The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Institute works to achieve full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people by building, supporting, and advancing a diverse network of LGBT public leaders.
 
Through its training and professional development programs, the Victory Institute assists hundreds of individuals who go on to influential careers in politics, government, business and advocacy each year.  Many of the Victory Institute’s trainees join the more than 1,000 openly LGBT elected and appointed officials now serving around the world.

General responsibilities:

The Political Associate is a key member of the Political Team of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and Victory Institute.  The person in this position is directly responsible for overseeing the candidate endorsement process and for implementing the Victory Institute’s Candidate and Campaign Training.

The political associate is responsible for overseeing updates and edits to website in regards to political news and information on endorsed candidates.

As a member of the Political Team, the political associate is responsible for handling and overseeing PAC check recommendations and working with the Political Fellow/Interns to make sure all paperwork is properly filled out and submitted in a timely manner.

The political associate also is responsible for managing day to day responsibilities of the Political Team interns.

Day to Day responsibilities:

Endorsements

• Research the campaigns of applicants; write reviews of races for Victory Campaign Board and staff as assigned.
• Work with the Communications team to research and ensure accuracy of information for candidate profiles for Victory web site as assigned.
• Oversee the management of incoming endorsement applications and ensuring that applications and related information are appropriately filed and that key candidate information is entered into the database.

Campaign Support

• Assist in ongoing reviews of endorsed candidates’ campaigns, to assess Victory Fund’s involvement in those campaigns. 
• Serve as the primary channel of communication between Victory Fund and assigned campaigns.
• Make recommendations to the Vice-President of Political Operations on Victory Fund involvement in a given race.
• Provide advice to endorsed candidates on all aspects of successful campaigning.
• Track election results for assigned campaigns.
• Serve as point person for political team to ensure that the organization’s web site has accurate and timely updates on information related to endorsed candidates
• Oversee that paperwork on in-kind contributions and PAC contributions are distributed in a timely manner and properly archived.
• Keep the Candidate Pipeline document updated and input all candidate information and out officials information into the database

Outreach

• Assist organization in the maintenance of relationships with allied groups.
• Identify opportunities for training workshops and speaking engagements with allied organizations. Facilitate training workshops and help identify the proper team member to speak at those events.
• Maintain a strong national network of political contacts.

Candidate and Campaign Trainings

• Properly communicate to supervisors, trainees and trainers prior to each training the logistics of hotel, sleeping rooms and other information needed prior to the training.
• Field questions on candidate trainings
• Track and interview applications
• Prepare materials for training
• Responsible for trainee recruitment
• Maintain a strong relationship with graduates of the Candidate & Campaign Training to further engagement with the work of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute and recruit other potential trainees.

Campaign Support

• Assist in ongoing reviews of endorsed candidates’ campaigns, to assess Victory Fund’s involvement in those campaigns. 
• Track election results for assigned campaigns.

Indicators of Success:   

In addition to team participation that advances the strategic goals of the organization of the Victory Fund/Victory Institute, and achievement of  professional development goals, success will be measured by the following: increased participation in Victory Institute Candidate & Campaign Training;   updating the website in a timely manner; responsibility for inputting candidate information into the database; keeping the Political Team “Pipeline” project up to date; and processing applications in a timely manner.   

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Interest in politics and political campaigns, experience working on a political campaign is preferable. 
• Excellent communication and organizational skills. 
• Excellent database, Excel and Power Point skills.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines within a fast-paced working environment. Flexibility in work schedule to ensure campaigns’ needs are met.

To apply, upload your cover letter and resume by clicking "I'm Interested" below.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Institute is proud to be an equal opportunity employer; women, people of color, people with disabilities, transgender people and individuals with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.