Fuse Washington: Executive Director

Executive Director

Fuse Washington has become a model for how progressives can build power – and win.

Founded in 2007, Fuse Washington has created lasting progressive infrastructure and year-round campaign capacity in Washington state, leading to the election of progressives up and down the ballot and the passing of groundbreaking policy.

Fuse Washington has built a reputation for being a battle-tested ally to the progressive community and a trusted source of information for voters.

Two of the organization's most valued resources – the Progressive Voters Guide and the Communications Hub – help progressives win campaigns and connect with targeted audiences. The Progressive Voters Guide, a first-of-its-kind resource, was extremely successful in Washington and has since been replicated across the country. The Communications Hub reaches statewide audiences through values-based storytelling, narrative building, and strategic messaging – building capacity and alignment across the progressive movement in Washington.

With two successful decades under its belt, Fuse Washington finds itself operating in a changed political environment and facing a new set of opportunities and challenges.

Fuse Washington seeks a visionary, strategic Executive Director to lead the organization's next chapter.

This role is an incredible opportunity to provide visionary leadership and set the course for the future with fresh eyes, new energy, and creativity for what might be possible.

Fuse Washington is the state's largest progressive organization – people creating change online, on the ground, and on issues that matter.

Our goals at Fuse Washington are to help progressives win more often and give ordinary people a strong voice in politics. We aim to provide organizing and communications power that helps progressives win today and tomorrow on critical issues and electoral campaigns while strengthening the foundation for increased success over time.

We achieve our goals through three core capacities that we believe are critical to long-term success:

• Organizing – we add more people to the most important campaigns.
• Communications – we deliver stories and messages that move people through new media and the news media, and we train others in the progressive community to communicate more effectively as well.
• Political troubleshooting – we provide creative problem solving and rapid response for critical political challenges and opportunities, and we aim to increase accountability and promote leadership.

Fuse Washington has several strengths as an organization that fuel our work:

• A culture of innovation and creativity: we always aim to be an innovation engine and a game-changer.
• Long-term timeline and a focus on movement and capacity building: our strategies are designed to build long-term power for progressives in Washington while also delivering short-term results.
• Speed and nimbleness: we possess a dynamic flexibility to tackle urgent challenges and capitalize on opportunities.

A Thoughtful, Inclusive Leader. You bring clarity, consistency, and care to your work. You are a leader who can build trust and foster a respectful, collaborative work environment.

An Exceptional Fundraiser. You are a fearless fundraiser who listens to donors and understands what motivates them. You engage with a diverse group of donors and prospects in a thoughtful manner.

A Politically Savvy Campaigns Expert. You have deep experience developing and leading electoral and advocacy strategies for progressive organizations or campaigns. You can navigate high-level politics and complex relationships with levels of nuance.

A Strategic Thinker. You think strategically while staying attentive to people and capacity. You are thoughtful about priorities, pacing, and sustainability, and you make decisions that align values, strategy, and organizational health.

A Relationship Builder and Coalition Manager. You are an excellent relationship builder who values collaboration and partnership. You bring experience working in coalitions and can navigate differences of opinion thoughtfully while moving the work forward.

A Values-Driven Leader: You are committed to progressive values and Fuse's vision of shared and sustainable prosperity, equity, and justice for all people. You bring a demonstrated and deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

A Clear, Compelling Communicator: You articulate vision, impact, and priorities in ways that build trust and shared understanding. Your vision and passion galvanize diverse audiences and inspire confidence in your work. You have superb interpersonal skills and effective and persuasive communication skills, both verbal and written. You are engaging and can command attention.

An Experienced Manager and Mentor: You have a demonstrated track record of managing people, creating healthy team dynamics, and fostering professional growth among staff.

Leadership and Strategy

• Voice a clear, compelling vision for the organization that galvanizes internal and external stakeholders
• Set and advance organizational strategy and priority campaigns
• Leverage knowledge of politics, advocacy, and power building to drive impactful programs and campaigns and identify strategic opportunities to advance Fuse Washington's work
• Work effectively across the progressive movement in Washington state; build and maintain relationships with progressive leaders, partner organizations, funders, and other key stakeholders
• Serve as a thought leader and public face of the organization, engaging with media, elected officials, and community leaders to promote Fuse Washington's mission and brand
• Guide the organization with confidence, clarity, and collaborative decision-making

Fundraising

• Responsible for Fuse Washington's fundraising efforts with foundations, major donors, and other funding sources
• Identify fundraising opportunities aligned with organizational strategy and successfully secure contributions with the support of a Development Director
• Cultivate relationships with potential new funding sources and deepen relationships with existing funders
• Inspire confidence in Fuse Washington's work to create and sustain a network of committed, engaged supporters

Financial Management

• Manage a $3+ million budget and oversee financial planning, compliance, and operations to ensure fiscal health and accountability
• Lead the development of the annual budget and ensure that it aligns with the organization's goals and priorities
• Monitor financial performance on an ongoing basis
• Provide reports and regular updates to the Board of Directors on the financial health of the organization

Organizational and Staff Management

• Embody Fuse Washington's values and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Empower, support, and inspire a passionate, mission-driven staff
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative work environment where all voices are heard and respected
• Develop, maintain, and support the Board of Directors; seek and build board engagement with strategy, governance, financial oversight, and resource development

Qualifications

• A passion for Fuse Washington's mission and values and a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• At least 15 years of progressively responsible work experience in advocacy or politics
• A proven track record of successfully leading robust programs, campaigns, or organizations, including setting, prioritizing, and achieving impactful strategies and goals
• Expertise developing and leading electoral and advocacy strategies for progressive organizations or campaigns
• Exceptional fundraising skills and the ability to build relationships, attract new sources of revenue, and bolster an organization's financial sustainability
• Creativity, nimbleness, and the ability to understand the opportunities and challenges of working in shifting, complex political environments
• Excellent people management skills with a talent for empowering and supporting staff
• Strong communications skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to inspire and motivate
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with an impressive history of forging authentic relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders and experience working in coalitions
• Financial management experience, including managing a 501(c)4, 501(c)3, and state and federal PACs.
• Ability to develop and collaborate with the Board of Directors

Compensation, Location, and Structure

The salary range for this full-time position is $180,000-$200,000, based on experience.

Fuse Washington offers excellent medical, dental, and vision benefits, as well as a retirement package with a 3% employer match, generous paid vacation, paid holidays, and sick leave, and a paid sabbatical after five years of employment.

This position is based in Seattle, Washington. Fuse Washington is a hybrid work environment with an in-office requirement of two days per week. The Executive Director should expect to travel across the state as necessary.

The Executive Director will report to the Board of Directors.