ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

State Voices is a pivotal force in the landscape of civic engagement, established in 2008 as a nationwide network dedicated to empowering grassroots organizations to achieve civic victories and foster long-term political influence. At its core, State Voices champions the enhancement of democracy by leveraging collective impact principles, providing critical data analysis, and sharing resources to uplift the voices of marginalized communities. With a robust infrastructure that includes 25 state tables and over 1,200 partner organizations, State Voices is committed to nurturing a vibrant democracy viewed through a racial equity lens, encompassing initiatives in Civic Engagement, Civic Access, and Civic Representation to ensure comprehensive community mobilization and representation.

Embedded in the organization’s mission is the unwavering commitment to dismantling systemic disenfranchisement affecting diverse communities, including Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI, LGBTQ individuals, women, the youth, and low-income groups. State Voices operates through two distinct entities, a 501(c)3 nonprofit and a 501(c)4 corporation, collectively managing a budget of $25 million to advocate for a more accessible, inclusive, and representative democratic process. This concerted effort underscores the organization’s year-round dedication to creating significant, lasting change, making State Voices a beacon for those seeking to contribute to a more equitable and democratic society.

ABOUT THE ROLE

At the heart of State Voices strategic vision and operational success lies the Chief Program Officer (CPO), a cornerstone of our executive leadership team. This role is not just about managing tasks; it’s about embodying the spirit of our mission, bringing our values to life, and fostering a culture of empowerment and inclusion. The CPO is tasked with a multifaceted mandate: to articulate, implement, and breathe life into our strategic vision, ensuring our missions and goals are not only set but achieved with excellence and integrity. This individual oversees all programmatic aspects of State Voices, guiding our journey towards greater civic engagement and political empowerment. Through continuous evaluation and feedback, the CPO ensures our programs not only meet but exceed our standards, driving forward the organization’s objectives with precision and passion.

Beyond internal leadership, the CPO’s role extends to forging and nurturing strategic partnerships, enhancing the organization’s reach and impact. This involves a hands-on approach to developing special projects that amplify our voice and extend our network, especially among the State Tables. The ideal CPO is a beacon of dynamic leadership, capable of crafting and executing innovative strategies that propel operational excellence across all fronts. With a talent for managing and motivating high-performing teams, the CPO sets a standard for excellence, fostering an environment where clear communication, continuous innovation, and unwavering accountability thrive. This role demands a unique blend of interpersonal acumen, strategic foresight, and an entrepreneurial spirit, all geared towards building a more inclusive and representative democracy.

A FEW KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Relationship Management:

• Cultivate and maintain positive relationships across all functions within the organization, ensuring collaborative efforts and effective communication to achieve shared goals.

Strategic Partnership and Network Expansion:

• Forge and deepen relationships with funders, stakeholders, and partners to enhance program quality, sustainability, and address emerging needs.
• Initiate and coordinate strategic partnerships to elevate State Voices’ visibility and influence across the progressive ecosystem.

Program Strategy and Advocacy:

• Design and execute programmatic goals, strategies, and budgets in collaboration with affiliates to secure political and policy victories.
• Lead and strategize issue advocacy campaigns at both state and national levels, ensuring alignment with State Voices’ objectives and affiliate efforts.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Justice

Nonprofit HR is committed to fostering and maintaining a work environment where equity, diversity, inclusion & justice (EDIJ) are fully integrated into everything we do for the benefit of our employees and the clients that we serve. To fully realize our goal, we prioritize our understanding of the complexities of DEI within our workforce to inform our approach to talent management. We believe that this guides how we do our work, advise our clients to operationalize EDIJ and position our content and educational opportunities to help strengthen the talent management capacity of the social impact sector. See the full statement.