The Role
Lead and manage statewide organizing staff and programs in Michigan, develop and execute strategic electoral and issue campaigns, set and track metrics, recruit and train staff, coordinate with digital and partner teams, innovate engagement tactics, and oversee heavy travel and field operations through at least November 2026.
Summary Generated by Built In
Position: Organizing Director – Michigan
Job Location: Michigan
Position Type: Full Time, Exempt
Position Classification: Not Union Eligible
Compensation: $75,000 - $85,000
Position Travel/Driving Percentage: 75%
Reports to: State Director
About For Our Future
Founded in 2016, For Our Future Action Fund (FOFAF) and For Our Future (FOF) run a year-round progressive field program across battleground states, focused on engaging voters on economic issues facing working families. Our mission is to elevate and advance economic justice by organizing voters around a pro-union, economic agenda and to elect pro-worker candidates. Along with community partners and volunteers, we consistently engage with people in face-to-face conversations around socio-economic issues, encouraging them to take action on issues and in elections. By organizing people in lasting relationships, we win elections, pass progressive policies, drive local progress, make a community’s collective voice heard, and help build the transformative power needed to improve people’s lives.
Classification
FOFAF recognizes a staff bargaining unit, affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 494, a labor union. This position is NOT included in the FOFAF bargaining unit.
About the Role
FOFAF seeks an Organizing Director to manage organizing staff and organizing programs across the state of Michigan. You will work collaboratively with other department directors and key partners to implement campaign plans and develop and execute a strategic statewide issue advocacy and electoral program around core issue-areas: economic fairness, education, and racial justice. You will serve as a coach to develop regional directors and advance programs across regions. We are looking for someone with initiative, strong communication, and cross-collaboration skills to cut across silos to ensure information sharing between partners and allies, achieve program deliverables, and advance organizational interests, values, and priorities.
This position runs through at least November 2026.
Essential Functions
- Lead a results-driven statewide team of direct voter contact and organizing professionals.
- Report qualitative and quantitative organizing metrics and accomplishments regularly to state leadership and in-state and national stakeholders.
- Oversee implementation of all in-state organizing programs, work with state leadership to evaluate the impact of programs and innovate as necessary to ensure success.
- Collaborate with Digital Program Manager and state and national leadership to set priorities and overall strategy for both traditional and digital organizing programs.
- Monitor volunteer engagement within FOFAF’s online platforms and community hub.
- Set, meet, and exceed benchmarks for voter contact, grassroots engagement, digital engagement, and GOTV.
- Establish a vibrant culture that fosters diverse viewpoints and prioritizes equity among the team, while maintaining an accountable, innovative, purposeful, and goal-oriented team.
- Innovate new approaches to engage diverse constituencies and execute those approaches effectively.
- Create phone, door and SMS campaign scripts for direct voter contact programs.
- Track and report staff time for compliance reporting.
- Hire, coach, and train both organizing and direct voter contact staff on skills and best practices needed to achieve their objectives.
- Maintain daily program check-ins and regular one-on-ones with regional directors.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the State Director.
- Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.
Skills and Qualifications
- 3+ cycles of campaign experience, with at least 2 cycles of organizing and management experience.
- An understanding of Michigan's legislative and political landscape, and the path to power in the state. Ability to work and adapt to a changing political and policy landscape.
- Experience with strategic planning including the ability to develop short and long-term statewide plans, set objectives and metrics, track progress toward achieving objectives, and align those strategies with other progressive efforts in-state.
- Dedication to grassroots, local organizing and empowering state/local organizations to lead our work. Understanding of local community-based organizations and respect for their leaders and programs.
- Experience in recruiting, hiring and managing staff from all backgrounds as well as team building and developing talent within an organization. Competency with and commitment to leading with diversity, equity, and inclusion. Must be able to manage staff remotely.
- Experience with program management, including managing work across multiple internal departments for statewide issue advocacy or electoral campaigns.
- Demonstrated knowledge of effective and successful electoral plans, including targeting, voter contact, GOTV and best practices.
