If you look at thorny technical democracy or policy problems and your mind jumps to how to bring together bright people to collectively find solutions - this position is for you. If you love to aggressively lobby for, refine and implement those solutions, and engage grassroots activists in tackling these issues strategically - please apply post haste.
The Trump administration fired the nation’s election cybersecurity staff, is withholding election security funding from states, and is threatening to prosecute election officials and seize voting machines. We expect more challenges as the election draws near. The administration and likeminded state officials are making it harder to vote and encouraging officials to upload voter data to the Department of Homeland Security. Vendors are spreading unsecurable paperless internet voting systems to more states.
The Protect Elections Campaign Coordinator will lead Public Citizen’s work to protect election officials, secure voting systems, and defend free and fair elections themselves through state policy and national grassroots organizing pushes. As a co-facilitator of the Secure Our Vote coalition and an active member of several other central pro-democracy coalitions, the Coordinator will drive multiple campaigns with the support of policy experts to address new and longstanding threats to our elections. This role is meant for a self-starting strategic thinker, a lover of people and persuasion who isn’t shy about planning and executing serious campaigns that aren’t top of mind for progressive groups writ large.
Working within various coalition spaces, this program has already won hundreds of millions of dollars in election funding, passed over a dozen laws protecting election officials and voting systems, pushed successfully with allies to move away from paperless voting and defeated dozens of dangerous internet voting bills. Will you lead us to our next raft of victories? Our futures depend on it.
Public Citizen’s Democracy Campaign works to protect and build a stronger democracy in the United States. Democracy and the rule of law in the United States is under systematic attack by the Trump administration. Big money raised in secret undermines the voice of the people in our elections, the freedom to vote is under assault, and lawlessness by the executive branch is out of control.
Public Citizen is a national, non-partisan, public interest group with more than a million members and supporters. We hold governments and corporations accountable with campaigns and advocacy before all branches of government on issues including money in politics, open government, financial regulation, the democracy crisis, fair trade, consumer protection, access to justice, workplace safety, drug and medical device safety, and more.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Envisioning, building through coalition work, and executing bold campaigns to protect election officials and voting systems through passing state and local laws, and grassroots mobilization
Coordinating the Secure Our Vote coalition, developing forward facing campaigns to protect election cybersecurity through policy development, lobbying, and organizing coalitions, decisionmakers and grassroots campaigns
Defeating non-voter verified internet voting initiatives, and supporting the development of an underutilized verifiable alternative
Coordinating with coalition partners to build out and organize a plan to ensure the results of the elections are upheld in key states.
Coordinating Public Citizen’s efforts in collaboration with senior staff as part of the Election Protection coalition, Declaration for American Democracy, and other key democracy defense and election protection coalitions to ensure synched up policy and campaign agendas.
Supporting federal efforts to protect election officials, funding, etc.
Responding to a rapidly changing environment to prioritize and address the most pressing threats to democratic elections in the United States, expect shifts in strategy will be needed.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Five or more years of experience winning campaigns, coalition management, organizing, policy, or advocacy experience.
The ideal candidate is a strong and savvy coalition manager who is familiar with and has connections within democracy coalitions at the state and national level.
Knowledge of election processes, election cybersecurity, and/or cybersecurity issues that arise in backsliding democracies is ideal. Competency in at least one of these areas, and eagerness to learn, is preferred.
Ideally holds relationships with election officials at the federal, state or local level. Must be enthusiastic about lobbying to build those relationships with support from our team.
Strong commitment to ending the democracy crisis and advancing racial and economic justice.
Outstanding analytical thinking, judgment, and oral and written communication skills.
Excellent political judgment.
Entrepreneurial instincts, strong project management and self-starting characteristics
Experience and understanding of grassroots engagement, training and creative action skills as much as possible.
Ability to lead, support, and project manage staff and interns as needed.
Eagerness to learn new, complex material quickly.
Desire to create a more inclusive movement - approach with love and joy
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, balance multiple projects and execute plans while reacting to new developments and maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
Collaborative spirit, high energy, and enthusiasm.
Willingness to work long hours as necessary - balancing our team’s strong commitment to both work-life balance and grassroots mobilizing that by necessity happens nights and weekends.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
Competitive salary and generous benefit package. Below is a list of some of our benefits (please note that some benefits have eligibility requirements). Salary $85,383 – 101,455. This is a grant-contingent, 18-month position.
Benefits include:
Great medical and dental coverage, 100% paid by PC, including full coverage for children
Three weeks paid vacation for new employees, plus five personal days
401K plan with a 5% contribution from PC after one year of employment
12 weeks of paid parental leave after one year of employment
Sabbatical after 8 years of employment
Student loan reimbursement program
TOAPPLY:
Please send cover letter and resume to Aquene Freechild at afreechild@citizen.org