Vice President of Electoral Strategies

For potential consideration or to suggest a prospect, please email EJAVP@boardwalkconsulting.com or call Crystal Stephens, Terri Kohan, or Lysondra Somerville at 404-BoardWalk (404-262-7392).

Location

Washington, D.C. - Hybrid

Job Description

While Earthjustice wields the law to improve our environment, Earthjustice Action builds the political power to strengthen those laws, create new ones, educate the public about the importance of the courts to the environment, and elect the leaders including judges that will make them work in practice. Its mission is to forge the partnerships, coalitions, and grassroots movements necessary to pass robust environmental legislation, ensure a fair and independent judiciary that will uphold environmental protections, and elect visionary leaders who will champion our shared future. Through direct and grassroots lobbying, strategic public awareness campaigns, and targeted electoral advocacy, Earthjustice Action transforms legal precedents into lasting political change.

Earthjustice Action is growing and is now a $6+ million organization with a dedicated team and expanding influence. In partnership with dozens of organizations and coalitions, EJA’s educational, advocacy, and electoral campaigns reached over 43 million people over the last three years. EJA and its associated political committees helped secure Democratic majorities in three state supreme courts over the last two years, paving the way for fair, science-based decisions for the next decade. We expect Earthjustice Action to grow substantially in the coming years. EJA will open a critical next chapter in advancing its mission and influence. These are the years that require new leaders and a new approach to politics that can secure a livable planet for generations to come.

Earthjustice Action seeks a seasoned and visionary C4 leader to shape this next phase of growth in scale, profile, and impact. This role demands more than management—it calls for a team-oriented, strategist capable of crafting a bold vision while simultaneously collaborating with Earthjustice Action leaders to develop the infrastructure, systems, and capacity to turn that vision into reality. The ideal leader will position Earthjustice Action to confront today's environmental crises with the scale, agility, and political influence they require.

The VP of Electoral Strategies is charged with building Earthjustice Action as a highly effective organization. While EJA’s work will remain primarily focused on public education and advocacy, working in close coordination with the President, the Vice President of Policy and Legislation, and EJA's Political Director, the VP will oversee election strategy and build the infrastructure to also harness EJA’s and its associate political committees’ full potential as an electoral force. The VP will have the backing and benefit of EJA's expertise and resources while partnering closely with communications and development teams.

The VP will also oversee EJA’s execution of voter engagement—including voter education, registration, GOTV, and electioneering communications—while managing the organization’s electoral fundraising, budgeting, and compliance functions. As a key liaison to the EJA Board of Trustees and one of EJA's lead fundraisers, the VP will partner with dedicated development staff to secure resources for this work.

The VP will initially supervise two dedicated EJA staff members plus contractors supporting voter education, GOTV, and other election-related activities. The VP will also grow the team and its capacity to scale year after year, and for the electoral work, cycle after cycle—transforming electoral strategy from tactical response into sustained political power.

JOB DUTIES:

Strategic Leadership

  • Work with senior program staff, including President, VP of Policy and Legislation (PAL) and Political Director, to develop EJA’s long- and near-term goals and objectives, and to identify election-related strategies for achieving them.
  • Establish metrics to gauge progress and drive accountability.
  • Partner with PAL, Development, and Communications staff working on behalf of EJA to define EJA’s brand and role in the broader ecosystem of progressive advocacy NGOs.

Operational Leadership

  • Develop plans, processes, budgets and workflows necessary to carry out EJA’s strategy.
  • Define roles and responsibilities for core EJA staff as well as other program staff supporting EJA’s election-related activities.
  • Supervise establishment and operation of EJA political accounts and/or entities as needed to carry out the organization’s plans. This could include establishment and operation of federal and state-level political action committees.
  • Ensure proper coordination of EJA work by core EJA team members, other program staff, and the Finance, Development, Communications, and General Counsel departments.

Board Relations, Membership, and Fundraising

  • Collaborate with EJA’s President, VP of PAL and EJA’s Board team to facilitate EJA Board governance by planning and executing EJA Board meetings, delivering written and oral board reports, and identifying new board members.
  • Collaborate with Development and Communications staff working on behalf of EJA to build EJA’s membership base and membership donations.
  • Collaborate with Development staff working on behalf of EJA to cultivate financial support from major institutional and individual donors.

Management

  • Supervise the Political Director and Deputy Director; recruit, hire, and supervise additional staff as needed.
  • Uphold Earthjustice Action’s mission and values by fostering a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative work environment, providing clear direction and feedback, and promoting a culture of learning for all team members.
  • Oversee the budgeting, administrative, and personnel management of the team, ensuring that all functions meet organizational policies and standards.
  • Actively pursue professional development and contribute to a culture of learning by building skills and sharing knowledge.

Compliance Assurance

  • Partner with General Counsel, external counsel, and external contractors to ensure that EJA complies with all applicable laws at all times.

Please note that the percentage breakdowns provided above serve as a guideline and that other duties may be assigned as part of the job’s requirements.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

  • The ideal candidate is an experienced C4 leader who has grown and scaled an electoral advocacy program or organization. This individual will be competent, confident, and highly team-oriented. Specific requirements include:
  • Experience building and operating C3, C4, and PAC structures.
  • Understanding of laws governing the work of 501(c)(3) and (c)(4) organizations, and experience interpreting and maintaining compliance with those laws.
  • Experience building and executing voter education, GOTV, and electoral campaigns.
  • Skill in leading diverse teams with emotional intelligence and cultural competence; fosters growth through mentorship, effective communication, and constructive feedback while hiring and developing team talents to align with organizational needs.
  • Financial management experience, including experience building and tracking budgets.
  • Management skills including the ability to: foster growth through mentorship; communicate effectively; provide constructive feedback; and develop teams to reflect organizational needs.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Excellent emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
  • Demonstrated commitment to Earthjustice’s values of Justice, Excellence, Inclusion, and Partnership.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

  • At least 10 years of relevant experience.
  • College degree preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Ability to use typical office equipment such as personal computers and printers. Ability to perform routine bending, stooping, twisting, and reaching. Ability to travel to meetings throughout the DC area. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits. We also offer a congenial work environment and a casual dress code. The salary range for this role in Washington, DC is $301,000-$334,400.

Please note that since this position will conduct most of its work on behalf of a 501(c)(4) organization, this position will likely not qualify for eligibility with the U.S. Department of Education’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT:

Earthjustice Action is driven by a passion for justice, partnership and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other factor that is not related to the position.

For potential consideration or to suggest a prospect, please email EJAVP@boardwalkconsulting.com or call Crystal Stephens, Terri Kohan, or Lysondra Somerville at 404-BoardWalk (404-262-7392).