Governance Director

Salary Range: 64900 to 100400 (Currency: USD) (Pay period: per-year-salary)

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizing legislators

Organize and run regular WFPower meetings of elected officials

Develop trusting working relationships with allied legislators 

Develop bi-annual WFPower legislator retreats (pre- and post-session) to debrief and plan

Regularly host skill and/or issue training spaces (such as on press relations or housing policy)

Lead development of a public WFPower legislative agenda or platform 

Identify opportunities for shared messaging 

Lead WFP staff team in supporting aligned legislators (ie communications and social media work with Comms Director) 

In conjunction with the organizing staff, develop pathways for activists to support WFP electeds and legislation

Analyze and strategize the evolving legislative landscape 

Organize substantive new legislator orientation event series to build community and recruit newly-elected legislators into organizing with WFPower

Meet monthly with newly elected aligned legislators for at least a year after election 

Coalition work and legislative lobbying

Lead WFPower involvement with coalitions working on tax equity, progressive revenue, paid family & medical leave, housing, and more 

Craft legislative strategies and build campaigns to pass priority legislation 

Track priority legislation and manage/deliver WFPower testimony on key bills 

Lobby legislators on WFPower priority bills 

Electoral responsibilities 

Support incumbent elected officials in planning re-election campaigns 

Lead WFP incumbent electoral defense work

Manage WFP electeds showing up for each other in election season 

Coordinate group endorsement efforts in primary elections where possible 

Support candidate recruitment efforts 

Municipal elected responsibilities 

Track and manage ongoing opportunities for municipal elected officials to engage WFP

Support governance of aligned municipal elected officials by connecting them to each other, coalitions, and national resources 

Identify and coach municipal electeds with potential for running for higher office 

Raise funds to drive CTWFPower and CTWFParty work

Support the state director in researching and obtaining grants for governance work 

Lead efforts to help aligned legislators create PACs

Raise funds from legislator PACs into WFP 

Compliance 

Manage registrations and monthly/annual reports for all registered lobbyists on the team 

Create and use tracking systems for lobbying hours

Report to funders lobbying time as required 

Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Required

At least 4 years of relevant professional experience in advocacy, politics, or organizing

Demonstrated track record of commitment to social, economic, and racial justice

Demonstrated ability to work closely with elected officials to pass progressive policy 

Excellent facilitation skills, and the ability to build solidarity and shared strategy across differences.

Ability to quickly learn new contexts and policy areas. 

Ability to make decisions with consequences in nuanced political settings.

Strong sense of empathy and ability to build collaborative relationships. 

Excellent problem solving skills, with excellent judgment in moments of conflict. 

Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

Ability to work independently and manage complex projects. 

Ability to manage multiple projects at once and prioritize work. 

Basic computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite & Google Suite

Driver’s license, reliable transportation, and willingness for regular in-state travel

Ability and willingness to work late evenings and weekends, including at the State Capitol during legislative session

Preferred

Experience with the Connecticut legislature 

Experience managing electoral campaigns 

Fluency in Spanish

Location: The position requires weekly in-person work with opportunities to work remotely when possible. The role requires that the staffer become a registered lobbyist with the state of Connecticut. 

Schedule: Full time 

Union Affiliation

WFP is a unionized workplace. This is a bargaining unit position. WFP union employees are represented by Workers United affiliated with SEIU and the affiliated Local 1115, Workers United.