Malcolm Rivera
Working on a political campaign can be an exciting and dynamic career choice for those interested in politics and government. Campaigns require a large team of employees and volunteers to formulate and implement strategies, with roles ranging from entry-level to senior positions. The number of people involved in a campaign can vary depending on the scale and structure, with small local campaigns sometimes relying on a single campaign manager, while larger campaigns, such as US presidential campaigns, can have hundreds of staff members. These campaigns are labour-intensive, with thousands of workers employed by political organisations during election years in the US. Campaign workers often put in long hours and face intense deadline pressure, especially as election day approaches. Despite the challenges, campaign work offers a unique perspective on the electoral process and provides valuable connections that can have long-lasting benefits for an individual's career.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of workers employed by political organisations during election years in the US | 15,000 to 20,000 |
| Nature of work | Long hours, little pay, lack of benefits |
| Worker profile | Young, female, low earnings, little experience |
| Worker motivation | Public interest, developing connections |
| Departments | Field, communication, fundraising, legal, technology, scheduling, operations |
| Roles | Campaign manager, pollster, researcher, press relations specialist, consultant, volunteer, field organiser, GOTV coordinator, funding coordinator, creative team |
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What You'll Learn
Campaign staff roles: paid and unpaid
Political campaign staff are the group of people who formulate and implement the strategy of a political campaign. Campaign staff are generally composed of both unpaid volunteers and paid employees of either the campaign itself or a related political party. The staff may include political consultants who provide advice and assistance to a campaign. Campaigns are generally run by a campaign manager who coordinates the campaign and ensures that efforts are being focused effectively.
In small local campaigns, the campaign manager may be the only paid staff member and will be responsible for every aspect of the campaign that is not covered by the candidate or volunteers. In larger campaigns, such as a United States presidential campaign, hundreds of staff members will be employed. While campaign managers are often the lead strategists in local campaigns, in larger campaigns, consultants are hired to serve as strategists, and the campaign manager focuses on execution. For local campaigns with small budgets, the campaign manager may be a volunteer, whereas larger, more competitive campaigns require an experienced campaign manager.
The campaign team typically consists of volunteers and employees of the candidate or the political party. In addition, most campaigns have various departments, such as the field, communication, fundraising, legal, technology, and scheduling departments. Larger statewide and national campaigns will have operations departments, which are responsible for the internal functions that power a campaign as an organization. While structure varies, the operations department will generally take on human resources and people operations responsibilities, including running payroll; IT and cybersecurity operations, which secure the campaign's electronic systems and ensure their availability for use; financial operations, which will track the budget against actual spending and fundraising; and field operations, which handle the logistics of a larger field program. On some campaigns, including smaller campaigns, these functions are sometimes outsourced to outside vendors to keep costs low.
The field department focuses on the "on-the-ground" organizing that is required in order to personally contact voters through canvassing, phone calls, and building local events. Voter contact helps construct and clean the campaign's voter file in order to help better target voter persuasion and identify which voters a campaign most wants to bring out on election day. Field staffers are the primary liaison between the campaign and local influentials such as interest group leaders and prominent community activists. Field departments are also often primarily responsible for the local distribution of "swag" (e.g. lawn signs, bumper stickers, buttons, etc.). Field Organizer: the lowest level of field staff, these paid workers generally do direct voter contact full-time as well as assisting the Deputy Director. GOTV ("Get out the vote") coordinators are generally brought in within the last few months of the campaign and plan local GOTV efforts.
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Campaign management
Campaign managers are often the lead strategists in local campaigns, but in larger campaigns, they may focus on managing the campaign while consultants are hired to serve as strategists. The campaign manager's duties involve creating, supervising, and implementing the campaign's strategic plan, reporting directly to the political candidate, and conducting the campaign according to the candidate's vision, mission, and values. Young campaign managers can build their reputations by managing local campaigns or working under a known manager on a large campaign.
Campaign staff may include political consultants who provide advice and assistance. General consultants may work on multiple campaigns simultaneously and are often former campaign managers with extensive experience. Consultants can advise on planning and strategy for fundraising, build relationships with donor networks, and host events to introduce candidates to potential donors.
The creative team manages all visual communications and ensures consistency in campaign materials and merchandise, both print and digital, through web design, graphic design, advertising, and promotional items. They often work closely with the IT department. The research team provides information to the campaign on issues and the backgrounds of candidates, including the candidate they work for, to be aware of any potential scandals.
The scheduling and advance department ensures the candidate and campaign surrogates are effectively scheduled to maximize their influence on voters. This department also oversees the advance people who arrive at events before the candidate to ensure everything is in order. 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. Voter contact helps construct and clean the campaign's voter file to better target voter persuasion and identify which voters the campaign most wants to bring out on election day.
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Volunteers
The roles and responsibilities of volunteers can vary depending on the needs of the campaign. Some common tasks that volunteers may be involved in include:
- Voter contact and canvassing: Volunteers may be tasked with directly contacting voters through phone calls, canvassing, or local events. They might assist in constructing and cleaning the campaign's voter file, helping to target voter persuasion and identify which voters the campaign should prioritize.
- Data management and targeting: Volunteers with skills in Excel, statistical modeling, and data analysis can be valuable in determining which voters the campaign should focus on. They can analyze voter data and help the campaign make strategic decisions.
- Event management: Volunteers may assist in developing and executing campaign events, ensuring that everything is in order before the candidate arrives. They might also be involved in scheduling the candidate's personal and campaign appearances.
- Creative and promotional work: Volunteers with creative skills can contribute to the campaign's visual communications, including web design, graphic design, advertising, and promotional items. They ensure consistency in the campaign's materials and merchandise.
- Administrative support: Volunteers can provide general administrative support to the campaign staff, helping with tasks such as data entry, answering phones, or managing campaign materials.
