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LOCATION: In 2022, this position will be located in Sacramento or somewhere easily accessible to Sacramento via drive or transit (i.e. the Sierra foothills, Northern Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area).

SALARY RANGE: $75,000-92,000, commensurate with experience. 

California Common Cause is California’s branch of the national organization and has over 100,000 members and supporters in every corner of the State. The California organization works to advance those rights that are the necessary and foundational for broader social change and are necessary to finally empower underrepresented and historically disenfranchised communities. We lead on expanding voting rights, ensuring fair redistricting, reducing and exposing the power of money in politics, and promoting an inclusive and accurate local and ethnic media – all with the aim of building state and local governments that are responsive to and reflective of the communities they are meant to serve.

We seek a Legislative Director who will help lead the development of a multi-year policy agenda for the organization and will be primarily responsible for executing on the legislative portions of that policy agenda in the California Capitol. This high-profile and impactful position will require work in all aspects of political action including policy research and development, legislative drafting, lobbying, media and strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and coalition management.

This position will report to the California Common Cause Executive Director. The Legislative Director will, like all staff at California Common Cause, approach their work through an equity lens while also being conscious of California Common Cause’s historic nonpartisan identity. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Advance a policy agenda aimed at building a more inclusive, accessible, equitable, representative, honest, accountable, and trustworthy democracy in California.

This includes:

  • Policy Vision – The Legislative Director will be an innovative policy thinker who can help set a vision for the democracy reform field in California.
  • Legislation – The Legislative Director will develop ideas for legislation, draft legislation, devise legislative advocacy strategies, find bill authors, lobby, testify at legislative hearings, build coalitions, negotiate amendments, and manage all other parts of the legislative process for the organization.
  • Writing – The Legislative Director will author op-eds, legislative factsheets, research reports, and memos to the California Common Cause advisory board.
  • Diplomacy and Coalition-Building – The Legislative Director will engage partners and key stakeholders on California Common Cause’s policy priorities, including entrenched power players who may dislike some of the organization’s positions. The Legislative Director will build coalitions behind the organization’s legislation and other policy projects, and manage those coalitions.
  • Public Speaking – The Legislative Director will testify at legislative hearings, speak frequently to the press, and may occasionally speak at press conferences or rallies.

REQUIREMENTS:

While there are experiences that would be helpful, the only essential requirements are a keen intelligence and top-flight analytical skills, a passion for making a policy difference, a willingness to work hard, and a flexible, creative, and adaptive approach to addressing democracy’s problems.

Qualifying job experience could, for example, include one or a combination of the following:

  • The ability to think flexibly, creatively, and innovatively about the future of California’s democracy and the changes that can make improve it.
  • 3-7 years of experience working on policy and/or legislation in California and strong skills with policy development and advocacy.
  • Experience with coalitions, campaigns, and/or grassroots organizing
  • Professionalism, composure, advocacy skills, and speaking skills necessary to represent California Common Cause in meetings with the California Secretary of State, legislative leadership, the Fair Political Practices Commission, and other critical stakeholders.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Excellent research skills.
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Ability to remain on track with multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
  • Ability to work independently and guide projects in a remote environment.
  • A strong dose of idealism and optimism about our power to build a better democracy.

The following are considered a bonus but not required:

  • Knowledge of the policy issues pertaining to California’s democracy, including voting rights, redistricting, and campaign finance reform.
  • A law degree or an advanced degrees in public policy or related field of study.
  • Some experience with administrative advocacy, including at watchdog agencies like the FPPC.

WORK/OFFICE/TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: 

This is a full-time role. The person filling the role must have flexibility to work some nights and weekends, especially during peak periods in the legislative calendar. The person filling the role will likely be fully remote in 2021, but will need to be located in or able to easily travel to Sacramento in 2022.  

TO APPLY:  

Please submit resume, cover letter, and three references to Director of Human Resources at hr@commoncause.org and include “Legislative Director, California Common Cause” in the subject line. No phone calls please. Covid-19 vaccines are required, except where prohibited by law.  Reasonable accommodations will be provided when required by law. This position is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific employment terms and conditions are subject to collective bargaining negotiations

EQUITY & INCLUSION: 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.  

Common Cause is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the organization and believes strongly in the increased effectiveness that comes from a diverse workforce. 

Common Cause is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants of any race, creed, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, income class, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status or marital status, as well as applicants who have been previously incarcerated. 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, activities or responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.  

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