ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS The Executive Director will lead efforts in all areas of the New Mexico state organization. These include fundraising, grassroots organizing, diverse coalition building, research, policy analysis, communications, advocacy, litigation, and any other activities that promote the Common Cause agenda at the state and national level, and foster a strong, sustainable organization in New Mexico.
Common Cause New Mexico’s (CCNM) current and upcoming efforts aim to modernize elections; reform the campaign finance system with improved disclosure and publicly funded elections; protect public participation; ethics reform; and much more.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Management/Administrative:
- Commitment to advancing the Common Cause agenda and mission, including nonpartisanship.
- Manage the operations of Common Cause New Mexico, including supervising and developing state staff, budgeting, fundraising, and developing volunteers and interns.
- Work with, develop, and engage a strong state advisory board of directors to develop goals and strategies for achieving mission and organizational goals.
- Collaborate with staff in Washington, DC, the region, and in other states, including attending Common Cause National meetings when scheduled.
- Build and collaborate with various coalition groups in New Mexico by attending meetings and events and supporting collective action.
Programs:
- Develop effective, winnable policy reforms at all levels of government and advocate for their passage and implementation.
- Develop and execute lobbying strategies to advance reform and hold federal, state, and local elected officials and other decision-makers accountable.
- Meet with elected officials and boards and commissions to promote Common Cause.
- Produce timely, high quality policy research.
- Develop and implement grassroots organizing strategies with Common Cause members to build support for the Common Cause agenda.
- Attend and testify orally and in writing at government hearings, boards and commissions hearings, legislative committee hearings, informational briefings, county council hearings and more.
- Build and participate in effective and diverse political and civic coalitions.
- Encourage members to participate in lobbying and other advocacy activities.
Public Education/Communications:
- Serve as Common Cause New Mexico’s spokesperson in responding to inquiries from media, government officials, and others.
- Maintain communication with members and the public statewide through social media, website updates, and periodic emailed or written communications.
- Plan and hold public education events to inform members and the public about Common Cause issues.
- Develop Common Cause brand as expert on issues of democracy, ethics, transparency, government accountability, campaign finance reform, voting laws, and more in New Mexico.
Development/Membership:
- Raise money from foundations, major donors, members, and special events, and devise other fundraising strategies to fund Common Cause programs, including lobbying efforts.
- Write grant proposals and reports to foundations to fund Common Cause programs, including lobbying efforts.
- Set, in partnership with the board and national staff, fundraising goals for the New Mexico organization.
- Coordinate state membership activities with current members as well as expand membership in the state by engaging new members from diverse constituencies with the organization.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Demonstrated commitment to Common Cause’s issues and public interest advocacy.
- Demonstrated experience in leadership and organizing ability.
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
- Entrepreneurial spirit with a desire to build upon current assets to expand a strong state operation.
- Demonstrated ability to oversee and collaborate with a volunteer board, staff/volunteers/interns, and peers in other organizations.
- Organizational leadership experience: 5 or more years management experience, including nonprofit organizations and political campaigns, preferred.
- Demonstrated commitment to cultural competency, including the ability to work effectively with those belonging to groups of diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, language, ability, age and socioeconomic status.
- Familiarity with New Mexico’s cultural norms, political landscape, and minimum of 5 years of experience working in the state’s legislative process.
- Policy Leadership experience. Minimum 5 years of related issue policy experience.
- Demonstrated experience working with traditional and new media.
- Commitment to advancing racial equity through our democracy agenda.
- Demonstrated experience working effectively with and building alliances among diverse communities and stakeholders, including but not limited to people of color, people of diverse political affiliations, business leaders, young people, and members of the faith community.
- Strong fundraising skills and experience, with a willingness to learn more about and cultivate Common Cause’s network of major donors in New Mexico.
- Willingness to travel and flexibility to occasionally work evenings and weekends.
- Working knowledge of web content management systems and social media tools including Facebook and Twitter.
- Knowledge of desktop publishing, volunteer management, database management, and financial management desirable.
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.
SALARY RANGE: $82,000 – $92,000; plus, a generous benefits package
TO APPLY: Please submit Resume and Cover Letter to Common Cause’s Senior Director of Human Resources at hr@commoncause.org and include Executive Director (NM) in the subject line. No phone calls please. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Covid-19 vaccines are required, except where prohibited by law. Reasonable accommodations will be provided when required by law.
ABOUT COMMON CAUSE: Founded with 4,000 core members in 1970 to serve as a people’s lobby, Common Cause has grown into a nationwide network of more than 1 million members and supporters, with a presence in 30 states and Washington, D.C.
We know the ultimate power in a democracy is the people. To be truly of, by, and for the people, government must reflect everyone it serves. We’re all better off when people from all walks of life participate in self-governance. Every American wants and deserves a voice in shaping the future for our families and communities. We believe democracy is how a free society resolves its differences. And to do that well, we must all agree the process is fair, produces equitable outcomes, and reflects our communities, our values, and our priorities. Nobody wins all the time, but if the process is fair, at least we can trust it.
We side with only the people. Working together, we are building a democracy that works for all of us. Every aspect of our elections and representative self-government must be fair, open, accessible, and set-up so we all have faith in the integrity of election outcomes and the people we elect to serve us.
We are solutions oriented. Our network of democracy experts, working at the state and local level across the country, are winning pragmatic, common sense solutions and building a national movement that will make sure our generation secures and strengthens democracy for the next. We work to ensure that every vote counts, that every eligible voter has an equal say, that our elections represent the will of the people, and that our government is of, by, and for the people.
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 st