Michigan State Director
Working Families Party
Michigan, USA
Posted on Feb 4, 2025
About the Working Families Party
The Working Families Party (WFP) is the progressive party for the multiracial working class, fighting for a nation that works for the many, not the few. We recruit, train, and support transformational candidates up and down the ballot — and run them to win.
We believe that no matter where we come from or what our color, most of us want the same things. We want to earn enough to thrive, not just survive, and leave a better future for our kids. We want healthy food and clean water, safe neighborhoods and a safe world. We want to be free.
The Working Families Party is regular people coming together across our differences to make a better future for us all. We’re a multiracial party that fights for workers over bosses and people over the powerful. We want an America which realizes the promise – unrealized in our history – of freedom and equality for all.
The MI WFP State Director is responsible for developing and building the MI chapter of the Working Families Party, a political party of, by and for the multiracial working class. The State Director drives the strategy and vision for the development, growth, stability and power of the Working Families Party and Working Families Power (c4) in Michigan, in alignment with the WFP’s state power building model. The State Director will work with the MI WFP Organizing Committee to become a chartered state chapter of the WFP, including developing a long term state power building plan, and recruiting, training and formalizing a State Committee to lead the MI WFP.
In this role, the State Director will build relationships with key electeds, candidates, and grassroots organizational leaders; ensure the execution of endorsement processes; develop and implement issue and electoral campaign activities; recruit and manage a diverse and talented team; support a robust and aggressive communications program including being a spokesperson for the organization; build WFP as an organizing shop with strong member engagement and grassroots power; raise funds for the Party’s program and coalition partners; and oversee the legal and administrative functions to stay in compliance with federal and local reporting and laws.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Develops and staffs the Michigan Organizing Committee (and eventually State Committee) to guide the electoral, organizing and issue campaign priorities for the state; Is accountable to the OC/SC, and keeps them informed of significant developments;
- Devises and implements effective strategies to advance the mission of WFP within the state;
- Supports the leadership development and political education of WFP staff and members;
- Leads values-based alignment and decision-making processes to move stakeholders through complex decision making, both internal to the WFP but also with a broader set of partner groups.
- Lead work with the MI Alignment Table and other formations to build broad movement alignment on power-building strategies including base-building, leadership development and civic engagement;
- Work with partner groups to shape local and state progressive ecosystem and capacity.
- Builds a political network: cultivates relationships with allies, partners, constituency leaders, elected officials and their staff, stakeholders, donors, and foundations to expand Working Families’ base of support;
- Constructs and raises a statewide budget;
- Recruits, hires, trains and manages talented staff to carry out the organization’s mission;
- Serves as a spokesperson for the Party and the broader coalition in the state; generates media attention and builds public awareness of Working Families initiatives and campaigns;
- Ensures full compliance with local, state and federal election and campaign finance laws.
Skills and Qualifications
- Required:
- 8 or more years of relevant professional experience. Relevant experience includes (but is not limited to) working in political, policy, union, advocacy, legal, journalistic, or government settings;
- Strong management skills and at least 3 years of supervisory experience;
- Demonstrated fundraising experience;
- Excellent relational and coalition building skills;
- High emotional intelligence and ability to meet a wide range of WFP stakeholders where they are, from staff to elected officials to Party leaders and beyond;
- Excellent analytical skills and sound judgment;
- Strong verbal and writing skills; the ability to communicate persuasively in a charged atmosphere;
- Must be a results-oriented self-starter able to work under significant pressure on several projects at one time;
- Commitment to organizing in the pursuit of social and economic justice
- Experience with electoral tactics and tech tools including but not limited to VAN or other voter file, mobilize.us, P2P text, broadcast sms, predictive dialers, canvassing apps, relational apps, etc.
- Valid driver’s license
- Existing relationships with MI progressive and working class elected officials and 501c4 and PAC grassroots organizations and coalitions;
- Network of potential funders, individual donors, or volunteers in MI;
- Experience recruiting and building a board of directors or similar body;
- Desirable fluency in second language, preferably Spanish or one spoken in multiracial working class communities in MI
- Regular access to a car for in-state travel
Preferred not required:
What Else Should You Know
- Location: The position is full-time and based in Michigan with moderate in-state travel required, and limited out of state travel expected.
- Salary: The salary range for this position is $95,000 to $115,000. The final salary will be determined based on an internal equitable scale that takes into consideration years of experience, geographic location, and final job description. We also offer a robust benefit package including unlimited vacation days; health, dental, vision, and life insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement plan options; professional development funding; and remote work support.
- Union Affiliation: WFP is a unionized workplace. This is a managerial role, not included in our bargaining unit. WFP's union employees are represented by the New York Metropolitan Area Joint Board, Workers United union.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Working Families is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to economic and social justice. Women, people of color, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and members of other historically disenfranchised populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Any applicant who requires an accommodation in order to apply for or perform the essential functions of the job should contact us at jobs@workingfamilies.org with the subject line "Application Accommodation" to request such an accommodation.