Political Director

State Parties are responsible for building infrastructure necessary for successful candidate campaigns up and down the ballot. Over the last few years, Ohio Democrats built a year-round organizing model driven by local community activists and volunteers. Ohio Dems are testing new technology and programs to build a modern, data-driven and nimble force to elect Democrats statewide now and in the future. In 2026, every statewide office will be on the ballot – including the governor’s race and a special election to elect a U.S. Senator in the seat currently occupied by appointed Senator Jon Husted. With 3 DCCC Frontline Races to protect and 3 additional seats targeted by the DCCC, the path to a Democratic majority in the U.S. House and Senate will once again run through Ohio in 2026.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

The Ohio Democratic Party is seeking a Political Director. The Political Director is responsible for:

• Developing and implementing a unified political strategy in coordination with ODP staff, county chairs, caucus and coalition groups, local elected officials, allied organizations, and grassroots activists.
• Serving as the primary point of contact for county chairs, managing regular communication, and coordinating political activity across all counties.
• Managing and serving as the primary point of contact for the party’s caucus and coalition groups, aligning their work with the broader statewide political strategy.
• Recruiting, vetting, training, and supporting Democratic candidates up and down the ballot through strategic planning and tactical training.
• Briefing the Party Chair, Executive Director, and key stakeholders on political strategy, race status, and emerging opportunities, while working cross‑departmentally to ensure campaigns and party programs are fully supported and positioned for both immediate wins and long‑term growth.
• Managing and supporting political department staff.

This position reports directly to the Executive Director.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 3–5+ years of experience in political campaigns or party organizations
• Strong understanding of state and local election processes
• Proven experience working with candidates and local party infrastructure
• Excellent organizational, communication, and relationship‑management skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines
• Commitment to Democratic values and mission

PREFERRED CHARACTERISTICS

• Passionate and thoughtful about what they’re working on, how they approach their work, and their coworkers.
• Resilient, resourceful, and adaptive to priority shifts and change (big and small).
• Realistic but positive in outlook, not ego‑ or turf‑driven, able to focus on opportunities when faced with challenges.
• Possesses strong collaborative skills.
• Fully invested in the success of Ohio Democrats.

The salary range will be $7,500 – $9,000 per month and full benefits, including PTO, health, dental, and voluntary vision insurance. The hourly expectation will fluctuate depending on the campaign cycle, but will be a minimum of 40 hours per week. Housing will not be provided. Applicants must live in or be willing to relocate to Columbus, Ohio.

Ohio Democrats recognize our success requires a diverse mix of talented people. We are focused on building a staff that is diverse in race, gender and gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin and all the other fascinating characteristics that make us different. Candidates of color, women, LGBTQI, and more are encouraged to apply.