It is important to note that while volunteers are not paid, some campaigns provide different forms of support to reduce living costs. For example, volunteers may be provided with campaign housing or have access to a campaign vehicle, depending on their role and the resources available.
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Career trajectories
Working on a political campaign can be an exciting and rewarding career choice, offering a unique perspective on the democratic process and a chance to influence public policy. While it may not provide immediate monetary rewards, it can open doors to various career opportunities and advancement. Here are some common career trajectories for individuals interested in political campaign work:
Volunteer to Paid Staff Member:
Many people start their careers in politics by volunteering for a campaign they believe in. Volunteers perform various tasks, from making phone calls and canvassing to assisting with event planning and data entry. Bright and hardworking volunteers can be noticed for their dedication and given more significant responsibilities, which can lead to paid staff positions in future campaigns. This is an excellent way to gain experience and build a network of contacts in the political world.
Entry-level Campaign Staff to Senior Positions:
For those with a passion for politics and a desire to turn campaign work into a career, starting as an entry-level campaign staff member can be a great way to get a foot in the door. These positions may include roles such as field organizers, who work directly with voters, or assistant roles in the communications, fundraising, or scheduling departments. As individuals gain experience and prove their value, they can advance to senior positions within the campaign, such as campaign manager or strategist.
Campaign Work to Political Consulting:
Some campaign workers choose to leverage their experience by transitioning into political consulting roles. These individuals may work for firms that offer polling, media, or financial consulting services to multiple campaigns. They use their knowledge of the political landscape and campaign strategies to advise clients on various aspects of their campaigns. This career path can be lucrative and provide a more stable income compared to the unpredictable nature of political campaigns.
Campaign Work to Public Sector Careers:
Working on a victorious campaign can provide valuable connections with local politicians and other influential individuals. This can be especially beneficial for young, ambitious individuals looking to enter the public sector. In areas where private-sector opportunities are limited, the public sector may offer lucrative job opportunities for those with the right qualifications and campaign experience. This could include roles in government agencies, non-profits, or even running for political office themselves.
Campaign Work to Private Sector Opportunities:
The skills gained through campaign work, such as project management, strategic thinking, and teamwork, are highly transferable to the private sector. Some campaign workers may choose to leverage these skills by transitioning into roles in public relations, marketing, or business consulting. Firms, especially those with political law or government relations practices, often value individuals with campaign experience as they bring a unique perspective and a network of political connections.
In conclusion, while the career trajectories of political campaign workers can vary, the experience gained through campaign work can open numerous doors and provide opportunities for advancement in both the public and private sectors. It is a challenging but rewarding field that can lead to long-lasting connections and a deeper understanding of the democratic process.
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Departments and hierarchy
Political campaigns are organized into various departments, each with its own hierarchy and specific responsibilities. While the exact structure may vary depending on the campaign's size and nature, here is a general overview of the common departments and their roles:
Field Department:
The field department is responsible for "on-the-ground" organizing and directly contacting voters. This includes canvassing, phone calls, and local event planning. In statewide campaigns, the field department is typically organized by geography, with a statewide field director overseeing regional field directors who manage multiple local offices. The field organizer is the lowest level of field staff, typically engaging in full-time voter contact.
Communications Department:
The communications department handles all external communications and media relations for the campaign. This includes press releases, public relations, and interacting with journalists. Pollsters, who conduct surveys and analyze public opinion, often work within this department. In smaller campaigns, the research and development of policies may also fall under the communications department.
Creative Team:
The creative team manages all visual communications and ensures consistency in campaign materials, both print and digital. They work closely with the IT department and are responsible for web design, graphic design, advertising, and promotional items.
Finance Department:
The finance department coordinates the campaign's fundraising operations, including planning, strategy, and donor relations. They work closely with funding consultants or coordinators, who have experience in organizing fundraising events and introducing candidates to potential donors. The finance department ensures the campaign has the necessary financial resources and tracks spending against the budget.
Scheduling and Advance Department:
This department is responsible for effectively scheduling the candidate and campaign surrogates to maximize their influence on voters. They also oversee the advance team, who arrive at events before the candidate to ensure everything is in order. In smaller campaigns, the scheduling coordinator may also be responsible for developing and executing events.
Operations Department:
Larger campaigns, especially at the statewide or national level, have an operations department that handles internal functions. This includes human resources, IT and cybersecurity, financial operations, and field operations. The operations department ensures the smooth functioning of the campaign as an organization, including running payroll and securing electronic systems.
Political campaigns rely on a combination of paid staff and unpaid volunteers, with the campaign manager typically being the highest-paid and most senior position in smaller campaigns. Volunteers often perform low-level tasks but can quickly rise through the ranks and gain substantial responsibility. In larger campaigns, such as a United States presidential campaign, the number of staff members can reach into the hundreds.
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Frequently asked questions
The number of people working on a political campaign can vary. In the US, presidential campaigns employ around 15,000 to 20,000 workers. Smaller, local campaigns may have a single campaign manager as the only paid staff member, with volunteers covering the rest. Larger campaigns will have hundreds of staff members.
Volunteers are often the backbone of a campaign, performing the bulk of the low-level jobs. Volunteers can be students or people with a passion for a particular candidate. Volunteers can quickly rise through the ranks and gain more responsibility, especially in smaller campaigns.
Paid employees include campaign managers, consultants, pollsters, researchers, press and public relations specialists, and field staff. There are also departments like the creative team, operations, finance, and scheduling and advance departments.
Campaign work can be exciting, offering a unique perspective on the electoral process. It can also lead to valuable connections and opportunities to enter the public sector, especially for young, ambitious people with limited experience. Campaign work also hones a set of skills that are valuable in the private sector.
