Eleanor Finch
Working on a political campaign can be an exciting and rewarding career, but it's not for the faint of heart. It requires a passion for politics, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work under intense pressure. Most people start as volunteers or interns, gaining experience and building connections that can lead to paid positions. Campaign teams consist of various departments, including field, communication, fundraising, legal, technology, and scheduling, each with specific roles and responsibilities. From pollsters and researchers to campaign managers and consultants, every member plays a crucial part in formulating and implementing strategies for success. While the work is challenging, it offers a unique opportunity to engage in the political process and make a meaningful impact.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of the work | Transient, fast-paced, high-pressure |
| Work hours | Full-time, 24/7 in the weeks preceding elections |
| Compensation | Fairly meager, except for senior operatives |
| Payment frequency | Weekly |
| Benefits | Medical insurance, housing, travel expenses |
| Entry-level positions | Unpaid internships, volunteer work |
| Qualifications | Statistics, political science, public policy, communications, journalism |
| Skills | Project management, working under pressure, teamwork, public speaking, data analysis, digital outreach |
| Roles | Campaign manager, consultant, policy advisor, pollster, researcher, press aide, speechwriter, compliance and legal staff, IT staff, fundraiser |
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What You'll Learn
Campaign managers and volunteers
Volunteers and campaign managers are integral to the success of any political campaign. Volunteers perform the bulk of the low-level jobs in every campaign and are often placed in positions of substantial responsibility in smaller, local campaigns. Volunteers can also rise through the ranks to take on more senior roles. Many people begin their political careers by volunteering for a particular candidate they support and developing a passion for the excitement of campaigns. Volunteers can be assigned to various departments, such as field, communication, fundraising, legal, technology, and scheduling.
Volunteers in the field department, for example, may be tasked with direct voter contact, running local "storefront" campaign offices, organizing phone banks, and staging locations for canvasses and other campaign events. Volunteers with strong communication skills may be placed in the communication department, where they can assist with writing campaign literature for distribution, creating press kits, and writing copy for the campaign website. Some campaigns may even have volunteers write speeches for the candidate.
Campaign managers, on the other hand, occupy the top job in a political campaign, aside from the actual political candidate. They are responsible for supervising and coordinating every aspect of the campaign, including hiring, staff management, fundraising operations, day-to-day operations, and budgeting. Campaign managers are strong multitaskers with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to remain calm under pressure. They are often the lead strategists in local campaigns, while larger campaigns may hire consultants to serve as strategists. Young campaign managers can build their reputations by managing local campaigns or working under a known manager on a large campaign.
Both volunteers and campaign managers play crucial roles in political campaigns, and their efforts can significantly impact the campaign's success.
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Departments: field, communication, fundraising, legal, technology, and scheduling
Political campaigns are generally run by a campaign manager who coordinates the campaign and its staff, and assures that efforts are being focused effectively. In small local campaigns, the campaign manager may be the only paid staff member, whereas in larger campaigns, such as a United States presidential campaign, hundreds of staff members will cover the required tasks.
Field Department
The field department focuses on the "on-the-ground" organizing that is required to personally contact voters through canvassing, phone calls, and building local events. Field staffers are the primary liaison between the campaign and local influentials such as interest group leaders and prominent community activists. They are also often primarily responsible for the local distribution of "swag" i.e. lawn signs, bumper stickers, buttons, and other such materials. Field departments are generally organized by geography with an overall statewide field director who oversees the efforts of several regional field directors who, in turn, manage several local offices.
Communications Department
The communications department oversees both the press relations and advertising involved in promoting the campaign in the media. They are responsible for the campaign's message and image among the electorate. Press releases, advertisements, phone scripts, and other forms of communication must be approved by this department before they can be released to the public. The communications director is in charge of all of the campaign’s interactions with the media. They build relationships with the press, communicate with the media as the key spokesperson, set up interviews, and identify media opportunities for the campaign.
Fundraising Department
The fundraising department is responsible for raising funds for the campaign. Within the fundraising department, there might be a staff member who focuses only on direct mail fundraising.
Legal Department
No relevant information was found for the legal department in a political campaign. However, it is reasonable to assume that the legal department would be responsible for ensuring that the campaign complies with all relevant laws and regulations, and providing legal advice and support to the campaign staff.
Technology Department
The technology department is responsible for the campaign's technology needs, including website development and management, digital advertising, and social media management. They also need to have marketing, design, email, social media, and data analysis skills.
