Executive Director (CA)

We Are Hiring: Executive Director, California – Common Cause

We are looking for a strategic and visionary leader to lead our California team at Common Cause, promoting our national agenda at the state level; fostering a strong and sustainable organization; leading our team to win public policy campaigns at the state and local level; building on a diverse set of organizational partnerships, including with community-based organizations around the state; and providing strategic vision and public leadership.

The Executive Director will have the opportunity to reimagine the strategic approach for what our work looks like in California and develop programs to achieve that vision. This is a unique opportunity to be a leading voice at the center of advancing democracy reforms in the state, while also expanding our membership base and managing a high-performing team.

This role reports to the Senior Vice President, State Operations, and is a remote role within California with regular in-state travel. We hope our new Executive Director can join us in December!

Responsibilities

• Set and lead our statewide strategy for policy advocacy and organizing that advances and expands democracy while centering racial equity.
• Develop proactive and defensive pro-democracy policy campaigns that center racial equity.
• Advocate for our campaigns in alignment with Common Cause’s nonpartisan approach, collaborating with democracy champions from across the ideological spectrum.
• Develop strategies to advance reform (or stop anti-democratic initiatives) and hold federal, state, and local elected and appointed officials and other decision-makers accountable.
• Oversee Common Cause’s work in the state, including on issues like voting and elections, redistricting, money in politics, media and democracy, and combatting disinformation.
• Manage members of the California team to advance campaigns, build strategic relationships, and produce timely, high-quality policy research.

Public Outreach and Partnerships

• Drive the team’s work on public outreach and strategic partnerships that advance our mission.
• Build, lead, and participate in effective and diverse coalitions, and manage members of the California team to lead effective coalitions.
• Serve as Common Cause’s spokesperson and respond to inquiries from media, government officials, and others.
• Engage members and the public across the state through social media, website updates, and email communication.
• Develop and implement grassroots organizing strategies to build support for the Common Cause agenda.
• Expand and diversify our membership base in the state to deepen our impact.

Team Management

• Manage and support the California team: collaboratively set clear, actionable goals, coach and develop them toward these goals, and support their career progression and retention at Common Cause.
• Supervise consultants, volunteers, and interns as needed, in accordance with Common Cause management standards, practices, and procedures.
• Provide guidance and oversight to staff to ensure their contributions are effective and support the broader goals of the team.

Administration

• Manage the budget for the California team.
• Build, maintain, and engage a strong and diverse state advisory board that provides guidance on program and fundraising.
• Collaborate with Common Cause staff across the country.

Development and Fundraising

• Develop and expand fundraising strategies to support and sustain Common Cause programs, including lobbying efforts.
• Raise funds from a variety of sources, including foundations, major donors, members, and special events.
• Collaborate with national staff to achieve fundraising goals for Common Cause.
• Cultivate, nurture, and grow relationships with donors across the state, ensuring ongoing support and deepening their engagement with Common Cause’s mission.

You Will Thrive in This Role If You Have

• A strong commitment to Common Cause’s nonpartisan pro-democracy mission and to advancing racial equity through our national agenda.
• A commitment to equity in the goals of your work and in how you work with others.
• The ability to quickly build rapport, trust, and credibility with multiple stakeholders with diverse interests.
• A track record of working collaboratively with others, leading change initiatives, and navigating organizational and power dynamics to meet common goals.
• Innovative and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to navigate through ambiguity to achieve goals, and a resourceful approach to problem-solving.
• Familiarity with the unique aspects of the California political dynamic, and knowledge of funders and decision-makers across the state.
• Knowledge of current statewide democracy issues, including voting rights, redistricting, campaign finance reform, disinformation, and ethics.
• The ability to manage multiple short- and long-term projects simultaneously, with shifting priorities.
• The ability to compel action through both written and verbal communication, including distilling complex concepts for a broad audience, and differentiating communications as needed for various audiences.
• Openness to feedback and awareness of your own strengths and areas for growth.
• Familiarity with office productivity tools (Microsoft Office, Slack, Zoom).

The Following is Required

• Experience leading public interest advocacy campaigns in a non-profit setting, ideally centered in racial equity and legislative work at the state and local levels.
• Strong familiarity with, or interest in, democracy policy issues including voting rights, redistricting, money in politics, online disinformation, AI, and more.
• Experience managing and developing a team, setting strategic direction, and building a unified approach to achieve goals.
• Experience managing coalitions or groups with diverse interests to achieve a policy or campaign goal.
• Experience developing, analyzing, and advocating for legislative proposals, preferably in California.
• Significant experience raising funds to support campaigns or programs.
• Ability to travel within the state 3-4 times per month (primarily to the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Sacramento) and nationally 1-2 times per year.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Per our nonpartisan policy, staff members may not hold elected office, serve on political committees, or be affiliated with political party leadership.

Salary: $125,000 – $140,000 per year.
For more details on our salary structure and benefits, please visit Common Cause Benefits.

Common Cause is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.

Common Cause and Common Cause Education Fund are nonpartisan, nonprofit grassroots 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, promoting equal rights and representation for all. Founded in 1970, Common Cause has more than 1.5 million members across every congressional district in the United States, with offices in 23 states.

Apply to this role via Lever: Common Cause – Executive Director (CA) (lever.co)