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Full Description

A little bit about us… Netroots Nation is the premier progressive conference that brings together thousands of activists, organizers, policymakers, labor and nonprofit leaders, and media makers each year to share ideas, build partnerships, and shape the future of the progressive movement. Our mission is to amplify diverse voices, advance bold progressive solutions, and strengthen the progressive ecosystem. A little bit about the role! Netroots Nation seeks a dynamic and highly organized Director of Political Engagement and Programs to lead the development, coordination, and execution of the annual conference program and to serve as the organization’s primary liaison with political partners and leaders. This senior-level role bridges strategic political engagement and program design ensuring that Netroots Nation’s content reflects the priorities, diversity, and energy of the progressive movement. The Director will manage the end-to-end process of conference programming, cultivate high-level relationships across the political and advocacy landscape, and oversee logistics for keynote speakers, VIP guests, and local engagement in each host city. Travel averages about once per month (roughly 10%). Attendance at the annual conference is required. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role will be responsible for: Political Engagement and Partnerships Maintain and strengthen relationships with national, state, and local political leaders, advocacy organizations, and progressive partners. Serve as a key connector between Netroots Nation and the broader progressive political ecosystem. Oversee local outreach and engagement in the annual host city, ensuring collaboration with grassroots organizations and local leaders. Identify opportunities for partner collaboration, joint programming, and movement alignment throughout the year. Represent Netroots Nation at external events and convenings, building visibility and strategic relationships. Program Development and Management Set the overall program schedule and daily session structure for the annual conference. Develop the overarching conference theme(s) and design program tracks that reflect emerging issues, innovative strategies, and diverse movement voices. Curate keynote sessions, panels, and plenaries that feature influential leaders, organizers, and changemakers. Design and manage the session submission process, including developing timelines, submission forms, scoring rubrics, and selection criteria. Oversee the review and selection process, incorporating feedback from scoring and selection committees. Notify session organizers of selection outcomes and manage follow-up communication for 100+ approved sessions. Coordinate logistics and communications for all speakers, ensuring they have necessary materials, deadlines, and support. Speaker and VIP Engagement Lead outreach and invitation processes for keynote speakers, VIP guests, and featured participants. Serve as the main point of contact for VIPs before and during the conference, ensuring a high-quality, inclusive experience. Coordinate speaker logistics with event operations and communications teams, including scheduling, travel coordination (where applicable), and on-site needs. Oversee stage management for keynote sessions and major plenaries during the conference, ensuring smooth production and professional execution. We are excited about you because… You bring a minimum of 8–10 years of experience in political engagement, program design, event management, or movement organizing. You are truly comfortable tackling messy and complicated situations! You have strong knowledge of U.S. progressive politics, advocacy networks, and social movement dynamics. You’ve successfully cultivated and maintained relationships with elected officials, senior organizational leaders, and movement partners. You have an eye for putting together change agents and plugging the right people in at the right panels. You’ve managed complex program logistics, including large-scale or multi-day events. You have excellent communication and writing skills and can clearly convey program goals to diverse audiences. You can juggle multiple priorities, meet tight deadlines, and maintain attention to detail. You bring strong leadership, diplomacy, and problem-solving skills. You are deeply committed to Netroots Nation’s mission, progressive values, and principles of equity and inclusion. You are adept at leveraging technology and communication platforms to optimize performance, continue developing your skills, and troubleshoot proactively. Reasons it pays to work for Netroots Nation (in addition to the pay itself)... Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, paid leave, retirement contributions, and professional development opportunities. A flexible remote work environment, with travel opportunities for meetings, partnership-building, and our annual conference. A mission-driven organization committed to equity, inclusion, progressive values, and building a more just world. Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every. single. qualification. At Netroots Nation, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and just workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with 100% of the qualifications listed, we encourage you to still apply. Our hiring philosophy looks to weed people INTO our process, not weed them out! Who knows, you may be just the right candidate for a future role at Netroots Nation. Just go for it... submit your resume!