to make informed choices about demands and allow them to readjust tactics to meet goals.
• Coordinating state-level lobby activities and directly building relationships with elected officials and other decision makers as determined per campaign. 
• Providing support and training to cultivate sophisticated campaign and relationship building skills among base-building organization partners.
• Support staff managers developing materials/tools/processes for coalition members to educate grassroots members as well as public-facing materials which allow individual coalition partners to present the coalition’s stance on key issues with elected officials.
• Holding relationships with key partner organizations, allies, and funders, as determined per campaign. 
• Staying abreast of development in relevant fields to spot new policies and ideas that shift power and promote structural reforms to building a racially just democracy.
• Lead communications strategy, serving as a spokesperson for the voting rights and reflective democracy campaigns as needed.
• Support and work with the Senior Director for Partnership and Programs on program reports, fundraising, and making sure that the Department's plans are aligned with the rest of the organization.
• Fully contributing to and participating in the activities and responsibilities of the organization’s leadership team, including co-creating and driving an organizational culture that is grounded in respect and inclusion.
• Other responsibilities as assigned. 

Compensation: Is based on experience and competencies and is highly competitive. Salary range is $80,000-90,000 with excellent benefits. 

Location: Physical Office located in Philadelphia, PA. Due to CoVid-19, we are currently working remotely through 2023.

However, travel, when it is safe, is required within Pennsylvania, primarily in and around Philadelphia, Allegheny County, the Lehigh Valley, Central PA and potentially  frequent trips to the state’s Capitol in Harrisburg.. Travel is required at least once a month, including some overnight travel.

Candidates must also be based in Pennsylvania or willing to relocate by the start date. 

HOW TO APPLY: Send a resume and a cover letter. Your cover letter can be traditionally formatted or you can simply send answers to these questions in writing or by video:

• Why are you applying for this position?
• Why do you think you meet the qualifications for this position?

Please submit your resume and cover letter/answers to questions by selecting the “apply” button below. Please, no phone calls. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the application and interview process, please reach out to us at jobs@pavoice.org .

DEADLINE:   Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with priority consideration by May 12, 2023. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, at which time the job announcement will be removed from our website, and the application portal will be deactivated.  

Pennsylvania Voice is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. Pennsylvania Voice encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, people with records of arrest or conviction, veterans, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals to apply. Pennsylvania Voice hiring process will comply with Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Records Screening Standards (“Ban the Box”) ordinance.

• Committed to uprooting white supremacy and anti-Blackness. 
• A passion for state legislative and administrative improvements to voting rights and access, just legislative apportionment, and a belief in a truly representative government.
• Organizing experience on the ground.
• Basic familiarity with the legislative process, and the ability to develop organizing demands and tactics appropriate to state legislative and administrative targets. 
• Strong strategic thinking and planning abilities. Creative, problem solving mind-set.
• Track record building transparent and trusting relationships. Skilled at both receiving and providing feedback. Clear and emotionally intelligent communication style.
• Ability to build consensus, reach agreements, resolve conflict, and manage participatory decision-making processes among diverse participants. 
• Ability to track and translate policy ideas (legislation, administrative policy, and the outcomes of litigation) into a format that is useful for both coalition organization leader decision making and planning purposes, as well as grassroots popular education and training materials. 
• At least 3 years of experience with staff and project management that engenders a collaborative team culture which inspires and develops the leadership of team members.
• At least 2 years of experience building grassroots campaigns organized around a target with a set of demands. Experience lobbying elected officials is preferred, but not required. 
• The ability to work varied hours as may be required by the work including evenings and weekends; and to travel as needed.