Lead Fightback Campaigner

Position Title: Lead Fightback Campaigner

Position Location: Candidates are welcome to apply from across the U.S., with a preference for those based on the East Coast. This is a remote position with regular travel to Washington, DC. 

Popular Democracy is seeking a Lead Fightback Campaigner to join our Fightback Department. This is a full-time, exempt position.

About Popular Democracy:

Popular Democracy works to promote equity, opportunity, and a dynamic democracy in partnership with innovative base-building organizations, organizing networks and alliances, and progressive unions across the country. We work with 46 affiliates in 32 states, Puerto Rico, and DC to build the strength and capacity of democratic organizations that envision and advance a pro-worker, pro-immigrant, racial and economic justice agenda. We are a rapidly-expanding, changing organization that partners with organizations across the country to build political power and win tangible victories that improve the lives of low-wage workers, immigrants, and communities of color.

About the Position:

We are seeking a Lead Fightback Campaigner (LFC) to use the crises and opportunities of the moment to vastly expand the network's base, develop leaders, move those people into action, and change the narrative in the process. This includes driving a fundraising plan to support the work, serving as an expert in relevant issue area(s), supporting the network with issue-specific requests, and building alliances with groups outside of the network. Working with affiliates, allies, and individuals to build political and community power, the LFC position organizes actions and other events to contest for power, deepening understanding and building capacity across the network. 

It is expected that the Lead Fightback Campaigner will travel and attend in-person trainings, meetings, and actions with Popular Democracy affiliates and partners frequently, approximately 2x/month. 

We estimate that candidates will have about 12 years of relevant experience, but our review of candidates for this role will focus on whether they can fill the needs of the position, not years of experience. 

The Lead Fightback Campaigner will report to the Director of Fightback. 

Primary Responsibilities:

The Lead Fightback Campaigner will:

• Develop and sustain positive relationships with affiliate organizations, partners, policy makers, and funders, encouraging participation and support for Popular Democracy’s efforts.
• Select targeted areas identified as key to contesting for power and identify, plan, and execute campaigns or programs to advance the Fightback narrative.
• Work with the Organizing and Communications and Narrative teams to support affiliates in developing campaigns and base-building programs.
• Work with internal stakeholders, allies, and partners to design and build a complex program and campaign that includes a theory of the issue with a cogent message and narrative that motivates people to action.
• Develop and sustain relationships with elected officials and their representatives.
• Organize regular lobby days and press conferences.
• Develop and implement organizing strategies for Popular Democracy’s leadership development program, which includes organizing individuals directly impacted by cuts to government programs engaging their members of congress.
• Provide strategic and tactical support for events in assigned campaigns.
• When strategic to the advancement of Fightback goals, lead and facilitate cohort meetings for targeted groups, which may include determining the schedule of meetings, creating the agenda, evaluating planning steps on an ongoing basis, and implementing next steps.
• Drive a fundraising plan to meet established objectives in collaboration with supervisor

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Significant experience in organizing and grassroots campaign development.
• Demonstrated basebuilding experience.
• Experience in campaign and policy creation, particularly at the national levelStrong facilitation meeting skills.
• Experience working in coalitions and alliances.
• A demonstrated ability to build relationships with a broad range of people that move them into action.
• The ability to work independently, navigate obstacles, discern priorities, and meet competing deadlines.
• Experience working with Popular Democracy affiliates.
• A demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice and a deep understanding of challenges facing low-wage workers, immigrant communities, communities of color, disabled people, LGBTQ+ folks, and people at the intersections of the above communities.

Hiring Process:

Candidates should expect to participate in two rounds of group interviews and a job simulation exercise. Final candidates will be asked to provide references.  

Salary and Benefits:

This position is included in a collective bargaining unit represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild. Specific employment terms are subject to a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The salary for this category 4 position is determined by a salary calculation system that is set by the CBA and is not negotiable. The starting salary is $100,000 and can increase up to $110,000, depending on a variety of factors as described in the CBA.

We have a generous benefits package, including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 15 vacation days your first year, 12 sick days per year, additional PTO, including holidays, and contributions to individuals’ 401K plans. 

Popular Democracy is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and actively recruits people of color, womxn, individuals with disabilities, and members of the LGBTIQAA+ community.