New Mexico Voting Rights Organizer (contract position)

LOCATION: Telecommute from anywhere in New Mexico

RANGE: $4,000 TO $5,000 per month (temporary contract position through November 30, 2020)

OBJECTIVE: Contract position reporting to the Executive Director and Associate Director,  the Voting Rights Organizer will lead Common Cause New Mexico’s Election Protection and voter outreach program, including but not limited to assisting with the Native American Voting Rights project, and voting rights/voting access work at both the local and state-wide levels for the November election.

Duties/Responsibilities/Essential Functions

• Volunteer recruitment: Our volunteer poll monitors are the single most important component of Common Cause’s election protection work. Your role will be to use a variety of tactics to recruit volunteer poll monitors across the state. 
  • In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person volunteer recruitment may be reduced to no-contact organizing, including but not limited to, phone banking, text banking, tele-town halls, virtual events, and social media organizing. 
• Training material development: Cooperatively with others, you will develop training presentations and accompanying materials.
• Conduct trainings:  You’ll conduct virtual poll monitor trainings and assist in preparing our Election Protection volunteers for Election Day.
• Deploy poll monitors: You’ll assist in gathering the data needed to allow us to determine which poll sites to assign monitors to, and you’ll assist in managing volunteers during early vote and on election day, including reassigning volunteers based on a variety of factors.
• Problems at the Polls: The Voting Rights Organizer will assist as needed to address issues as they arise to ensure no New Mexican is deprived of their right to vote.
• Election administration meetings: Under the direction of the executive director and deputy director, you’ll engage with election administrators about election plans, ensure they are aware of our program, and work with them as needed to resolve issues and problems.
• Analysis: Assist in analyzing the problems identified throughout the election cycle, developing a report summarizing those issues, and issuing recommendations for legislative or local reforms that would prevent those problems in the future.

Required Skills And Abilities

• Ability to build and cultivate relationships with people and organizations of various orientations and backgrounds.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and public speaking skills and the ability to motivate people to act.
• 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.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability for clear, concise and persuasive writing.
• Ability to work independently, initiate projects and work with minimal supervision.
• Experience coordinating volunteers.
• Familiarity with online advocacy/organizing tools
• Flexibility, creativity, curiosity and a good sense of humor.
• Flexibility to work nights and weekends and travel in New Mexico.

General Competencies

• Perform exceptionally well under pressure, while managing multiple projects with a high degree of accuracy and diplomacy.
• Must maintain a high level of professionalism, honesty, and reliability.
• Commitment to advancing racial equity and nonpartisanship through our democracy agenda.
• Commitment to Common Cause New Mexico issues and public interest advocacy with special attention to voting rights and issues.

Preferred Education And Experience

• Previous campaign experience preferred
• Exceptional knowledge of the Voter Action Network
• Organizing with historically underrepresented communities preferred but not required

Travel Required

• Flexibility to work nights and weekends required. Some travel may be required. If public health concerns do not allow for safe travel, much or all of this work will be done remotely.

TO APPLY: Please submit resume and cover letter to Heather Ferguson, Executive Director at hferguson@commoncause.org and include “VOTING RIGHTS ORGANIZER” in the subject line. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Position will close on August 21st, 2020.

EQUITY & INCLUSION: Must be authorized to work in the United States. 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. 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.

ABOUT COMMON CAUSE: Common Cause (501(c)(4)) and Common Cause Education Fund (501(c)(3)) are nonpartisan, nonprofit grassroots affiliate organizations dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create an open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process. Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Washington, DC, Common Cause has more than 1.2 million members and supporters living in every Congressional district in the United States, and offices in 30 states around the country. More information can be found at: www.commoncause.org.