How to apply for Deputy Campaign Director

About Design It For Us

Design It For Us is a start-up coalition focused on reducing harms Big Tech causes to kids, teens, and young adults. It builds partnerships with youth activists and organizations to push for a digital future that young people deserve. The organization is small and growing, so staff can shape campaigns and work directly with coalition leadership.

About the role

The Deputy Campaign Director supports and helps drive DIFU campaign initiatives. You will work with the Managing Director, Campaigns & Policy Director, and coalition Co-Chairs to co-create and run place-based actions and events, while maintaining relationships with state and national leaders. The role also involves spotting rapid-response and partnership opportunities, tracking efforts, and measuring impact.

A typical day

A typical day might include a call with DIFU leadership to align on campaign priorities, drafting or reviewing plans for a place-based action, and checking in with coalition partners or youth activists. You might also spot a rapid-response opportunity and coordinate a quick response, then update tracking documents to measure impact. Because DIFU is a start-up, the exact daily routine is not fixed, so ask in the interview how the team organizes its week.

Who Design It For Us is looking for

• Has direct experience in youth organizing and advocacy campaigning, especially with Gen Z.
• Has taken an idea and turned it into a real event, action, or campaign from start to finish.
• Is comfortable working in a start-up environment where priorities shift and you must jump in quickly.
• Can manage multiple ongoing efforts, track progress, and measure impact while also building relationships with state and national leaders.

Tips for this application

• Show at least one concrete example of a youth-led campaign or event you built from scratch, including the problem, your actions, and the result.
• Name specific Big Tech harms or policy fights you have worked on, since DIFU focuses on kids, teens, and young adults.
• Explain how you have worked with coalition partners or youth activists, not just managed them.
• Describe how you handle rapid-response moments and shifting priorities in a small team.
• If you have relationships with state or national leaders in this space, mention them directly in your materials.

What to cover in your cover letter

Focus on your youth organizing and advocacy campaigning experience. Give one clear example of turning an idea into a real action or event. Explain how you would support DIFU leadership and coalition members in place-based actions. Show you understand Big Tech harms to young people and can spot rapid-response opportunities.

Research before applying

• Read DIFU's public materials and any campaign pages to understand their current priorities and past actions.
• Look up the coalition Co-Chairs and partner organizations to see who DIFU works with.
• Research recent Big Tech harms to kids, teens, and young adults that DIFU has responded to.
• Check what state and national policy fights are active in this space so you can speak to them in an interview.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you have turned a campaign idea into a real event or action, step by step.
• How you have worked with Gen Z activists or youth-led organizations.
• How you handle rapid-response moments when a new Big Tech harm or policy window appears.
• How you would support the Managing Director, Campaigns & Policy Director, and coalition Co-Chairs without waiting for instructions.
• How you track and measure the impact of place-based actions and events.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Speaking only in general terms about youth advocacy without a clear example of an action or event you built.
• Ignoring the start-up context and describing only large-team or highly structured campaign experience.
• Focusing on Big Tech policy knowledge without showing how you would work with coalition members and youth activists.