Description

Overview
The Scott Sakakihara for State Senate campaign is seeking a strategic, highly organized, and driven Campaign Manager to lead a high-profile, competitive State Senate campaign through Election Day, June 2, 2026 (if successful in primary, through Election Day November 3, 2026). This is a senior leadership role responsible for managing all aspects of the campaign’s strategy, operations, and execution.

This position is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Finance Director or campaign professional looking to step into a broader management role and oversee a full campaign operation.

Scott’s Bio: 

A local Councilmember and former Vice Mayor, regional housing leader, US Navy Reserve officer, Harvard-educated lawyer, husband, and father of three, Scott Sakakihara is running for State Senate District 10 on a mission to build a California with real opportunity–where nobody is left behind. View full bio here.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

Overall Campaign Management

• Develop and execute the campaign’s comprehensive strategy in partnership with the candidate and senior advisors.
• Serve as the central point of coordination across all campaign departments.

Budget Management

• Build, manage, and track the campaign budget and cash flow.
• Ensure resources are allocated strategically to meet campaign priorities and timelines.

Consultant & Vendor Management

• Coordinate consultants and vendors, such as: general consultant, media consultants, polling, political, and field.
• Ensure consultant deliverables align with campaign strategy, budget, and deadlines

Finance & Fundraising

• Initially lead and execute all fundraising and finance operations, including call time, donor outreach, fundraising events, and goal-setting.
• Establish systems, processes, and compliance structures for the campaign’s finance program.
• As the campaign grows, oversee and manage finance staff. 

Communications

• In coordination with the general consultant, oversee messaging, press strategy, and earned and paid media efforts, maintaining message discipline.
• Nice to have: experience working with digital media and using video as a communication and storytelling tool.

Political & Stakeholder Relations

• Lead the campaign’s efforts in the California Democratic Party delegate endorsing process, including tracking outreach, managing communications, and ensuring timely follow-up.
• Support the management of relationships with party leaders, elected officials, endorsing organizations, and community stakeholders.
• Help build political support and campaign coalition to advance the campaign’s strategic goals.

Field Operations

• In partnership with the general consultant, build, oversee, and manage the campaign’s field program, including hiring and supervising field staff and vendors.
• Develop and execute voter contact, volunteer engagement, and GOTV strategies that align with the overall campaign plan.

Team Leadership

• Hire, manage, and support campaign staff.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performance campaign culture.

Qualifications

• Prior campaign experience, preferably in competitive races.
• Strong organizational, leadership, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage budgets, staff, and consultants, with prior experience a plus.
• Strong understanding of campaign finance and political campaign operations.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with long and irregular hours.
• Nice to have: experience with digital strategy, content creation, and video-based communications.