Associate Strategic Campaign Director

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

Department: Research & Advocacy

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Reports to: Research & Advocacy Director

Position: Salaried

Location: Remote/National travel required (approx. one trip monthly)

Time Zone: You must be willing to work east coast time/hours and here are the hours (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)

Where we Operate: This position is open to candidates who are legally authorized to work in the United States and currently reside in the following: Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. 

Salary Range: The salary for this role is $95,000 annually.   A new hire can expect to be offered $95,000 as a new hire in the role.   The compensation for this role is set and not subject to negotiation.

Position Summary:

We are seeking an Associate Strategic Campaign Director to lead high-impact public campaigns that mobilize communities, shift narratives, and drive measurable changes. This role is responsible for translating strategic insights from our research and advocacy teams into actionable, public-facing initiatives. The person hired will launch national campaigns, coordinate narrative and rapid response actions, and mobilize cross-sector allies to challenge systemic injustice.

Essential Duties:

• Design and execute advocacy campaigns aligned with CAIR’s strategic priorities.

• Coordinate with CAIR Programs staff and external partners to:

  • Develop campaign strategy, messaging, timing, and activation plans.

• Oversee project execution.

  • Manage content production (press releases, toolkits, social assets).

  • Coordinate rapid-response campaigns during high-risk narrative spikes.

• Track and report on impact using clearly defined success metrics.

•  Convene internal and external stakeholders during both campaign development and launch phases.

• Integrate research findings and narrative strategy into campaign planning.

• Provide ongoing strategic feedback to the Research and Advocacy Department (RAD).

• Continuously improve toolkits, templates, and best practices to support chapters and allies in replicating successful campaigns.

• And any other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• BA/BS in Communications, Public Policy, Social Justice, or a related field

• 3+ years of experience designing and leading strategic advocacy, public education, or policy campaigns.

•  Strong understanding of Islamophobia, anti-Muslim bigotry, and racial justice issues in the U.S.

•  Demonstrated success in launching and evaluating campaigns with measurable public or institutional impact.

•  Excellent communication skills, especially in message development and content creation

• Strong project management ability:

• Experience managing timelines, deliverables, and cross-team coordination.

• Ability to work with third-party vendors and external collaborators.

•  Confidence operating in high-stakes, fast-moving advocacy environments.

• Strong written, verbal, and people skills

• Willingness to work some evenings and weekends as campaign cycles require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with CAIR’s mission, values, and national advocacy strategy

• Experience working with grassroots coalitions, faith communities, or civil rights/legal organizations.

• Ability to design and measure campaign impact using qualitative and quantitative tools.

• Proficiency with analytics platforms, CRM systems, and digital campaign tools

• Bonus: Experience deploying AI tools or social listening platforms for narrative disruption or counter speech

Why CAIR?

• Be part of a nationally visible movement at the forefront of civil rights advocacy.

• Join a passionate, mission-driven team committed to justice and equity.

• Lead campaigns that shape national conversation and protect marginalized communities.

• Receive competitive salary and benefits aligned with CAIR’s manager-level roles.

Compensation Package:

• Health Insurance is available through CAREFIRST.

• The employee cost share for health benefits is up to 20%.

• Dental and vision benefits are covered by the employer at 100%.

• 401K retirement benefits with an employer match up to 4%.

• We offer thirteen paid holidays.

• Vacation, sick, and personal leave are offered.

• Ancillary coverage is available: Life, AD & D, and long-term disability coverages.

• Optional FSA (flexible spending account)

• HSA (Health Savings Account) must meet certain requirements.

• EAP (Employee Assistance Program) is available.

• A professional development stipend is available.

• Tuition reimbursement (must meet certain requirements)

• If you currently have student loans, you can certify your employment annually for PSLF.

To apply:

Please submit a cover letter with résumé, a writing sample, and a list of three professional references combined in one single pdf, word doc/docx to jobs@cair.com. Please reference “Associate Strategic Campaign Director” in the subject line.

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

No Recruiters Please!