Senior Director of Political Strategy and Partnerships

Senior Director of Political Strategy and Partnerships

Who We Are

ProgressNow is the communications & digital nerve center for the progressive movement. Our state hubs deliver electoral & policy victories. As core infrastructure, we move millions of voters across our state network through data-driven best practices, organic & paid digital content, and decades of expertise. Our 28 affiliates serve as a marketing shop for the progressive community. Behind the scenes, we facilitate communications and digital tables that align and coordinate the community behind a shared message and strategy. From staffing issue coalitions, developing message and communications calendars, training and pitching spokespeople, creating digital content for partners, and coordinating digital ad buys to maximize impact, we organize the progressive community’s communications for maximum effect.

ProgressNow’s (PN) national operations and programs are led by its President, Anna Scholl, Managing Director, Maya Castillo, and a team with expertise in communications, organizing, technology, research, and data analysis.

About the Role

ProgressNow is seeking a Senior Director of Political Strategy and Partnerships to strengthen connections between our state affiliates and the broader movement, including national organizations and stakeholders.

This is a senior role for someone who excels at building relationships and identifying opportunities for collaboration. You will help create access and opportunities for affiliate leaders by building and leveraging relationships in Washington, DC and nationally, while also serving as a strategic partner to state affiliates. This role reports to the Managing Director and manages the Advocacy Manager.

While this position is remote, preference for this role will be given to candidates in the Washington, DC metro area, or within a reasonable commuting distance.

What You’ll Do

Political Strategy & External Partnerships

• Build and maintain relationships with national movement and labor partners, funders, and coalitions.

• Identify and create opportunities for ProgressNow and ProgressNow affiliates to engage with key national figures, including facilitating introductions, meetings, and creating opportunities for collaboration.

• Represent ProgressNow and its affiliates in DC-based and national spaces.

• Track trends in the political and advocacy landscape and translate them into opportunities for the network.

Affiliate Support

• Build strong relationships with affiliate executive directors.

• Support affiliates in navigating strategic decisions, challenges, and opportunities.

• Connect affiliates to resources, partners, and opportunities that strengthen their work and impact.

• Provide strategic guidance to affiliates on advocacy and electoral campaigns as needed.

External Brand, Events & Network Visibility

• Help shape and strengthen ProgressNow’s external brand and positioning within the broader movement.

• Work in close partnership with development staff to manage donor relationships and help convert political and partner connections into funding opportunities.

• Lead planning and execution of key network convenings, including Commference.

• Ensure events reflect organizational priorities and deliver value to affiliates and partners.

• Identify opportunities to elevate affiliate work and amplify network impact externally.

Consultant & Project Management

• Manage external consultants and vendors supporting partnerships, external communications, and events.

• Align consultant work with organizational priorities and ensure strong coordination with internal teams.

Organizational Leadership and Management

• Contribute to organization-wide strategy and decision-making as a member of the senior leadership team.

• Collaborate closely with internal teams to align affiliate needs, external partnerships, and organizational priorities.

• Support department planning and workload management to ensure execution across shared departmental priorities.

• Directly supervise one staff member, providing ongoing mentorship and coaching.

• Conduct regular check-ins, performance conversations and annual evaluations. 

Who You Are

• A strong political relationship-builder with 7-10 years experience navigating national advocacy or electoral spaces.

• Well-connected or able to quickly build relationships within national progressive networks.

• A strategic thinker who can identify opportunities and connect people and organizations effectively.

• A clear and confident communicator.

• Comfortable managing high-profile relationships, events, and partners.

• Strong at managing multiple priorities and relationships across a large network.

• Adaptable in fast-paced, evolving environments.

• Committed to progressive values and building collective power.

Qualifications

• Experience in political campaigns or advocacy campaigns.

• Strong track record of building and maintaining external relationships.

• Experience working across multiple organizations or stakeholders.

• Experience managing consultants, vendors, or coalitions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with progressive, state-based organizations or affiliate networks.

• Experience with event strategy and execution, including convenings or conferences.

• Familiarity with communications, digital strategy, or campaign planning, particularly in a 501(c)4 environment.

What Else You Should Know 

ProgressNow is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a workplace that is inclusive, respectful, and free from discrimination. ProgressNow does not discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. 

We value having staff who come from communities most impacted by our issues, and encourage people of color, LGBTQ people, transgender and gender non-conforming people, people with disabilities, and individuals from other historically underrepresented communities to apply. 

The role requires up to 20% travel. Expected travel includes one annual staff retreat and two ProgressNow conferences. 

Compensation
Because negotiating is inherently inequitable, we want to be transparent about what benefits we can offer up front and avoid negotiation. The starting salary for this position is $110,000. 

Our benefits include:

• Unlimited vacation with a requirement that each staff member take at least 2 weeks each year.

• Eight paid holidays as well as an office closure annually between Christmas and New Year’s Day. 

• Employer-paid health, vision, and dental insurance

• A 401K plan with 3% employer match

• Annual professional development stipend