Campaign Director / Senior Campaign Director
At a glance
Director-level Campaign Management role at Open New York. New York · full-time · $140,000–$175,000 base.
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What you'll do
- Lead city and state advocacy campaigns that advance the organization’s policy goals
- Guide policy and political staff, overseeing research, legislative planning and outreach to public officials
- Combine lobbying and policy education with member organizing, coalition work, media and creative communications
- Shape campaign messaging and rapid responses with communications staff, including speaking with reporters
- Run electoral plans and endorsements, manage campaign budgets and vendors, and support fundraising conversations
What you bring
- At least five years of relevant experience for Campaign Director, or seven or more for Senior Campaign Director
- A track record leading major state or federal advocacy efforts that combine policy, lobbying, communications and grassroots coalitions
- Working knowledge of housing policy and the pro-housing movement, with New York experience preferred
- Experience managing people, building stakeholder relationships and communicating clearly in writing and conversation
Who this fits
This role suits an experienced campaign leader ready to manage staff and coordinate political, policy, organizing and communications work. The position is based in New York City, with three office days each week in Lower Manhattan. The stated annual salary is $140,000 to $175,000, depending on experience and location.
From the employer
About Open New York
Open New York (ONY) is a statewide nonprofit fighting for a New York that makes room for every New Yorker. We engage residents from Westchester to Windsor Terrace, building a powerful coalition of advocates for housing affordability. We know that New York's housing crisis is not an accident: restrictive zoning laws block new homes, drive rents to record highs, and push longtime residents out. Renters lose their leverage, and homeowners get stuck. Since 2017, we've organized thousands of members across the state—and been at the center of major policy wins like City of Yes, pro-housing ballot measures, and statewide environmental review reform. We advocate for more housing of every kind, because more homes mean more opportunity for every New Yorker.
About the Role
Reporting to the Executive Director, Open New York is seeking a Campaign Director / Senior Campaign Director to shape and advance the organization’s city and state pro-housing advocacy campaigns. This role develops and executes high-impact pro-housing campaigns that advance Open New York's pro-housing agenda. Supervising policy and political staff, and working closely with communications and organizing teams, this role translates strategic priorities into coordinated campaigns that build public support and deliver tangible wins.
The ideal candidate will have proven experience in high-profile legislative campaigns, strong awareness of the NYC and Albany political landscapes, and familiarity with relevant housing the pro-housing movement across the country.
Note: The position level will be determined by the applicant’s experience. Applicants with 5-6 years of relevant experience will be considered for the Campaign Director position, while applicants with 7 or more years of relevant experience will be considered for the Senior Campaign Director position.
Responsibilities
- Develop and drive politically savvy advocacy campaigns at the city and state level in New York to advance Open New York’s policy agenda
- Oversee Open New York’s policy and political staff, building and managing the organization’s in-depth policy expertise, research capacity, legislative strategy, and engagement with elected officials and government stakeholders across campaigns and initiatives
- Build and manage day-to-day policy education and lobbying programming that leverages grassroots organizing, member and coalition mobilization, press and earned media, and creative communications tactics in collaboration with organizing and communications departments
- Coordinate with communications staff to shape organizational messaging and advise on rapid response at key milestones aligned with policy and political goals, including speaking to reporters both on and off the record as needed
- Work closely with existing partners, while developing new relationships to build durable political power and strategic legislative campaigns
- Design and manage budgets to accomplish campaign goals
- Manage vendors across campaigns and programs, including lobbyists, data and research partners, policy and legal consultants, and campaign consultants, as needed
- Drive Open New York’s overall electoral strategy and candidate endorsement cycles across the city and state to serve political and policy goals, in collaboration with the organizing and communications teams
- Support the organization’s fundraising and development goals by speaking to key donors and national partners about campaign strategy and advising on grant proposals as needed
- Model effective management and team leadership, including:
- Set clear roles, goals, priorities, and expectations, and make sure the team understands how decisions are made
- Develop team members and provide regular coaching, support, and feedback that empowers staff to grow and take ownership
- Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture, modeling respect, trust-building, and transparency
- Model strong organizational habits, including attention to detail, timely follow-through, accurate documentation, and stewardship of organizational resources
- Support team decision-making and problem solving, helping direct reports anticipate barriers, generate solutions, and stay grounded in organizational goals and values
The Ideal Candidate Will Have
- Experience leading large-scale advocacy campaigns at the state or federal level
- Experience driving complex campaigns that integrate policy expertise, lobbying, communications strategy, and coalition and grassroots advocacy
- Working knowledge of the pro-housing landscape and housing policy, with preference for experience in New York
- Strong entrepreneurial drive and proactive, creative approach to advocacy
- Experience managing people with diverse backgrounds in a highly collaborative setting
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- The ability to work well under pressure and deadlines as well as prioritize tasks
- Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
- Willingness to learn and embrace a broad range of technologies and systems
- A demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Open New York
Application Instructions
In your cover letter, please tell us why Open New York's mission is important to you and how you can bring our campaign work to the next level.
Additional Information
This a full time, exempt position, with a salary range of $140,000 - $175,000, depending on the successful candidate’s location and experience. The position is based in New York City and ONY operates as a hybrid team, with three days per week in our office in Lower Manhattan. The deadline for submitting applications to this position is November 30, 2026.
Employee Benefits
Open New York offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Medical insurance with 100% of employee premiums covered on the base plan, plus optional buy-up plans
- Dental, vision, and life insurance provided at no cost to employees who enroll in a medical plan
- 401k retirement plan, with a 4% employer match beginning after 3 months of employment
- 20 days of paid time off (PTO) annually
- 13 paid holidays each year
- 20 days of paid sick leave
- 16 weeks of paid parental leave
Equal Employment Opportunity
Open New York is committed to a diverse workforce, and we seek diversity among applicants for this position. People of color, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Open New York is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
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