Position: Deputy Director
Status: Full-time
Reports to: Executive Director
Supervises: State Directors (5) and State Capacity Support Team (3 Field Managers)

The Center for Progressive Leadership (CPL) is a national political training institute dedicated to developing the next generation of progressive political leaders. CPL develops diverse leaders who can effectively advance progressive political and policy change. Since 2003, CPL has trained over 3,000 future candidates, political professionals, advocacy leaders, and organizational staff who are changing the face of politics in this country.

With a deep commitment to developing diverse, grassroots leaders, CPL has four permanent state offices (Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, and Pennsylvania) and is opening 1-2 new offices each year (starting with Ohio in 2008). CPL also runs intensive leadership programs for diverse progressive leaders from across the country through our national office in Washington, DC.

CPL’s 35 staff and faculty across the country work every day to identify, recruit, train, coach, and mentor promising and diverse progressive leaders. Over the next three years, CPL has ambitious plans to add 4-6 new state offices, build a national training center and dorm in Washington DC, launch an intensive national fellowship program for the most promising progressive leaders in the country, double our staff team, and train thousands of diverse progressive leaders. For more information, visit www.ProgressiveLeaders.org.

Expanding CPL’s Executive Team

CPL is seeking a highly-experienced and innovative Deputy Director to oversee CPL’s state offices, direct the national state capacity support team, and jointly set CPL’s strategic direction with the Executive Director and the Board. The Deputy Director and the Executive Director will work together as the “Executive Team” for CPL, jointly setting organizational strategy, shaping the organizational culture, and managing the organization’s financial resources.

In particular, the Deputy Director will be responsible for directing the strategy, team development, and program implementation in CPL’s state offices. Each of CPL’s four permanent state offices has 3 local staff and 3-4 local faculty and we are adding 1-2 new state offices each year. The Deputy Director will oversee the State Directors, manage the national field team’s state support efforts, spearhead CPL’s expansion into new states, and ensure all state offices are working closely together.

Job Description:

The Deputy Director will be an Executive Team member, responsible for: 1) overseeing state directors, state operations, and the state capacity support team; 2) organizational strategic planning with the Executive Director; and 3) representing CPL at conferences, events and CPL leadership trainings.

In 2008 and beyond, CPL will undergo significant state program growth with the addition of 1-2 new state offices each year, the launch of expanded programs in our current target states of PA, MI, AZ, CO, and OH, and the continued strengthening of our state staff and faculty teams. The Deputy Director will focus on managing this operations and program growth.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Team Management

1. Leads management of CPL state directors, including work allocation, professional development, state office planning, and addressing personnel challenges;
2. Manages national field team (currently three staff) in their support of the state teams, including work allocation, training, professional development, team planning, and addressing personnel challenges;
3. Evaluates performance and makes recommendations for personnel actions;
4. Motivates employees to achieve peak productivity and performance;
5. Coordinates training of state directors, cross state collaborations, and communications between state and national offices;
6. Leads recruitment and hiring process for new state directors (other state staff are hired by state directors).

• Strategic Planning

1. In the Executive Team, collaborates with Executive Director in formulating and administering CPL’s strategies, policies, long-range goals and short-term objectives;
2. Ensures that operational priorities match the goals and objectives of the organization
3. Works with program team and state teams to develop and implement new state program models.

• Trainings and Conferences

1. Personally attends CPL trainings and other conferences and events as a representative of CPL’s national staff team.
2. Attends, leads workshops and supports implementation by state program staff of CPL political leadership curriculum at CPL trainings.
3. Represents CPL at key conferences and events

• Ad hoc duties as assigned by Executive Director and board  

Location:
The Deputy Director will be a full-time position in Washington, DC. Position will require approximately 25% travel (including some weekend travel) to CPL state offices, training locations and external conferences and events.

Salary and Benefits:
Full-time salary will be commensurate with experience and competitive for a senior nonprofit position. The position includes full health care coverage, including dental and vision, and access to a 401k plan.

Qualifications:
MUST HAVE AT LEAST 12 YEARS OF POST-COLLEGE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, AND AT LEAST 9 YEARS OF MANAGEMENT LEVEL EXPERIENCE.

1. Extraordinary Manager: Extensive staff recruitment, hiring, and management experience; proven track record of effective growth management; significant experience with strategic planning and budget management

2. Great Trainer and Facilitator: A mastery of training and facilitation techniques; a deep understanding of interactive, adult training approaches; a strong commitment to long-term progressive leadership development;

Additionally, applicants should have a deep knowledge of the progressive political, organizing, and advocacy landscape and strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Education:
Bachelor's degree required. Masters degree preferred.

Application Instructions:
To apply for the position, email a cover letter and resume (one document please) to DeputyDirectorSearch@progressiveleaders.org.