Operations Director

About The Democratic Party of Wisconsin

WisDems is nationally recognized as one of the country’s highest-performing and most pivotal political organizations. During the upcoming election cycle, WisDems will drive massive programs to hold Republicans accountable, elect progressive candidates up and down the ballot, and work to build volunteer-led coalitions for the long term. WisDems’ work is grounded in inclusion, respect, and empowerment across race, gender, other dimensions of identity, and the rural/suburban/urban divide. Our work continues year-round, collaborating with partners to build a movement that delivers meaningful change for all Wisconsinites. We seek outstanding applicants who share our values and vision to join the team, help win elections, and build a future where everyone can thrive.

The Opportunity: Big things are happening in Wisconsin, and we’re strengthening our leadership team to help guide what’s next. We’re looking for a strategic, hands-on leader to join us and own our operations functions covering Financial Planning and Analysis, Accounting, People Operations, Legal/Compliance & Risk Management, Administration / Logistics, IT/Infrastructure, and Security while reporting to the Executive Director as a member of the Leadership Team. This role blends high-level strategy with deep operational execution, acting as a connector between the financial health of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and the underlying systems that drive it.

The Team: You will lead a cross-functional team of seven (7) experienced operators, with an average of 4 years of tenure at WisDems. The Deputy Operations Director oversees Legal/Compliance, Budgeting, and Accounting, with additional Assistants, Managers, and Directors on the team.

You’re our person if:

• You’re an exceptional leader who thrives across boundaries. You apply a combination of consent-building leadership, fiscal discipline and operational excellence while effortlessly shifting between finance, people, compliance, and other domains–understanding the nuances of each world without getting lost in translation.
• You lead with confidence and humility. You can guide cross-functional teams without having to master every domain, honoring others’ expertise while providing clear direction.
• You put people at the center. You understand that behind every policy and financial decision are real people–both team members and partners–and you work to ensure they are all valued.
• You simplify complexity. Whether tackling compliance issues, legal considerations, or financial forecasting, you provide clear, decisive recommendations without getting lost in the details.
• You’re both practical and forward-thinking. You manage tradeoffs effectively and have a sense for when to add process and when to remove friction to support growth.
• You don’t just support great work–you do great work. You don’t hesitate to jump into the details, from compliance nitty-gritty to contract deep dives, and everything in between.
• You align with our core principles. Operations at WisDems isn’t just about keeping things running–it’s about building a durable and sustainable organization, where people can do some of the best work of their lives, and protect it at all costs. Really, these principles come first:
• • Accountability & Solution-Oriented: You take full ownership of your actions and commitments, holding yourself and others to a high standard and seeing objectives through to completion. When challenges arise, you approach them with a problem-solving mindset, focusing on solutions rather than pointing fingers, while recognizing that balance and sustainability are essential for long-term success.
  • Collaboration & Teamwork: You succeed by working as a team, stepping up to support teammates, and sharing knowledge freely. You actively break down silos by connecting across teams, inviting different perspectives, and staying open to new ideas. You engage in constructive debate and, once a decision is made, fully commit to the team's success.
  • Growth & Adaptability: You are dedicated to continuous improvement for yourself and your team. You proactively seek, offer, and act on feedback with openness. You anticipate potential obstacles, take proactive steps to address them, and learn f