Wisconsin State Director

Position: Wisconsin State Director

Job Location: Wisconsin

Position Type: Full Time, Exempt

Position Classification: Not Union Eligible

Travel Percentage: 25%

Reports to: Director of Campaigns and Data & Analytics

Founded in 2016, For Our Future Action Fund and For Our Future run the largest, permanent progressive field program across battleground states. Our mission is to 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 what issues matter most to them. By organizing people in lasting relationships, we win elections, drive local progress, make a community's collective voice heard, and help build the transformative power needed to improve people's lives.

For Our Future 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 For Our Future staff union.

The Wisconsin State Director leads For Our Future's (FOF) operations in the state, developing and executing advocacy and electoral programs focused on working families' issues including but not limited to economic fairness, education, and racial justice. This role involves managing and developing staff, building and cultivating strategic partnerships with board affiliates, donors, and allies, and ensuring alignment between national FOF/FOFAF teams, the FOF/FOFAF board and their in-state representatives, and other key Wisconsin stakeholders. The State Director also represents FOF in state coalitions, oversees consultants, leads training, and advances the organization's priorities in collaboration with national staff.

Essential Functions

• Develop and manage the state strategy and budget.
• Lead a results-driven statewide team of communication, field, digital, and organizing professionals.
• Oversee all in-state FOF and FOFAF programs, evaluate the impact of programs, and ensure innovation as necessary to ensure success.
• Perform outreach to in-state donors and the in-state donor table to coordinate, align, and bring new funding to the organization for maximum impact. This includes individual and institutional donors.
• Regularly report state qualitative and quantitative accomplishments.
• Maintain relationships with in-state board affiliates, key stakeholders, partner organizations, policymakers, opinion leaders, funding partners, and other community leaders.
• Collaborate with the national Human Resources team to manage and oversee all FOF and FOFAF hiring within the state.
• Resolve all complaints or issues in collaboration with Senior Management, General Counsel, and Human Resources.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as designated by the Director of Campaigns, Data, and Analytics
• Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Skills And Qualifications

• Must have a minimum of five (5) years experience executing statewide issue advocacy campaigns, and working within or managing issue coalitions with at least three (3) years of directly managing staff. Experience executing effective and successful electoral plans, including targeting, voter contact, GOTV and best practices with each. Solutions-oriented approach, with a willingness to take initiative, while juggling several priorities that may change quickly. Multi-tasker with excellent time management skills and ability to hit deadlines.
• Proven ability to work independently as a self-starter, demonstrating initiative, sound judgment, and the ability to drive projects forward with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated understanding of Wisconsin's legislative and political processes, including the pathways to influence within the state. Capacity to function effectively and adjust strategies in response to evolving political and policy environments.
• 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. Ability to get buy-in and build consensus among a diverse group of stakeholders for that plan is required.
• 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 working in a coalition setting, particularly coalitions with labor partners, strongly preferred. Experience in engaging and understanding the unique nature of individual unions and how they fit into the greater progressive landscape. Experience in engaging progressive organizations in dense urban areas, as well as suburban areas, is preferred.
• Inclination to lead via organizing rather than by decree. Ability to build strong teams to accomplish goals without a need to bottom-line everything. Talented in coalition and team building.
• Understanding of financial management and financial controls. Experience crafting and managing budgets and familiarity with financial reporting and compliance. Understanding of the legal requirements and restrictions of 501(c)(4) and 527 (PAC) organizations a plus.
• Strong oral and written communication skills including the ability to write compelling program reports, fundraising/marketing documents, and program debrief reports.
• Must possess strong interpersonal skills including the ability to build relationships, maintain communication with key statewide stakeholders and navigate conflict resolution.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• This position is based in the state of Wisconsin and will require occasional travel throughout the various FOF offices in Wisconsin including regular in person interactions with employees and community partners.
• Prolonged periods of remaining in a stationary position at a desk and working on a computer as well as prolonged periods of moving around for voter contact activity
• Must be able to transport up to 15 pounds at times
• Must be able to travel across the state of Wisconsin.

This position comes with a comprehensive benefits package.

• Health Insurance Coverage - 95% Employer Paid
• Paid parental leave
• Retirement Savings Plan with matching contributions up to the first 5%
• $150 Monthly Cell Phone and Internet Reimbursement
• Monthly Mileage Stipend
• 13 days paid time off every calendar year, as well as other paid holidays.

Expected Hours of Work

• Normal hours of business are from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday, however, employees may be required to work outside of normal business hours including weekends, holidays, and nights.
• Employees are required to abide by certain blackout dates during a campaign cycle or other key deadlines, and generally not allowed to take off during blackout periods. Emergencies are not affected by this policy.

For Our Future Action Fund ("FOF") 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 hr@forourfuturefund.org

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.

For Our Future 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 hr@forourfuturefund.org.