Program Coordinator

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understand the scope of the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, or responsibilities associated with the position.

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The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC) seeks a Program Coordinator to support the development, integration, and implementation of BISC’s program work. BISC’s programmatic work seeks to accomplish the goals outlined in BISC’s Strategic Framework through convening a broad spectrum of partners in the ballot measure ecosystem; building capacity and skills for the field; shifting the culture of the way we work together and run ballot measure campaigns; and centering communities most impacted by racial, gender, and economic inequities.

The Program Coordinator will support the program work of the BISC Program Team by managing a wide range of administrative and support activities. The person in this position keeps the Program Team functioning by maintaining the data and systems critical to implementation of our core program areas (Policy and Legal Advocacy, Capacity Building, and Strategic Partnerships) that deliver important tools, resources, analysis, and research to our partners. Some of the activities include, but are not limited to: creating workflows for department-wide systems such as the CRM (customer relationship management system) and project management system; maintaining clean data amongst the Program Team’s tracking and filing systems, logistics and day-of needs around convenings and meetings with partners and stakeholders; developing presentations; and additional functions that are critical to the success of the Program Team.

BISC is a mission and values-driven organization that recruits and seeks to retain a staff committed to excellence by fostering a work environment that is flexible, fairly-compensated, respectful, and fun.

Location: BISC HQ is located in Washington, DC, but the location for this position is flexible in the United States. This position requires some travel and reports directly to the Capacity Building Director.

Core Job Responsibilities:

  • Play an active role in the implementation of BISC’s program work with a commitment to excellence and appetite to learn new skills;
  • Organize department wide data and system maintenance (CRM, Google Drive, Project Management Tool, in-kind tracker, etc)
  • Work with the Policy & Legal Advocacy Team and Communications Team to track the ballot measure landscape and produce BISC’s monthly landscape memo
  • Schedule and provide agenda support, logistics and note taking for department-wide meetings and convening spaces (such as weekly Program Team meetings, in-person working sessions, BISC’s training program, convening spaces led by BISC’s Program Team)
  • Assist in the planning and logistics of Program Team events such as meetings, trainings, working sessions, briefings, conferences, and other convenings;
  • Maintain BISC’s clearinghouse of ballot measure materials (the BISC Resource Library), ensuring materials are organized and accessible for partners
  • Monitor organizational email inboxes related to program work ([email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]; [email protected])
  • Represent the Program Team as part of cross-departmental working groups such as: staff retreat design team, racial equity working and learning group, etc.
  • Serve as a liaison for cross-departmental matters such as: new hires, compliance, travel logistics, staff training, and data sharing, etc.
  • Assist with tasks that are central to the function of the Program Team.

Additional responsibilities:

  • Aid the Program Team in implementation of BISC’s 5-year strategic plan focused on changing culture, centering directly impacted communities, capacity building, convening, and internal continuity and growth;
  • Represent BISC by attending meetings and convenings of stakeholders and partners;
  • Work with all BISC staff to deepen BISC’s racial equity work, both internally and in the field;
  • Support other BISC and BISC Foundation projects and activities as needed;
  • Assist with the planning and execution of BISC’s annual conference; and,
  • Other duties as assigned.

Education, Knowledge and Experience Requirements:

Position requires 1-2 years experience in administrative roles and a knack for anticipating needs to support a team. Candidates must have a deep affinity for creating systems and processes to enhance operational efficiency. Top candidates will have some experience with coalition management, advocacy or electoral work. Experience and knowledge of state-based ballot measure campaign work would be a cherry on top.

The Program Coordinator must be a team player who can work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously. A strong attention to detail, excellent interpersonal skills, and an ability to manage your time are key.

Ideal candidates will have the following:

  • Detail-oriented, and able to adapt quickly
  • Has strong critical thinking skills and is solution-oriented.
  • Some knowledge of progressive policy issues, coalitions, organizations, state tables or issue campaigns
  • Experience managing the administrative and logistics aspects of meetings and convenings
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Superior organizational skills
  • Commitment to progressive change and movement building required
  • An understanding of racial equity and inclusion work
  • Willingness to travel
  • Experience working on teams
  • Good-humored, team player is a must

We seek candidates who are:

  • Collaborative: You know that building true partnerships takes time, trust, and transparency. You also are collaborative and solutions-oriented with your co-workers: willingly sharing information and tasks to get a job done.
  • Results and evaluation driven: You show relentless commitment to meeting a high bar and a history of getting things done even in the face of obstacles. You are receptive to feedback and know that evaluating and re-adjusting is critical to long term learning.
  • Organized and flexible: You have a plan, but you can quickly adapt when needed. And you understand the plan is better when you collaborate with those around you.
  • Curious: You have a desire learn about and understand BISC’s program work and ballot measures
  • Effective interpersonal skills: You have a proven ability to communicate effectively with different personalities to move projects forward. You actively seek and incorporate feedback to refine systems, processes, and outputs.
  • Strong time management skills: You can balance many projects at once and prioritize accordingly.
  • Movement focused: You have a demonstrated commitment to social, economic, and racial justice.

Salary & Benefits:

  • $58,750-$63,750 per year
  • 100% Medical insurance for family paid for by employer
  • Dental insurance
  • Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage
  • Paid vacation
  • Sick leave
  • Generous 401(k) plan with employer contribution

To apply: Submit resume and cover letter. Your cover letter should address your experience working in a team and your experience with developing and/or maintaining organizational systems.  Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

About BISC:

BISC’s mission is to strengthen democracy by implementing a national progressive strategy for ballot measures rooted in building state-based power.

The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC), a 501(c)(4) organization, is the only progressive organization that works across many policy, organizing, and political organizations, with local, state, and national leaders to analyze and support the ballot measure landscape.

We believe direct democracy can be a tool for liberation. We leverage ballot measures across the United States as part of a larger movement to strengthen democracy, center people of color, queer, low-income, immigrant, indigenous and other marginalized communities, move towards racial equity, build and transform power, and galvanize a new progressive base. In February 2020, we launched our strategic framework to help move towards our vision of building a world where all people are fully liberated, live with dignity and thrive so that equity and justice prevail.

We lead by supporting the use of ballot measures as a tool for transformational impact, not just in a measure’s outcomes, but at every stage of the ballot measure process—from policy development, signature gathering, civic engagement, the campaign itself, implementation and beyond. We believe in movement building and empowerment, bringing communities into the work and leaving lasting infrastructure for continued social change.

We know that success isn’t just defined by getting 50% + 1 of the vote. If we’re serious about building a more equitable world, we also must consider who’s driving the change and whether it will have a transformational impact on the people and communities who have been pushed to the margins for too long.

We achieve impact through training the field and developing leaders, convening state and national leaders and funders in a co-created strategy that results in transformative wins, leading innovative research and providing assistance to support ballot measures as a tool to build long term power.

BISC’s Racial Equity Stance

At the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, we work to transform our country into one that is equitable and just. In our work, we strive to challenge structural racism, and center the people most impacted. BISC works with commitment to racial equity inside our organization in our operations and management processes, and externally through our research, training and organizing work with ballot-measure campaigns, partners and funders.

EEO Policy

BISC follows an Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and employs personnel without regard to race, ethnic or religious background, descent or nationality, sexual orientation, gender (including pregnancy), gender identification, disability, marital status, age, height, weight, or military service. This policy applies to employment, internships, internal promotions, training, opportunities for advancement, terminations, relationships with vendors, use of contractors and consultants and in dealing with the general public.