Scheduling Department
The scheduling and advance department makes sure that the candidate and campaign surrogates are effectively scheduled so as to maximize their influence on voters. This department also oversees the advance people who arrive at events before the candidate to make sure everything is in order.
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Consultants and advisors
Political campaigns require a wide range of consultants, from those with expertise in communications and strategy to those specialising in fundraising and finance. Consultants with a background in campaign management are in high demand, as they can provide valuable insights and strategic direction to the campaign. These professionals often work on multiple campaigns simultaneously, leveraging their extensive experience and knowledge to advise on planning and strategy. They also play a crucial role in building relationships with donors and introducing candidates to potential supporters.
The policy advisor is another critical role within the consultant domain. They are responsible for researching, developing, and creating the candidate's public policy agenda. Policy advisors also evaluate existing policies and generate reports to facilitate the implementation of new programs and policy changes. This role suits strategic thinkers who understand how to connect with people and can effectively communicate the candidate's vision.
In addition to external consultants, campaign teams may also include internal advisors. These individuals are often experienced professionals who provide guidance and mentorship to the candidate and other staff members. They may have expertise in a specific area, such as communications, strategy, or fundraising, and their advice can be invaluable in shaping the campaign's direction.
While consultants and advisors play a vital role in political campaigns, it is worth noting that these positions are typically not entry-level jobs. Most consultants and advisors have accumulated significant experience in politics, campaign management, or other relevant fields before taking on these advisory roles.
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Pollsters and researchers
Pollsters typically have a strong background in statistics and data analysis. They design and conduct polls, surveys, and focus groups to gauge public opinion and voter preferences. This involves crafting thoughtful questions, collecting responses, and analyzing the data to inform campaign strategies. Pollsters may work directly for a campaign or as independent consultants, and they often have advanced degrees in fields like statistics, political science, or sociology.
Researchers, on the other hand, focus on gathering information about issues, policies, and candidates. They provide in-depth analysis and intelligence to the campaign team, helping them make informed decisions. Researchers may dig into a candidate's background, including their political history and personal life, to identify potential strengths and weaknesses. They also research and develop policy positions, ensuring the campaign's platform aligns with the values and needs of the target audience.
In addition to their analytical skills, pollsters and researchers need excellent communication skills to convey complex data and insights effectively to the campaign team. They must be able to translate numbers and statistics into actionable recommendations for the campaign strategy.
Both roles are essential to a campaign's success, as they provide the data-driven foundation for decision-making. By understanding voter sentiments and preferences, campaigns can tailor their messages and target their efforts effectively, and ultimately increase their chances of winning.
While demanding, these roles offer a unique perspective on the inner workings of political campaigns and can be a rewarding career choice for those with a passion for data, politics, and strategic thinking.
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Press and public relations
A communications coordinator, also called a communications director or press secretary, serves as the primary liaison between the campaign and the media. They are responsible for building strong relationships with the media, setting up interviews with the candidate, and writing campaign literature, press kits, and copy for the campaign website. They may also write speeches for the candidate or there may be a designated speechwriter.
Political PR strategies utilize the same tactics and tools as non-political PR operations, including media relations, message testing, message distribution, and media tracking. A good media relations CRM tool will help track interactions with media contacts. PR agencies and managers produce press releases to convey information about their clients' latest projects, campaigns, and initiatives. They also follow up with journalists to attract media coverage and shape public opinion and perceptions in favour of their clients.
In addition to news management and media relations, PR in politics also involves crisis communication, volunteer relations, issues management, and fundraising. It is important for politicians to always show off their best side and remain in the public eye, so PR teams are responsible for organising conferences, political debates, and other events to increase their client's awareness.
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Frequently asked questions
Volunteers perform the bulk of the low-level jobs in every campaign, often working in positions of substantial responsibility in smaller, local campaigns. Some common roles include volunteer coordinator, field organizer, and canvasser.
Some mid-level roles in political campaigns include policy advisor, funding coordinator, and press aide.
Campaign manager is the top job in a political campaign, aside from the actual political candidate. Other senior roles include speech writer, chief technology officer, and treasurer.
A Bachelor of Arts in Communications is a common degree among people working on political campaigns. Other qualifications depend on the specific role. For example, training in statistics is a prerequisite for polling and voter analysis.
Except for experienced and high-profile senior operatives, compensation will be fairly meager. The national average salary for a political consultant is $79,764 per year.
