How to apply for Statehood Field Director/ Lead Organizer

About DC Vote

DC Vote is the leading national organization fighting for full voting representation and statehood for the 700,000 residents of Washington, DC—the only national capital in the world without a voice in its national legislature. Working at DC Vote means joining a growing, highly collaborative team at the forefront of a multi-year campaign to make statehood undeniable and achievable at the next window of opportunity. This is a rare chance to directly advance democracy, voting rights, racial justice, and equality in the United States.

About the role

As Statehood Field Director/Lead Organizer, you will build and lead the external field strategy to win DC statehood by mobilizing allies, supporters, and power outside of DC—especially in key states and congressional districts. You will develop and execute multi-state organizing plans, manage volunteer leaders, coordinate coalition partners, and drive grassroots pressure on senators and representatives. This role is essential to converting national support into concrete legislative wins and is ideal for an experienced organizer who thrives on building movements from the ground up.

A typical day

A typical day might start with a check-in call with the Executive Director to align on priorities, followed by coaching a volunteer leader in a key state over Zoom. You might spend the afternoon drafting a field plan for an upcoming congressional recess, coordinating with coalition partners on a joint action, and booking travel for a trip to meet with local allies. Evenings could include hosting a virtual phone bank or attending a community event to build support for DC statehood.

Who DC Vote is looking for

• 5+ years of experience in community, labor, or political organizing, including at least 2 years managing staff or volunteer leaders in multi-state or national campaigns.
• Proven ability to design and execute field plans that move decision-makers—such as targeting congressional offices, running constituent pressure campaigns, or coordinating state-level coalitions.
• Deep commitment to DC statehood, voting rights, and racial justice, with a working understanding of the political dynamics in key states and Congress.
• Strong relationship-builder who can inspire and manage volunteers, partner with diverse coalitions, and represent DC Vote effectively in public settings.
• Comfortable with remote work, frequent travel to key states, and a fast-paced, evolving campaign environment; experience with VAN, EveryAction, or similar organizing tools preferred.

Tips for this application

• Explicitly connect your organizing experience to the goal of winning DC statehood—show you understand why outside-of-DC pressure is critical to moving Congress.
• Highlight specific examples of multi-state or national field campaigns you have led, including the number of volunteers managed, states covered, and outcomes achieved.
• Demonstrate familiarity with the political landscape in at least one or two key states (e.g., Maryland, Virginia, or states with influential senators) and how you would approach building power there.
• Address the remote nature of the role by describing how you have successfully managed remote teams and maintained accountability without in-person oversight.
• Mention any experience working with coalitions that include racial justice, labor, LGBTQIA+, immigration, or reproductive justice organizations, as DC Vote intentionally centers intersectional issues.

What to cover in your cover letter

Your cover letter should emphasize: (1) your track record of designing and winning field campaigns that target legislative outcomes; (2) your ability to build and sustain volunteer leadership across multiple states; (3) your personal commitment to DC statehood and voting rights, including any connection to DC or the broader democracy reform movement; and (4) your experience working in coalition with diverse partners and managing remote teams effectively.

Research before applying

• Read DC Vote's recent campaign materials, annual reports, and press releases to understand their current strategy and messaging around statehood.
• Research the status of DC statehood legislation (e.g., H.R. 51, S. 51) and the positions of key senators and representatives who could be targeted by field pressure.
• Look into the broader coalition of organizations supporting DC statehood, such as the League of Women Voters, ACLU, and grassroots DC groups, to understand potential partners.
• Familiarize yourself with the demographics and political dynamics of Washington, DC, including the history of disenfranchisement and the racial justice implications of statehood.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you build a field strategy to pressure a specific senator in a key state to support DC statehood? Walk us through your approach.
• Describe a time you managed a remote organizing team across multiple states. How did you keep volunteers engaged and accountable?
• What is your understanding of the current political landscape for DC statehood, and what role do outside-of-DC allies play in the campaign?
• How have you worked with coalition partners from different movements (e.g., labor, racial justice, LGBTQIA+) to advance a shared goal?
• Tell us about a campaign you led that required significant travel and coordination. How did you balance field work with administrative and reporting responsibilities?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating this as a generic field director role and failing to demonstrate specific knowledge of DC statehood or the unique challenges of organizing outside of DC.
• Overemphasizing past experience without connecting it to the measurable outcomes that matter for this campaign—such as moving legislators, building coalitions, or scaling volunteer programs.
• Ignoring the remote and travel requirements; candidates who indicate reluctance to travel frequently or who lack remote management experience may be seen as poor fits.