Wisdems Hiring for Deputy Executive Director at Madison, WI  Full Time

Job Title: Deputy Executive Director
Reports to: Executive Director
Salary: $110,000 – $135,000/annually, generous benefits package
Location: Madison, WI (Please note: Employment with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin requires residence or willingness to relocate to the state of Wisconsin.)
Start date: March 1, 2024
Application Deadline: February 2nd, 2024 (Applications are considered on a rolling basis. Deadlines may be shortened or extended as necessary. There is no guarantee this posting will remain open until the deadline or be closed on the deadline. This is a suggested timeframe based on organization needs.)

About The Democratic Party of Wisconsin: WisDems is nationally recognized as one of the country’s highest-performing and most pivotal political organizations. During the 2024 cycle, WisDems will drive massive programs to defend the Democratic majority in the United States Senate by re-electing Senator Tammy Baldwin, to re-elect President Biden for a second term, elect progressive candidates up and down the ballot, and work to build volunteer-led coalitions for the long term. WisDems’ work is grounded in inclusion, respect, and empowerment across race, gender, other dimensions of identity, and the rural/suburban/urban divide. Our work continues year-round, collaborating with partners to build a movement that delivers meaningful change for all Wisconsinites. We seek outstanding applicants who share our values and vision to join the team, help win elections, and build a future where everyone can thrive.

The Opportunity: We are seeking a leader that is excited to maintain and grow the organizational strength of the WisDems by staying at the cutting edge of political tactics and technology, continuously optimizing the internal party structure, and deepening a culture of excellence, inclusivity, and innovation. As the Deputy Executive Director, you will be responsible for helping to manage the WisDems team to execute the Party’s ambitious and exciting strategic plan.

Job Responsibilities:

• Partner with the Chair, Executive Director and Executive team to build and implement the organization’s strategic plan and ensure systems and procedures of the party are efficient, effective, equitable, and inclusive.
• Manage several members of the leadership team, which includes the political, communications, digital, human resources, finance, operations, and legislative director. Manage your direct reports in all aspects of their work and support their success in the role by conducting relevant coaching conversations, providing and receiving feedback, and creating an inclusive and engaging team culture. More specific tasks could include but are not limited to:
  • Managing and reviewing time off requests
  • Hiring new team members
  • Having constructive conversations with team members on performance
  • Building rapport and trust within your team
  • Leading projects and delegating tasks
• Build relationships with key stakeholders including elected officials, party leaders, grassroots activists, and other stakeholders, working to align their interests with the Party’s and resolve conflict.
• Oversee key programmatic elements of the Party’s 2024 strategic plan while helping the Chair and Executive Director manage organizational change within the state party – from staying at the cutting edge of political technology, to optimizing the internal party structure, to deepening a culture of excellence, inclusivity, and innovation.
• Assist the Executive Director to maintain transparency and partnership, with the Administrative Committee (the Democratic Party of Wisconsin’s governing board), the staff, partner organizations, and the broader party membership.
• On year requirements include working outside of normal work hours; including canvassing and other election-preparation as necessary.

Qualifications (Required):

• Growth Mindset – Able to take and implement feedback.
• Relentlessly Goal-Oriented – Enjoys working toward and achieving ambitious goals. Keeps calm in stressful situations. Has the capacity and willingness to work long hours during peak season, rolling up their sleeves and getting the work done.
• Cultural Competency – Able to build authentic relationships across lines of difference, such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, ability, gender identity, citizenship status, or other identities. Understands how to take an inclusive lens into all aspects of work.
• Management Skills – Able to manage relationships within your team, bring out the best in your employees, and treat employees equitably across lines of difference; including but not limited to feedback, performance, and engagement.
• Clear, Precise, Compassionate Communication – Speaks clearly on behalf of the organization and advocates for/with community members. Communicates well with others, including sharing context and asking questions to understand others’ perspectives.
• Coach and Learning Mentality: Helps others grow. Uses coaching, training, and feedback to develop others and support problem-solving. Sees mistakes as learning opportunities. Seeks and engages well with feedback.
• Excellent Organizational Skills – Has demonstrated the ability to prioritize and manage details to efficiently multitask. Exceptionally strong time management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously under strict deadlines.
• Attentive and Empathetic Leadership – Enthusiasm for meeting and engaging with people. Empathizes with the communities we serve. Able to put people at ease, especially when there are lines of difference. Listens closely to understand needs or concerns and takes steps based on that input. Takes pride in providing clear, helpful information.

Qualifications (Preferred):

• Models and Inspires Accountability – Inspires and motivates others to take action and meet goals. Delegates skillfully. Holds the team accountable and acknowledges growing edges (in self and others).
• Community Organizing – Demonstrated experience working to build political power within Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, and to remove barriers to political participation by marginalized communities. Experience working with rural communities
• Political Background – Experience as either a political candidate or a senior staff member for an election campaign, coordinated campaign, or party organization
• Wisconsin Familiarity – Lived experience with and familiarity with Wisconsin; strong relationships with Democratic Party of Wisconsin members, elected officials, unions, and grassroots leaders throughout the state and across lines of race and place.

Benefits: Great benefits including; excellent health care ($1/month), dental ($1/month), vision ($1/month), life insurance (free), short term and long-term disability (free), TalkSpace virtual therapy, free Calm premium subscription, mileage reimbursement, monthly cell phone stipend, paid vacation days (starting at 10 days), retirement plan with 3% employer match, 3 floating holidays, 9 paid holidays.

Equity and Inclusion: The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has a vision for a deeply inclusive and diverse party organization, membership, and electorate. In order to be successful at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin candidates must have the cultural competence to successfully work with a diverse array of constituency groups. We especially strongly encourage applicants with close ties to Black, Indigenous, AAPI, Latinx, Muslim, non-English-speaking, disability, and LGBTQIA+ communities. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Note on COVID-19: Candidates will be required to verify that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 upon commencing employment, except where prohibited by law. Fully vaccinated includes receiving any booster shots recommended by the CDC or other public health authorities within the timeframe recommended. Reasonable accommodations due to disability, medical condition, or bona fide religious belief will be considered on a case-by-case basis for exemptions to this requirement in accordance with applicable law.