Location: Remote (within NM)
Start Date: Oct/1/2022
Reports to: Executive Director (NM)
This is a full-time role.
Essential Functions: The Policy Director works in collaboration with the Executive Director and CCNM contractors and staff in a multifaceted role. Primary functions include day-to-day operations, management and execution of Common Cause New Mexico’s state and local government programs, including voting rights, elections, election policy, ethics, public financing, campaign finance reform, diversity, equity, and inclusion. This position requires policy development, lobbying, creating outreach programs and expanding our community organizing. Position offers significant opportunity to expand the reach and influence of the organization.
Responsibilities:
Build and advance a policy agenda aimed at building a more inclusive, accessible, equitable, representative, honest, accountable, and trustworthy democracy in New Mexico.
This includes:
- Policy Vision – The Policy Director will be an innovative policy thinker who can help set a vision for the democracy reform field in New Mexico.
- Legislation – The Policy Director will develop ideas for legislation, draft legislation, devise legislative advocacy strategies, identify bill sponsors, lobby, testify at legislative hearings, build coalitions, negotiate amendments, and manage all other parts of the legislative process for the organization.
- Communication – The Policy Director will author op-eds, legislative factsheets, research reports, and memos to the New Mexico Common Cause advisory board and maintain communication with members and the public statewide through social media, website updates, and periodic emails or written communication.
- Diplomacy – The Policy Director will engage partners and key stakeholders on New Mexico Common Cause’s policy priorities, including power players who dislike the organization’s desire for transparent government, campaign finance rules that reduce the influence of special interests, and ethical practices that inspire public trust in our politics.
- Coalition-Building – The Policy Director will build coalitions behind the organization’s legislation and other policy projects and manage those coalitions.
- Elected Official Engagement – The Policy Director will develop, maintain, and foster relationships with elected officials across the state to educate and help advance New Mexico Common Cause initiatives.
- Public Speaking – The Policy Director will testify at legislative hearings, speak frequently to the press, oversee common cause Election Protection program, and may occasionally speak at press conferences or rallies.
This position may also require that the applicant make occasional media appearances.
May include other duties as assigned, including some fundraising activities, which all other full-time staff also perform.
Work/Office/Travel Requirements:
Qualifications:
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 be partially remote in 2022 with some in-person meetings and will need to be in New Mexico.
Experience, education, and technical proficiency
- Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to Common Cause’s mission of an open, accountable, and ethical government for New Mexico.
- Applicants should have 2-5 years’ experience in policy or electoral campaigns and a demonstrated ability to engage citizens at the grassroots level, speak and write compellingly about policy issues, and implement a campaign plan.
- Knowledge of the policy issues pertaining to New Mexico’s democracy, including voting rights, redistricting, and campaign finance reform – strongly desired but not necessary for the right candidate.
- Additionally, candidates should have familiarity with the legislative process in New Mexico.
Ideal candidate will have:
- An ability to write clearly and mastery of office technology, including social media, is a must.
- At least one (preferably more) year of experience building and managing coalitions.
- Candidates should have demonstrated commitment to cultural competency, including the experience in working 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.
- A qualified applicant will have superior organizational skills and be able to execute multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Professionalism, composure, advocacy skills, and speaking skills necessary to represent Common Cause New Mexico in meetings with the Secretary of State, legislative leadership, partner organizations, and other critical stakeholders.
- Have a commitment to nonpartisan advocacy of good government democracy.
You’ll thrive if you are:
- All applicants must be a self-starter with an ability to work independently in a deadline-driven environment with competing priorities. As this position involves significant contact with members, key stakeholders, and volunteers, the applicant must be affable, people-oriented, and have excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Willingness to travel and flexibility to occasionally work evenings and weekends.
Salary Range: $65,000 – $75,000, plus generous benefits package.
Classification:
This position is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit and specific employment terms and conditions are subject to collective bargaining negotiations.
To Apply: Please email resume and cover letter to hr@commoncause.org and include Policy 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 accommodation will be provided when required by law.
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.
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 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 1.5 million members (about the population of New Hampshire) and supporters living in every Congressional district in the United States, and offices in 30 states around the country.
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.