State Director
Common Cause
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Hybrid
Location: Illinois • Illinois • United States
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Salary
💰 $113,300 - $133,900 per year
Job Level
About the role
- Set and lead our strategy for our policy advocacy and organizing that centers racial equity
- Develop effective proactive and defensive policy campaigns that center racial equity
- Advocate for our campaigns in alignment with the Common Cause agenda and non-partisanship mission
- Develop and execute lobbying strategies to advance reform (or stop anti-democratic initiatives) and to hold federal, state, and local elected and appointed officials and other decision-makers accountable
- Oversee Common Cause’s work in the state while supporting national campaigns, including issues like voting and fair representation, accountability and anti-corruption, media and technology, and civil rights and civil liberties
- Produce timely, high quality policy research
- Act as a leader within Common Cause, collaborating with staff across the organization to advance and support our priorities
- Build, lead, and participate in effective and diverse coalitions
- Serve as Common Cause’s spokesperson in responding 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
- Manage the Illinois team: collaboratively set goals, coach and develop staff, including members apart of the collective bargaining unit, towards 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
- Promote collaboration between your team, in-state coalitions, and other teams across the organization, ensuring coordination and alignment on shared work and priorities
- Manage the operations of the Illinois team, including managing the budget and any in-state administrative responsibilities (including lobbying reports, mail processing, etc...)
- Build and engage a strong and diverse state advisory board that assists on policy, organizing, and fundraising activities
- Develop fundraising strategies to fund Common Cause programs, including lobbying efforts
- Raise money from foundations, major donors, members, and special events
- Collaborate with national staff to achieve fundraising goals for Illinois
- Cultivate, nurture, and grow relationships with Illinois’ network of donors
Requirements
- Experience leading successful local- or state-level or national public advocacy campaigns related to democracy, elections, voting rights and civil rights, including creating and managing campaign or annual plans, from conception through implementation
- Experience drafting, analyzing and advocating for legislation in Illinois
- Demonstrated knowledge of the unique aspects of Illinois’ political dynamic, as well as of funders and decision-makers in the state; ideally you have existing relationships with these people and organizations
- Experience building and leading coalitions or groups that represent stakeholders with diverse interests to achieve a goal
- A track record of leading organization-wide change initiatives
- Have managed and developed a team; set strategic direction for a team, and built a unified approach to achieve goals
- Willing to have a social media presence on behalf of Common Cause, including being tagged on posts and creating content on behalf of the organization (as needed, Common Cause may provide accounts for staff members to use)
- Ability to travel within state at least 4 days per month, and nationally 1-2 times per year for team and/or all staff retreats
- Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed, especially during legislative sessions
- Per our non-partisan policy, Common Cause staff members may not currently be in elected office (or running for office); on the Steering Committee or Finance Committee for any political candidate; or affiliated with the leadership of a political party
Benefits
- A robust healthcare plan that covers 97% of employee’s medical care, 100% of employee’s vision and dental benefits, and 75% of family medical care and 100% of family vision and dental benefits
- Long-term disability and life insurance
- Generous Paid Time Off including 20 Days of Vacation and 10 observed Holidays per year, and additional days off for Thanksgiving and Winter break
- 16 weeks of paid parental leave
- Flexible spending accounts
- A 401k retirement savings plan, with immediate Employer Match
- Dependent Care and Pet Care Support when you travel for work
- Funds for professional development
- And more!
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
policy advocacylobbying strategiespolicy researchcampaign managementlegislation draftingfundraising strategiesgrassroots organizingbudget managementcoalition buildingpublic speaking
Soft Skills
leadershipcollaborationcommunicationteam managementstrategic planningflexibilityrelationship buildingcoachinggoal settingpublic engagement