Candidate Services Manager

Job Title: Candidate Services Manager
Reports to: Candidate Services Director
Salary: $55,000-$65,000/annually, generous benefits package
Location: Madison or Milwaukee, WI (Please note: Employment with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin requires residence or willingness to relocate to the state of Wisconsin.)
Start date: April 2024
Application Deadline: April 5,  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.)

Proudly a Bargaining Unit Position with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 

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: The Candidate Services Manager will work alongside the Candidate Services Director to help build, grow, and maintain the Spring and Fall Candidate Services programs and support the needs of candidates up and down the ballot. Through candidate recruitment, training opportunities, and 1:1 support, you will help build a bench of Democratic candidates at all levels. 

Job Responsibilities: 

• Support local candidates by working with the Candidate Services Director to execute our support programs.
• Coordinate with the Coalitions team as well as other DPW departments and stakeholders to recruit, assist, and amplify candidates across the state.
• Build and maintain relationships with county parties, partner organizations, legislative leaders, candidates, campaign managers, and state legislative caucuses.
• Provide services, resources, training opportunity information, paid media support, and campaign consultation to a portfolio of candidates as their point of contact.
• Find meaningful or creative ways to support down-ballot candidates who are often functioning on tight budgets and have little campaign experience, which may include providing materials that are easily accessible for candidates regardless of primary status.
• Plan and execute a support program for county-level campaigns in Fall election cycles.
• Maintain and expand a database of elected offices across the state.
• Collaborate with the Candidate Services Director to identify targeted races and distribute campaigns to staff portfolios.
• Work with the Candidate Services Director to plan out future Candidate Services programs.
• Develop internal organizational systems to track and manage various programs, portfolios, and performance.
• Plan and execute other projects to aid candidate recruitment and support as assigned by the Candidate Services Director.
• Manage exhibitor relations for the annual WisDems Convention’s Unity Fair and hospitality suites.
• Manage 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
• On year requirements include working outside of normal work hours; including canvassing and other election-preparation as necessary.
• Manage 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
• 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.
• Excellent Written & Interpersonal Communication Skills - Has the ability to build relationships with candidates, community leaders, and activists.
• Time-Management Skills - Maintain a high level of time management and organization to meet the needs of candidates and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
• Creative Problem Solver - Able to adapt quickly and think on their feet, while maintaining positive relationships with a number of stakeholders.
• Quick Learner - Ability to learn internal party channels to accomplish needs and fulfill requests of candidates in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications (Preferred):

• Has existing political relationships with DPW, partner orgs, or electeds.
• Graphic design skills.
• Have access to reliable transportation and the willingness to travel statewide.
• Experience managing a team.
• Experience working on a campaign and/or directly with a candidate for elected office.
• Experience working with VAN (Votebuilder) or similar software.

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, 4 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.