Connecticut Governance Director

About the Working Families PartyThe 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.
ABOUT THIS ROLE
Working Families Party (WFP) and Working Families Power seek to build a powerful, left political force that can win real governing power: the durable capacity of the multiracial working class to shape and wield government in its own interests. In Connecticut, we’ve been winning elections for champions for working people for two decades, and organizing to leverage those electoral successes into legislative victories for working families — including paid family and medical leave, paid sick days, immigrant protections, and equitable state budgets.
The Governance Director will lead our work aligning and organizing elected officials around a clear vision for Connecticut and how we can get there through explicit policy changes and a unified platform. From cohering newly-elected legislators to convening aligned allies, this role will take the lead in organizing our legislative champions. The position is also responsible for crafting and implementing a legislative strategy for the organization. Electoral responsibilities for this role predominantly include incumbent defense, with other elections as Party priorities dictate. The role will require the staffer to be a registered lobbyist with the state of Connecticut.
This position is supervised by the Connecticut State Director, and will work closely with our team of five, as well as with staff in similar roles in other WFP states around the country. The role includes local and national professional development opportunities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizing legislators

Organize and run regular WFPower meetings of elected officials

Develop trusting working relationships with allied legislators

Develop bi-annual WFPower legislator retreats (pre- and post-session) to debrief and plan

Regularly host skill and/or issue training spaces (such as on press relations or housing policy)

Lead development of a public WFPower legislative agenda or platform

Identify opportunities for shared messaging

Lead WFP staff team in supporting aligned legislators (ie communications and social media work with Comms Director)

In conjunction with the organizing staff, develop pathways for activists to support WFP electeds and legislation

Analyze and strategize the evolving legislative landscape

Organize substantive new legislator orientation event series to build community and recruit newly-elected legislators into organizing with WFPower

Meet monthly with newly elected aligned legislators for at least a year after election

Coalition work and legislative lobbying

Lead WFPower involvement with coalitions working on tax equity, progressive revenue, paid family & medical leave, housing, and more

Craft legislative strategies and build campaigns to pass priority legislation

Track priority legislation and manage/deliver WFPower testimony on key bills

Lobby legislators on WFPower priority bills

Electoral responsibilities

Support incumbent elected officials in planning re-election campaigns

Lead WFP incumbent electoral defense work

Manage WFP electeds showing up for each other in election season

Coordinate group endorsement efforts in primary elections where possible

Support candidate recruitment efforts

Municipal elected responsibilities

Track and manage ongoing opportunities for municipal elected officials to engage WFP

Support governance of aligned municipal elected officials by connecting them to each other, coalitions, and national resources

Identify and coach municipal electeds with potential for running for higher office

Raise funds to drive CTWFPower and CTWFParty work

Support the state director in researching and obtaining grants for governance work

Lead efforts to help aligned legislators create PACs

Raise funds from legislator PACs into WFP

Compliance

Manage registrations and monthly/annual reports for all registered lobbyists on the team

Create and use tracking systems for lobbying hours

Report to funders lobbying time as required

Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Required

At least 4 years of relevant professional experience in advocacy, politics, or organizing

Demonstrated track record of commitment to social, economic, and racial justice

Demonstrated ability to work closely with elected officials to pass progressive policy

Excellent facilitation skills, and the ability to build solidarity and shared strategy across differences.

Ability to quickly learn new contexts and policy areas.

Ability to make decisions with consequences in nuanced political settings.

Strong sense of empathy and ability to build collaborative relationships.

Excellent problem solving skills, with excellent judgment in moments of conflict.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to work independently and manage complex projects.

Ability to manage multiple projects at once and prioritize work.

Basic computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite & Google Suite

Driver’s license, reliable transportation, and willingness for regular in-state travel

Ability and willingness to work late evenings and weekends, including at the State Capitol during legislative session

Preferred

Experience with the Connecticut legislature

Experience managing electoral campaigns

Fluency in Spanish