San Diego Political & Organizing Lead

About the Working Families Party
The Working Families Party (WFP) is the progressive party for the multiracial working class, fighting for a nation that works for the many, not the few. We recruit, train, and support transformational candidates up and down the ballot — and run them to win.  
We believe that no matter where we come from or what our color, most of us want the same things. We want to earn enough to thrive, not just survive, and leave a better future for our kids. We want healthy food and clean water, safe neighborhoods and a safe world. We want to be free.
The Working Families Party is regular people coming together across our differences to make a better future for us all. We’re a multiracial party that fights for workers over bosses and people over the powerful. We want an America which realizes the promise – unrealized in our history – of freedom and equality for all.

Job Summary

The California Working Families Party is seeking a highly strategic, senior political leader to serve as the  San Diego Political & Organizing Lead,  leading the Party’s  electoral, organizing and coalition-building strategy in the region.

This role will serve as WFP’s political strategist and organizational leader  in San Diego, responsible for setting regional political direction, driving integrated electoral and organizing strategy and managing key stakeholder relationships across labor, community and political partners. The lead will play a critical role in shaping CA WFP’s broader statewide power-building strategy, ensuring alignment between regional work and long-term governing goals. 

The ideal candidate brings deep political experience, strong leadership and management skills, and a track record of building durable, multiracial working-class power through electoral and organizing programs. This is a high-impact leadership role that combines strategy-setting, team management, coalition leadership and political execution.  This is a senior political role that combines strategy, execution, coalition management and leadership.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

San Diego Political Strategy & Electoral Leadership

• Set and drive a comprehensive, multi-cycle political and electoral strategy for San Diego County aligned with CA WFP’s State Power Plan. 

• Serve as the senior political lead in the region, shaping endorsement strategy, campaign priorities, and long-term power-building investments. 

• Lead the design and execution of large-scale electoral programs for endorsed WFP candidates, including field, digital and relational organizing strategies. Provide high-level  political analysis and strategic recommendations to state leadership on regional dynamics, opportunities and risks. 

• Coordinate with member affiliates, labor partners and coalition allies to execute high-impact, coordinated campaigns that build long-term electoral infrastructure.

• Build and maintain a deep understanding of San Diego’s political landscape, power structures and emerging leaders. Represent WFP as a senior leader in high-level spaces with elected officials, candidates, labor leadership and key coalition partners. 

Governance 

• Lead WFP’s co-governance strategy in San Diego, strengthening alignment between elected officials, the Party and coalition partners.

• Manage senior relationships with WFP-endorsed elected officials to advance a shared governing agenda.

• Serve as a key liaison between state leadership, regional stakeholders and elected officials to ensure strategic alignment and coordination.

• Identify and drive opportunities to advance policy priorities that reflect the multiracial working-class agenda.

• Ensure accountability and alignment between electoral work, governing strategy and long-term power-building goals.

Coalition & Movement Leadership

• Provide senior leadership in coalition spaces, helping to align partners around shared electoral and policy goals.

• Build and sustain deep partnerships with labor, community organizations, and movement allies.

• Navigate complex political dynamics and conflicts with strong judgment and diplomacy.

• Drive coordinated campaigns that build durable infrastructure and long-term regional power.

Organizing & Membership Development

• Oversee regional membership growth and engagement strategy, ensuring strong pipelines for leadership development.

• Guide the development of scalable organizing models, including volunteer leadership structures and relational organizing programs.

• Ensure systems are in place to effectively track membership, engagement, and organizing outcomes.

• Where applicable, supervise and support regional organizers, including work planning, accountability, and regular check-ins.

Steering Committee Coordination & Governance

• Provide senior staff leadership to the San Diego Regional Steering Committee, ensuring strategic clarity, alignment and accountability.

• Design and oversee governance structures that support effective decision-making and communication between regional and state bodies.

• Support resolution of political tensions and alignment challenges within the committee and broader ecosystem.

• Ensure regional input meaningfully shapes statewide strategy and endorsement decisions.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in electoral organizing, political campaigns, coalition-building or related political leadership roles.

• Demonstrated strong political instincts and strategic judgment in complex electoral environments.

• Strong knowledge of San Diego County’s political and electoral landscape, including key stakeholders and institutions.

• Proven ability to build and maintain coalitions with elected officials, labor partners and community organizations.

• Experience leading electoral field programs and volunteer infrastructure.

• Experience managing staff, volunteers or distributed teams preferred.

• Strong facilitation skills and experience staffing governance bodies or coalition tables.

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills; ability to navigate strong personalities and high-stakes political environments.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced setting.

• Demonstrated commitment to racial, social and economic justice.

• Willingness to work evenings and weekends during peak electoral periods.

• Familiarity with organizing tools and platforms (GSuite, Slack, Airtable, etc.).

• Valid driver’s license and access to a car.

UNION AFFILIATION

WFP is a unionized workplace. This is a managerial role that is not eligible to join WFP's staff bargaining unit.Applicants must be currently authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor, or take over sponsorship of, employment visas at this time.
Diversity, Equity, and InclusionWorking Families Party is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to economic and social justice. Women, people of color, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and members of other historically disenfranchised populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Any applicant who requires an accommodation in order to apply for or perform the essential functions of the job should contact us at jobs@workingfamilies.org with the subject line "Application Accommodation" to request such an accommodation.