Political Director

Overview

Location:

Albuquerque, New Mexico (remote)

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

Organization Overview

Launched in 2018, New Mexico Kids CAN:
The New Mexico Campaign for Achievement Now is a local non-profit organization that advocates for community-informed, student-centered, and research-backed education policies. Connecting policy, instructional practice, and politics, we work to reimagine what is possible in New Mexico’s public schools so all students become the future community, civic, and business leaders our state needs.

New Mexico Kids CAN is part of 50

CAN:
The 50-State Campaign for Achievement Now, a nonprofit organization that helps local leaders advocate for a high-quality education for all kids, regardless of their address. 50

CAN operates campaigns in Connecticut, Delaware, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee.

To learn more, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

New Mexico Kids CAN and New Mexico Kids CAN Action Fund (our affiliated 501(c)(4)) are seeking a Political Director to lead our electoral work across the state and support ongoing advocacy efforts to transform education in New Mexico. This leader will develop a comprehensive electoral strategy, oversee candidate recruitment, and support campaign execution for various elections across the state, including Governor, New Mexico Legislature, Public Education Commission and local school boards.

They will also engage with key stakeholders in the New Mexico education ecosystem to support NMKidCAN’s policy and advocacy goals. The Political Director will report to the Executive Director and work closely with coalition partners, vendors, consultants, and other stakeholders.

This role is ideal for a driven, experienced and strategic political operator who is deeply committed to improving educational outcomes for New Mexico students through smart electoral investments and strong political partnerships.

Key responsibilities include:

• Political Strategy
  • Develop and refine a statewide, multi-cycle political strategy to drive long-term impact and dramatically improve New Mexico’s education system
  • Partner closely with the Executive Director to align electoral strategy with advocacy strategy and broader NMKidsCAN goals
• Electoral Leadership
  • Oversee candidate recruitment for priority offices including state legislative seats, PEC, and school boards
  • Build trusted relationships with candidates, elected officials, campaign staff, and political stakeholders to advance political strategies
  • Create race-level plans that integrate grassroots engagement, data-informed outreach, and locally responsive policy platforms
  • Provide ongoing strategic advising, network connections, and hands-on support to candidates to ensure effective campaign execution
  • Manage relationships with consultants, vendors, canvassing operations, polling firms, and other partners to facilitate strong campaign support for all priority races
  • Set clear goals, closely track progress, and proactively mobilize resources to drive winning results
• Partner Engagement & Advocacy Support
  • Represent New Mexico Kids CAN Action Fund within education and political coalitions, and multi-organization electoral partnerships
  • Maintain strong bipartisan relationships with New Mexico elected officials and candidates
  • Coordinate closely with coalition partners to align strategy, share insights, and execute joint political priorities
  • Support advocacy and lobbying efforts to advance policies that align with the New Mexico Kids CAN priorities and vision
  • Ensure close communication and tight alignment across the New Mexico Kids CAN team and coalition partners during high-intensity campaign cycles
  • Prepare political analysis, race assessments, and strategic recommendations for internal and external stakeholders

The salary range for this role is $150,000-$175,000, with final starting salary determined based on experience, qualifications and demonstrated skills. NMKidsCAN offers competitive benefits including comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits with 100% employer-paid premium option, a 5% 401K match, a generous paid-time off policy and a $100 monthly office stipend.

This position is 100% remote, with in-person responsibilities including attending political events, campaign activities, and community/coalition gatherings. Most in-person responsibilities will be in the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area, with about 10% travel to other regions of New Mexico. 50

CAN also hosts two national events, an annual staff retreat and annual CAN Summit, that all staff attend. This position will occasionally include evening or weekend work commitments.