Democracy Defense Manager - Arizona

Job Description

Arizona All Voting is Local is seeking a highly motivated individual to join our state team and help defend democracy against election deniers and those who would subvert the will and voice of Arizona voters to serve their own interests. Voters should pick their leaders, not the other way around. This position is at the center of the movement to ensure voters have safe and equitable access to the ballot, that every vote is counted, and that election results are certified using the structures and safeguards in place.

Reporting to the Arizona State Director, the DDM works with All Voting state &, national staff and relevant coalition partners in support of the Arizona State plan. The work is to establish and coordinate a strategic hub to ensure coordinated preparation for and response to the unique and critical threats to election administration, vote counting, and certification that a major election crisis could pose. The DDM is responsible for organizing in-state groups and leaders around how election decisions (from legislation to policy) could pave the way for an acute election crisis. This position involves work for both All Voting and AVL Action. 

Core Role Responsibilities:

Coalition Leadership

• Lead a state coalition dedicated to preventing election sabotage and represent All Voting in state pro-democracy coalitions:
• Create, build, develop, and maintain relationships with state-, county-, and municipality-level elected officials, election officials, and partners to grow the coalition:
  • Serve as policy expert for media and electeds who have questions about election-sabotage-related topics (e.g.: vote counting, certification, etc.)
  • Connect electeds and election officials to partner orgs (and vice versa) when it makes sense
  • AVL Action may, if applicable, register you as a lobbyist in Arizona
  • Maintain confidentiality when appropriate
• Serve as a liaison between the Arizona coalition and the national ESRN coalition
  • Share information between state and national coalition spaces

Campaign Development and Management

• Implements, develops & executes campaign plans to educate and activate coalition partners and other stakeholders in support of election administration reform, expanding & protecting ballot access, removing barriers to the ballot, countering election sabotage, and voter education in Arizona. Campaign development is done in coordination with the State Director and Compliance Counsel.  
• Identifies and develops campaigns to further engage and mobilize partners on voting rights.
• Drafts and acts as Owner on campaign plans, presenting them to the larger All Voting team, executing strategies and tactics, and tracking the campaign’s impact.
• Partners with comms & policy teams to create digital content, press releases, talking points, etc.
• May act as a spokesperson for the state and participate in media events.
• Supports State Directors in strategic planning and budgeting.
• Tracking the impacts of our work and our wins. (the outcomes of our advocacy).
• Tracking election timelines and dates, and aligning with / updating All Voting calendar.
• Election protection work as assigned.

Policy 

• Identify, monitor, and share information concerning likely threats within “threat counties” and “watch counties” that could lead to democratic backsliding, such as delayed election results, chaotic vote counting, partisan takeover of election administration, political violence
• Communicate with external entities
• Evaluate, propose, recommend and/or design policies for how they impact voters’ rights and help devise solutions to barriers voters face.
• Relationships: serving as trusted messenger among election officials, the media
• Direct Advocacy / Lobbying
• Threat monitoring and identification
• Track legislation 
• Create trainings on impacts of negative legislation
• Develop policy fixes
• Lead legislative strategy; identify key policy makers, coordinate lobbying efforts, attend relevant committee meetings, create and distribute legislative messaging and talking points for coalition

Relationships

• Collaborate with the Arizona team to support the Arizona campaign plan.
• Navigate and utilize All Voting's various tech platforms (e.g.: Asana, Google Workspace, Slack) and methods (M.O.C.H.A.) to see work through to satisfactory completion.
• Other duties as assigned.

Core Organizational Responsibilities:

• Develop, work toward, and successfully accomplish set goals for the States & Campaigns department.
• Navigate and utilize All Voting's various platforms (e.g.: Asana, Google Workspace, Slack) and methods (M.O.C.H.A.) to see work through to satisfactory completion.
• Liaise with All Voting team members, as necessary, on communication, follow-up, and other applicable projects, initiatives, and deliverables.
• Regular travel to convenings, conferences, and critical meetings.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Required Qualifications & Competencies:

• College degree or its equivalent
• A minimum of four (4) years of experience in organizing, campaigns, voting rights, or civil rights coalition work.
• Strong project management and supervisory experience.
• Ability to convene multiple partners with competing priorities around a shared mission or goal, while meeting tight deadlines.
• Thinks creatively and finds solutions.
• A self-starter and team player who thrives in a fast-paced collaborative environment.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience working in coalitions

Advanced Qualifications & Competencies | Not Required:

• J.D., or Master’s Degree
• Experience leading coalitions
• Fluency in a second language
• Experience with opposition research
• Trained in de-escalation

Location:
This position is currently remote, though the DDM must reside in Arizona.