The Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO) seeks a dynamic, committed individual to lead our staff. We are looking for a person with comprehensive management and political skills who will complement existing talent in our organization.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Staffing and Party Support:
Supervise a permanent staff of 7-12, and a campaign staff that grows significantly during election seasons. Provide guidance and mentoring and set staff priorities to reflect changing needs. Effectively manage staffers in remote offices. Interview and hire additional staff when conditions warrant, and restructure jobs as necessary.
Work closely with the officers to set goals and priorities for the DPO.
Work with staff to organize all meetings and training of the state committee and executive committee as required by state party bylaws.
Ensure efficient day-to-day party operations, and support county parties.
Financial:
Oversee compliance staff to make sure all campaign finance reports, tax returns, and other required reports are filed accurately and on time.
With the Development Director, plan fundraising efforts and work with party leadership to implement plans. Oversee fundraising efforts, including large and small-donor events and online fundraising.
Make direct fundraising asks to individual and institutional donors for events and general contributions.
Work with the State Chair, Budget Committee Chair, coordinated campaign partners and Treasurer to develop and adhere to an operating budget and a coordinated campaign budget.
Campaign and Outreach:
Serve as executive director of all party political programs.
Lead the planning, execution, and oversight of Oregon’s Coordinated Campaign in collaboration with the Coordinated Campaign Table, including hiring the Coordinated Campaign Director. Manage shared campaign infrastructure, including field organizing, GOTV, voter protection, research, direct mail, compliance, and communications, in coordination with partner campaigns. Ensure legal, political, and ethical compliance with federal and state election law, and oversee collective strategy, staffing, and budget planning for all participating entities.
Act as a key liaison between the DPO and national Democratic organizations, including the DNC, DSCC, DGA, and allied campaigns. Coordinate high-profile events and campaign surrogates, ensuring alignment between national and state-level strategy. Attend regular coalition meetings with partner organizations.
Work with the State Chair and communications staff to issue press releases, respond to media inquiries, and represent the DPO in a positive, professional manner.
Desired Qualifications
Passionate about building long-term infrastructure in the Democratic Party.
Demonstrated personnel management skills. Understanding of team-building, prioritizing, coaching, and professional development for those you supervise. Ability to manage remote staff. Able to build a team that has your back—and isn’t afraid to speak up when something’s off.
Proven track record of at least 5 years serving as a senior staff member to a large-scale organization in the progressive movement.
Stellar communications skills, both written and oral. Be able to craft a press release, write a fundraising letter, and create web copy. Be an effective speaker when talking to large and small groups, press, activists, and donors.
Superior project management skills. Know how to plan a project or program, track progress, and adjust resources as needed. Understand long- and short-term strategy. Be able to help create a long-term plan for the party, monitor progress, and stick to goals.
Must be proficient with common office technology and digital tools, including Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive, Gmail, etc.). Must have a strong understanding of online fundraising platforms and be experienced in using specialized political applications such as NGP and VAN for voter, volunteer, and donor management. Should demonstrate the ability to manage the work of staff on multiple digital communication systems—including mass email tools and webinar platforms—and must be able to strategically identify and implement technology solutions that advance the Party’s organizing, fundraising, and communications goals.
Must possess a deep and practical understanding of all aspects of electoral politics, including state and federal election law, campaign strategy and planning, targeting, polling, and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) operations. The Executive Director must bring proven experience executing or overseeing successful electoral campaigns and must be fully equipped to support candidates, staff, and volunteers in a high-stakes political environment.
Fundraising prowess. Understand how both low and high-dollar fundraising works. Experience with online fundraising. Creative outreach to new funding sources. Understanding of both state and federal election law is very beneficial.
People focused. Be able to inspire and support volunteers. Respect for all and ability to deal with impassioned single-issue activists, cynical long-time political workers, and everything in between.
Relevant college degree preferred.
Energetic, creative, patient, and flexible, with a sense of humor.
To Apply: Submit a resume with three references and a one-page cover letter as a single PDF detailing your interest and qualifications to State Party Chair Nathan Soltz at hiring@dpo.org. Applications are due by 5pm PT on Friday, June 13. The position will remain open until filled, and interested individuals may inquire after the deadline has passed.
This is a full-time exempt position, based in Portland, available immediately. Benefits include a phone and internet stipend, fully paid health, vision, and dental coverage, guaranteed weekly time off and weekly work hours caps, annual bonuses and cost of living raises, paid family leave, sick and vacation leave, as well as a 401k. Salary is commensurate with experience and negotiable, and it is offered at a range of $100,000-$150,000.
The full-time non-management staff of the Democratic Party of Oregon are represented by the Campaign Workers Guild. This position is not a bargaining unit position represented by the Campaign Workers Guild.
The Democratic Party of Oregon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. We know there are great candidates who won’t fit everything we’ve described above, or who have important skills we haven’t thought of. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. We are dedicated to constantly improving our organization, in part by making sure our staff reflects the communities most impacted by our work. We are committed to building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and ages. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical condition.