About Democratic Party of Wisconsin

WisDems is nationally recognized as one of the country’s highest-performing and most pivotal political organizations. During the upcoming election cycle, WisDems will drive massive programs to hold Republicans accountable, 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.

Start date: June 2025

Application Deadline: May 13, 2025 

(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.)

Describe the experience and attributes of the ideal candidate

The Opportunity:  We seek a talented Voter Protection Director to ensure that all eligible Wisconsinites are able to cast their ballot. Our right to vote is fundamental to all that we hope to accomplish; the Voter Protection Director is a crucial role that will develop, implement, and manage a robust, year-round voter protection program, ensuring free and fair elections in Wisconsin. A strong candidate for this position will think creatively about how to not only protect the right to vote but expand access to make it easier for people to exercise their right to participate in our democracy.

Job Responsibilities:

• Develop a strategic Voter Protection plan in coordination with senior management, and hire and manage a team to execute that plan.
• Maintain a current knowledge of voting laws and related issues, in Wisconsin and nationally.
• Lead strategies to expand access and defend against incursions to the franchise at the state and local level. 
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across DPW departments to create goals, objectives, and systems.
• Build and sustain strong partnerships with national, state, local, and municipal level officials and organizations. Own and cultivate relationships with key state and local election administrators and other elected officials.
• Supervise the Voter Protection team’s voter education and outreach efforts.
• Oversee all aspects of the voter protection program, including maintaining our year-round voter assistance hotline and voter education efforts, running off-year poll worker recruitment, and managing election-specific programs such as poll observers and ballot cure.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments in elections that could impact the campaign’s programs, advise senior leadership in developing responses, and work with partners in preparing for potential litigation.
• Manage programmatic changes to voting laws and procedures in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications (Required)

• Prior Voter Protection experience in Wisconsin or another state, ideally at deputy level or above, or equivalent experience at a voting rights-focused organization. Demonstrated fluency unpacking, explaining, and organizing around complicated legal issues related to voting rights and democracy. 
• Proven Project Management Experience - Prior experience planning, overseeing and leading strategic projects from ideation to completion. You follow up on next steps and ensure there are no dropped balls.
• 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.
• Effective Communication Skills - Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively to volunteers, internal staff, and external stakeholders.
• Growth Mindset - ability to take and implement feedback.
• Relentlessly Goal-Oriented - enjoys working toward and achieving ambitious goals; willing to go over, under, around, or through any obstacle that gets in the way of meeting goals.
• Cultural Competency - Able to build relationships and collaborate with colleagues, voters, and volunteers across lines of difference. Strong lens and judgment on issues of race and equity.
• Commitment to the DPW’s Values - A strong commitment to protecting the right to vote and expanding access to the ballot, advancing the Democratic agenda, strengthening the Democratic Party, and winning elections.

Qualifications (Preferred):

• Juris Doctor - a JD is preferred, with demonstrated experience handling complex legal and regulatory issues.
• Knowledge of Wisconsin/Midwestern politics.
• Proficient in VAN, LBJ, Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets.
• Partner relationships: demonstrated ability to cultivate and manage delicate relationships with external partners, including state and local election administrators, elected officials, and other organizations that work in the progressive voting rights space.

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), free TalkSpace virtual therapy, free Calm premium subscription, monthly cell phone stipend, 10 days paid vacation, retirement plan with employer match, 3 floating holidays, 9 paid holidays, plus more!

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 LGBTQ communities. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Note on COVID-19: Candidates will be required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 upon commencing employment, except where prohibited by law. 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.