Senior Policy Manager, Anticorruption and Accountability

Common Cause is seeking a collaborative, strategic  Senior Policy Manager, Anti-Corruption & Accountability, to join our Policy team. This role will lead state and multistate efforts and support federal efforts to tackle anti-corruption and accountability, with a focus on challenging corruption emanating from the federal executive branch.

Energy around how states can check federal corruption is building in red and blue states alike. You’ll turn that scattered momentum into a coordinated, strategic multistate portfolio. You’ll build out our state and multistate work and support our federal work, including by advancing new legislation, enforcement tools, and organizing activities to create clear channels to deepen promote integrity and deepen public trust, both within and across states.

This is a full-time role reporting to the Senior Policy Director, Anti-Corruption & Accountability; this role is remote anywhere within the lower 48 United States with a strong preference for someone in the DC area who can work in the office at least 2 days per week. We hope our new Senior Policy Manager will start in February.

Lead strategic policy development and advocacy to build out our multistate network

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Identify and build out opportunities for state staff/members to contribute to Common Cause’s work on anti-corruption and accountability

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Develop and coordinate multi-state initiatives to advance anti-corruption and accountability efforts to strengthen enforcement of existing laws and create new guardrails

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Capture lessons from our anti-corruption and accountability work in individual states and share them across our network to strengthen efforts nationwide

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Provide policy assistance to Common Cause state staff as they advance anti-corruption and accountability efforts at the state level

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Develop and advance policy proposals to strengthen campaign finance, ethics, and transparency measures

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Conduct policy research and analysis on anti-corruption and accountability issues to inform organizational strategy and public-facing communications

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Collaborate with our Campaigns & Organizing team, and lead campaigns, to harness people power in support of anti-corruption and accountability goals

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Develop and file campaign finance and/or ethics complaints with state or federal bodies, in collaboration with Common Cause staff

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Track state and federal legislative developments affecting anti-corruption and accountability policy, identifying opportunities for state and multi-state intervention and partnership

Drive state and multistate campaigns and policy that support accountable government

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In collaboration with the Senior Policy Director, Anti-Corruption & Accountability, design and implement strategic campaigns to support campaign finance reform, ethics, and anti-corruption issues

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In collaboration with the Senior Policy Director, Anti-Corruption & Accountability, develop innovative approaches and policy resources to support our work on anti-corruption and accountability, especially at the state level

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Create educational materials, toolkits, and resources to support state teams and partners in advancing policy priorities at state and local levels

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Cultivate stakeholder participation in multistate initiatives in locations where Common Cause does not have staff presence

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Provide technical assistance and strategic guidance to Common Cause state teams on related policy opportunities

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Analyze trends in legislative developments that impact anti-corruption and accountability to inform proactive policy development and rapid response strategies

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Collaborate with programs and communications teams to translate complex policy issues into compelling narratives for diverse audiences

Build and lead coalitions to support our goals

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Build and sustain relationships with coalition partners and allied organizations to advance shared policy goals

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Lead and participate in multi-stakeholder campaigns opposing corruption and promoting public accountability

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Facilitate peer learning and knowledge-sharing among coalition partners, making strategic judgments about collaboration and coordination opportunities

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Engage policymakers and their staff to educate on our policy priorities and build support for reforms

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Develop customized engagement strategies for different stakeholder communities, for example state-level activists, Congressional staff, or partner organizations

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Represent organizational positions in public forums, testimony, and media appearances on anti-corruption, ethics, and campaign finance policy issues

Support organizational capacity and strategic alignment

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Collaborate with organizing, communications, and development teams to integrate policy priorities into broader programmatic work and fundraising narratives

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Provide guidance and mentorship to junior staff, interns, and others working on related projects

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Contribute to organizational strategic planning processes, ensuring policy work aligns with broader democracy reform goals

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Manage grant deliverables and reporting requirements related to anti-corruption and accountability policy funding

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Track and evaluate impact of policy initiatives, using data and metrics to refine strategies and demonstrate outcomes

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Other duties as assigned

You will thrive in this role if you have:

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A strong commitment to Common Cause’s nonpartisan mission and to advancing responsive governance and civil rights through our pro-democracy agenda

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A track record of working collaboratively with others, with the ability to build rapport, trust, and credibility with multiple stakeholders with diverse interests

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Ability to navigate power dynamics, respectfully navigate conflict while maintaining your values, and influence others to adopt changes to meet common goals

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Ability to compel action through both written and verbal communication, including distilling complex concepts for a broad audience, and to differentiate communications as needed for various audiences

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Innovative and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to navigate through ambiguity to set goals, take initiative, and resourcefully solve problems to achieve short and long-term objectives

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Ability to manage and meet deadlines for multiple short- and long-term priorities at once, with strong attention to detail; robust organizational skills, and the ability to manage your time independently

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A commitment to equity in the goals of your work and in how you work with others

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Openness to feedback and awareness of your own strengths and areas for growth

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Familiarity with office productivity tools including Microsoft Office and Zoom

The following is required:

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Demonstrated knowledge of recent trends and legislation at the federal and state level for at least two of the following issues: anti-corruption, accountability, ethics, and campaign finance reform

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Familiarity with civil, criminal and administrative processes, as well as other options to address corruption, especially at the state level, and interest in developing new options

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Familiarity with state legislative processes, including policy research and analysis, policy development, legislative drafting, legislative advocacy and lobbying, and policy implementation

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Demonstrated knowledge of our national political dynamic, and familiarity with decision-makers and key players on anti-corruption and accountability issues, with a preference for candidates who have existing relationships with these people and organizations

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Experience leading or substantially contributing to successful public advocacy campaigns at the local or state level – including both grassroots and grasstops stakeholders – and ideally related to public integrity, campaign finance, ethics, or accountability

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Experience managing coalitions or groups that represent stakeholders with diverse interests to achieve a goal

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Travel up to once per month for team meetings, events, stakeholder meetings, and/or staff retreats

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Willingness 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 will provide accounts for staff members to use)

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Per our nonpartisan 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

Additional Information about this role:

- This position is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit and specific employment terms and conditions are subject to collective bargaining negotiations

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Common Cause is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time; please note that if hired, you will be asked to produce documentation for authorization to work in the US

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 (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 members and supporters living in every congressional district in the United States, and offices in 23 states around the country.