Legislative Director, CA

We are looking for a Legislative Director to set the vision for and manage the legislative portfolio for Common Cause in California. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with strong collaboration and policy skills who can join us to lead our work at the State Capitol.     This role will work closely with the State Director as well as teammates, board members, and partners, and will build relationships to be our ambassador at the State Capitol. This role will work to advance our policy agenda at the state capitol so that we are building a more inclusive, equitable, representative, and trustworthy democracy in our state.  This is a full-time role reporting to the State Director and based in the Greater Sacramento Area, with an expectation to travel to the California State Capitol at least 3 days per week (up to 5 times per week during legislative session). We hope our new Legislative Director will start in October. Responsibilities

Set the strategic direction for and advance our California and national policy agenda

• In partnership with the State Director, set and execute the long-term strategy for statewide policy development and democracy reform, ensuring alignment with our organizational priorities

• Manage all aspects of the legislative process for Common Cause in California, including developing ideas for and drafting legislation, determining strategies to advocate for legislation, finding bill authors, lobbying, testifying at legislative hearings, and negotiating amendments 

• Act as the team’s primary representative in meetings with elected leaders, legislative leaders, and other critical stakeholders 

Advance our legislative agenda through coalition building and stakeholder engagement 

• In partnership with the State Director and the Senior Director of Legislative Affairs, build relationships with key legislative staff at the state capitol to advance Common Cause’s federal policy agenda with the California delegation and other critical stakeholders

• Collaborate with program staff to leverage their subject matter expertise to support our advocacy efforts 

• Build and lead coalitions of civil rights, tech/AI, civic engagement, and community-based organizations from across the state, and act as a representative at the Capitol for our work with these organizations  

• Lead coalition meetings, manage cross-sector relationships, and represent Common Cause in external policy discussions, public forums, and legislative hearings

• Coordinate efforts with coalition partners on joint advocacy strategies, including lobbying campaigns, grassroots mobilization, and media outreach

• Act as a spokesperson for Common Cause, delivering testimony, making public statements, and representing the organization in high-level meetings and legislative events

• Present and speak at legislative hearings and committee meetings

• Manage consultants and contractors as needed to ensure Common Cause’s legislative agenda is successful

Drive campaigns and our advocacy strategy

• Lead legislative advocacy campaigns, including creating policy proposals, drafting position papers, providing testimony, and organizing strategic outreach efforts to support legislative action

• Provide input on election protection activities

• Support and engage with the One Million Conversations Campaign and additional organization-wide campaigns and initiatives

Communicate about our work

• Write op-eds, research reports, legislative factsheets, policy briefs, and memos  

• Create social media content to publicize legislative work

• Draft policy memos for the advisory board and members 

• Contribute to policy-related social media posts, website content, and other communications 

• Make on-the-record statements to the press, and speak at press conferences or rallies 

• Understand best practices for effective engagement with Common Cause members and the public to support our legislative agenda

Support our Fundraising and State Advisory Board management

• Collaborate with the State Director and fundraising team to identify and pursue funding opportunities to support policy and legislative advocacy.

• Act as the primary communicator with our state board on legislative and policy priorities, facilitating discussions on policy with the board as needed 

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