Political Director

Location: Omaha or Lincoln, Nebraska

In recent years, all three of Nebraska’s generating utilities have committed to net zero carbon goals and are making clean energy investments. But opponents of clean energy have ramped up their attacks, attempting to erect barriers at every level of government to prevent progress.

Nebraska has vast water resources, but not every Nebraskan has access to safe, clean drinking water. In fact, many Nebraskans are at risk due to high levels of lead, nitrate, PFAs, and other contaminants in their drinking water.

To protect the progress we’ve made and further increase investments in Nebraska’s safe & healthy future, we need to continue to secure political and policy victories. To accomplish these goals, NCV is seeking a Political Director. The person hired for this role will play a critical part in moving not only Nebraska, but the rest of the country, toward a clean, safe, and healthy future.

Core Responsibilities

• • Direct and oversee all political programming to elect strong leaders who champion our values to local and statewide offices
  • Direct and oversee political strategy to achieve legislative goals and broader power-building strategies

Supervision/Management

• • Manage Organizer(s), including but not limited to weekly check-ins, help set goals for field programs, and approve field program deliverables. Participate in all field programming to assist the Organizer(s)

Organizational Leadership:

• • Help with annual and long-term priority and goal setting, and trouble-shoot major organizational issues that require a cross-departmental perspective as part of the Executive Support Team
  • Contribute to ongoing and growing leadership and management development of the NCV staff
  • Role model behavior and expectations to support cohesive, inclusive, impactful team culture.

Political Program Implementation:

• • Develop and implement long term political and electoral power building strategies
  • Recommend campaign targets and political strategy based on research, communication with coalition partners, and viability in the local and state election cycles
  • Develop and lead all political programming, collaborating with any Organizers, Communications staff, and contractors as needed
  • Collaborate with coalition partners to develop a robust candidate recruitment program.

Issue Campaign Implementation:

• • Assist Program Director and Deputy Director in developing priority policy goals; track and update policy goals as needed
  • Build and maintain relationships with key actors in state—policy makers, NGOs, industry execs, leading experts on the issue, and constituents
  • Organize support or opposition to priority proposals, assist with research and writing testimony, letters of support, letters to the editor, and editorial placement
  • Field inquiries, questions, and communication with elected officials as necessary
  • Support the implementation of issue campaign plans by working alongside organizers and volunteers in periodic engagement in volunteer recruitment, meetings, canvassing, events, etc in the issue realm

Working Conditions:

This job operates both in a professional office environment and in outdoor and indoor public spaces. The person in the position will frequently be expected to move about to accomplish tasks and move between sites. This position routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and audiovisual systems. The person in this position frequently communicates with community members and must be able to exchange accurate information. Ability to occasionally work evening and weekend hours if needed. This position requires a valid driver’s license or access to reliable transportation.

Benefits:

• • Starting salary between $56,000 and $75,000 depending on experience.
  • Access to NCV’s health care, dental, and vision plans.
  • Enrollment in NCV’s retirement plan.
  • Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
  • Flexible work schedule.