San Francisco Democratic Party seeking Ombudsperson

Special Committee on Sexual Assault and Harassment in the San Francisco Political Community

Position Description: Ombudsperson

Employment Type: Volunteer

Compensation: Unpaid

Position Overview

The Ombudsperson serves a critical role in upholding the integrity of the Code of Conduct and Policies. The Ombudsperson is the first point of contact by Complainants, and a source of guidance for Democratic Club leaders. The Ombudsperson ensures incidents are progressing in the procedures, and tracks statistical information of incident reports.

The Ombudsperson will interface with SFDCCC leadership, the Investigators, the Judicial Council, Democratic Club leadership, and Complainants and Respondents.

The Ombudsperson must be a neutral party, and act impartially without personal, professional, or political conflicts of interest.

This is a remote position that does not need to be based in San Francisco. Individuals not from San Francisco with limited or no connection to San Francisco politics are encouraged to apply. While the Code of Conduct and Policies for Sexual Assault and Harassment for the San Francisco Democratic Party is not a legal document, those with legal backgrounds, and experience with Title IX issues in sexual harassment and assault are encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

Project Manage: Ensure incidents during the entire duration of the case are progressing as required according to the Process Guideline in the Code of Conduct and Policies. Maintain accurate and confidential records of intake evaluations and decisions. Provide regular updates to the DCCC with pseudonymized data.

Intake Evaluation: Review and assess the information provided in initial reports to determine, if true, incidents fall within scope of violation of the Code of Conduct and Policies for Sexual Assault and Harassment for the San Francisco Democratic Party

Advisory Role: Provide guidance to Complainants, Respondents, Democratic Club leaders, and facilitate improvements to process and procedures as needed.

Background

The San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee (SFDCCC), also known as the San Francisco Democratic Party, has adopted a first-of-its-kind accountability framework to for sexual harassment and assault in the political environment. The process is outlined in the ‘Code of Conduct and Policies for Sexual Assault and Harassment for the San Francisco Democratic Party’ (Code of Conduct and Policies) approved by the San Francisco Democratic Party on December 4, 2024.

Political spaces have long been rife with sexual assault and harassment due to inherent power dynamics, the temporary nature of political campaigns, reliance on volunteers, and the nature of power and influence as the predominant currency in the industry.

This new policy is an ambitious framework which includes a robust process for reporting, investigation, and repercussions in order to change the culture that has allowed harassment and assault to persist in the political industry.

The policies consist of mechanisms for confidentiality, guardrails for independence to prevent political meddling, a structure to give club leadership agency to lead in creating their own solutions, and includes restorative facilitation for education and healing.

In order to implement the policies, the SFDCCCC is seeking:

1) An Ombudsperson

2) Judicial Commissioners (6 positions).

These positions will serve ad hoc, on a volunteer or pro bono basis. Candidates do not need to be from San Francisco. In fact, candidates with minimal or no ties to the San Francisco Democratic Party are encouraged to apply.

For more information on this policy, please go here.

About the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee

The San Francisco Democratic Party is the official organization for Democrats in the City and County of San Francisco. Also known as the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee (SF DCCC), we represent one of the most active communities of Democrats in California, with more than 320,000 members. https://www.sfdemocrats.org/