Position: Vice President of Citizen Engagement

Status: Full-Time (40 hours per week, full benefits)

Reports to: Co-Founders (CEO and COO)

Salary Grade: Vice President

Salary Range: $150,000-$175,000

Location: Washington, D.C. Preferred (Remote possible for exceptional candidates)

Job Type: Hybrid if in DMV region (in-office Tuesdays and Wednesdays)

Position:

Are you ready to architect a movement to strengthen and protect American democracy? Issue One is seeking a visionary leader to serve as Vice President of Citizen Engagement, directing the strategic growth and influence of both the Council for American Democracy (TCAD) and Citizens for American Democracy (CAD). This is a high-impact leadership role focused on building cross-partisan coalitions, activating grasstops leaders, and growing a national base of grassroots advocates through digital engagement.

This is movement building at the highest levels of American political power and public participation. The VP will scale TCAD from its current foundation to a powerful, multi-hundred-member force that drives policy outcomes to protect and strengthen democratic institutions. Simultaneously, the VP will lead CAD’s development into a dynamic, visible, and impactful grassroots movement, overseeing a growing C4 email program and engaging supporters nationwide.

Working directly with the CEO and COO and in close coordination with the TCAD Steering Committee, this role is ideal for someone who has led or participated in the growth of a movement, mobilized individuals and coalitions, and transformed bold ideas into lasting impact. The ideal candidate will bring movement leadership experience, strategic vision, political acumen, and relationship savvy to align both elite and grassroots communities with mission-critical goals.

Responsibilities:

Movement Architecture & Strategic Leadership

• Design and lead the long-term strategy to scale TCAD into a multi-hundred-member donor collective and CAD into a national grassroots presence.
• Build sustainable systems for member and supporter engagement, retention, and activation.
• Create strategic frameworks that convert both individual donors and everyday Americans into a coordinated force focused on amassing and deploying political power.
• Lead strategic planning efforts with the TCAD Steering Committee while safeguarding mission integrity across both initiatives.
• Develop tools to measure growth, influence, and impact for grassroots audiences.
  
  

Grassroots Base-Building and Digital Engagement

• Develop and implement a strategy to grow and activate Issue One’s C4 grassroots email list, building a nationwide community of citizen advocates.
• Oversee digital campaigns, content strategy, and mobilization tactics to expand CAD’s visibility, engagement, and impact.
  
  

High-Stakes Member Relationship Management

• Cultivate and manage deep relationships with ultra-high-net-worth individuals and influential democracy champions.
• Facilitate consensus among high-influence stakeholders with diverse perspectives.
• Ensure every TCAD member's experience reflects the value of their participation and aligns with broader strategic goals.
  
  

Organizational Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with the CEO and COO on high-level initiatives affecting organizational sustainability and strategy.
• Manage and grow the Citizen Engagement team to support both TCAD and CAD effectively.
• Serve as the strategic link between TCAD/CAD goals and Issue One’s operational and programmatic work.
• Collaborate across teams to design engagement opportunities aligned with organizational priorities.
• Represent Issue One, TCAD, and CAD at national events, conferences, and political gatherings.
  
  

Operational Excellence and Team Leadership

• Oversee all TCAD and CAD communications to ensure timely and professional correspondence.
• Provide regular strategic updates to Issue One’s executive team on citizen engagement efforts, progress, and opportunities.
• Plan and execute high-caliber events and gatherings that reflect Issue One’s excellence and strengthen both TCAD and CAD communities.
  
  

Job-Related Experience

• Demonstrated leadership in building or significantly scaling a large-scale movement (e.g., marriage equality, Tea Party, Black Lives Matter, Times Up).
• Proven experience building and scaling membership-based organizations, donor collaboratives, or grassroots networks.
• Experience creating political or advocacy campaigns that deliver measurable outcomes.
• 7+ years of experience managing relationships with high-influence individuals, foundation executives, or similar.
• Track record of maintaining strong relationships while setting clear boundaries and aligning supporters to mission.
• Experience managing steering committees, advisory boards, or similar high-level volunteer structures.
  
  

Job-Related Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Executive presence with strong political judgment and relationship management skills.
• Strategic thinker with a track record of executing long-term initiatives with measurable results.
• Strong diplomatic and communication skills, especially in sensitive or high-stakes conversations.
• Ability to influence across teams and organizational levels without direct authority.
• Excellent project management skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to operate autonomously while maintaining alignment with broader organizational strategy.
  
  

Location

This role is a full-time, fully benefited position requiring 40 hours per week. It’s highly preferred that the candidate reside in the Washington, DC area and participate in IO’s hybrid work environment. This arrangement allows staff to come to the office two days a week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and work remotely on the other three days. While the opportunity to work outside of the DC area is possible, it would require additional conversations between the hiring manager and applicant before an employment offer is made.

Benefits

Issue One has developed a comprehensive benefits package that invests in our staff to improve their health and promote a solid work-life balance.

• All full-time employees are eligible for a platinum health plan, with Issue One paying 100% of the premium. The organization also covers 75% of the premium for all spouses and dependents of IO staff.
• Staff receive over 50 paid days off annually, including holidays, vacation, personal time, and office-wide closures.
• Issue One provides reimbursements and stipends for internet and commuting, and promotes a hybrid work environment that allows for working from home while establishing regular in-person office opportunities twice a week.
• Issue One offers wellness reimbursements and student loan assistance. Additionally, all staff members are encouraged to participate in professional development throughout the year, and the organization offers several opportunities for fun and fellowship.
  
  

Physical Demands

• Most work is carried out in an office-like environment, where projects are completed at a desk for extended periods and tasks are performed using a computer.
• During special events or donor meetings, the Director may be required to stand for extended periods and travel occasionally.
• The Director may need to lift, push, and/or carry items in excess of ten (10) pounds.
• Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job as described.
  
  

DEI Philosophy and Self-ID Questionnaire

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) drive everything we do. We celebrate each individual's unique perspectives and experiences to our team. Your voice matters to us, and we're committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

As part of our ongoing DEI efforts, we invite all applicants to complete our self-identification questionnaire voluntarily. Rest assured, your responses are confidential and have no impact on your job application. This survey helps us better understand our diverse community, ensuring everyone has equal success opportunities.

Due to the volume of applications, we will, unfortunately, be unable to acknowledge receipt of all applications. No phone calls, please.

Issue One is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities and all other employment laws and regulations. We intend to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation because of age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including transgender status, gender identity or expression), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decisions, marital status, personal appearance, matriculation, political affiliation, credit information, employment status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status, uniformed service member status, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking, homeless status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. Issue One is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy in regard to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, fringe benefits, and other compensation, the application of disability and/or temporary disability policies, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.