- Willingness to take initiative while juggling several priorities that may change quickly. Multi-tasker with excellent time management skills and ability to hit deadlines.
- Strong oral and written communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills. Ability to write compelling program reports.
- Demonstrated ability to navigate conflict and work toward resolution required.
- Willingness to travel, work long hours, and have access to reliable transportation.
- Ability to maintain "Independent" firewall status, which may limit your ability to take outside employment or to volunteer with a candidate campaign or political party organization.
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods of moving around for voter contact activity
- This is an in-person/hybrid position and will require a physical presence in the local office
- Prolonged periods of remaining in a stationary position at a desk and working on a computer
- Must be able to transport up to 15 pounds at times
- Must be able to travel across the state of Michigan.
Work Environment
Door-to-door canvassing and site-based events / training are an essential function of the work our organization does and are considered a high priority. Employees may be required to work in extreme weather conditions, including rain, heat, and cold. Overseeing canvassing is considered an essential function of this job. This position is expected to interact regularly face-to-face with voters, volunteers, or community partners. If state and government stay-at-home orders, phased reopening orders, or other factors related to the COVID-19 virus (or any other reason) limit For Our Future’s ability to engage safely in in-person work, employees may be assigned other duties to be conducted from their homes.
Health and Safety
For Our Future Action Fund is fully committed to the health and safety of our colleagues, candidates and the communities we serve. We encourage all employees to stay “up to date” with their COVID-19 vaccines and once eligible, to get COVID-19 boosters; however, this is not a requirement for employment at FOF.
All employees are required to adhere to the health and safety policies and procedures, when appropriate as implemented by the organization. Upon request, reasonable accommodations will be considered on a case-by-case basis for exemptions to this requirement in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Applicants may request a reasonable accommodation form by emailing Human Resources at [email protected]
Be advised that health and safety policies and procedures around COVID-19 may change in the future to stay in compliance with public health guidance and applicable laws.
EEO Statement
For Our Future Action Fund is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Opportunities are provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age (40 and over), religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (including transgender status), gender dysphoria, marital or familial status, partnership status, caregiver status, sexual and reproductive health decisions, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), creed, caste, national origin, citizenship and immigration status, consumer credit history, physical or mental disability, personal/outward appearance (including, but not limited to, hairstyle), family responsibilities, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), ancestry, matriculation, political affiliation, matriculation, status as a victim of domestic violence, or sexual offenses or stalking, arrest record, conviction record, military or uniformed service member status, or veteran status, or any other characteristic, trait or status protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws or ordinances. Equal opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation and training.
We are also committed to the full inclusion of every qualified individual. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please contact [email protected].
Skills Required
- 3+ cycles of campaign experience, with at least 2 cycles of organizing and management experience
- Understanding of Michigan's legislative and political landscape
- Experience with strategic planning, developing statewide plans, setting objectives and metrics, and tracking progress
- Dedication to grassroots, local organizing and ability to work with community-based organizations
- Experience recruiting, hiring, managing staff, team building, and developing talent with commitment to DEI
- Ability to manage staff remotely
- Program management experience across multiple internal departments for statewide advocacy or electoral campaigns
- Demonstrated knowledge of electoral plans including targeting, voter contact, GOTV, and best practices
- Strong oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, and ability to write program reports
- Demonstrated ability to navigate conflict and work toward resolution
- Willingness to travel extensively, work long hours, and have reliable transportation (Position travel ~75%)
- Ability to maintain 'Independent' firewall status limiting outside employment or volunteering with campaigns/parties
- Track and report staff time for compliance reporting
- Physical ability to perform voter contact activities, transport up to 15 pounds, and work in varied weather
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The Company
What We Do
For Our Future is a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC that empowers people in battleground states and districts to organize their communities, build progressive power, and fight for a government that works for everyone. They operate a year-round, scalable organizing program that trains volunteers and canvassers to engage in face-to-face conversations, helping to win local, state, and federal elections while advancing policies that support working families and social justice.
