State Director, Wisconsin

We are looking for a collaborative and visionary leader for our team in Wisconsin, promoting the Common Cause agenda at the state and national level; fostering a strong, sustainable team; leading winning public policy campaigns through policy analysis, research, lobbying, litigation, grassroots organizing, sophisticated communications and building strong and diverse coalitions.  

The State Director will have the opportunity to envision a strategic approach for Common Cause in Wisconsin 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 is a full-time role reporting to the Vice President of States; this role is based in Wisconsin, with a strong preference for someone in Milwaukee, and an expectation to travel around the state at least 4 times per month (and more often during legislative session). We hope our new State Director will start in November. 

Responsibilities

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 including issues like voting and fair representation, accountability and anti-corruption, and media and technology

·    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

Drive work through public outreach and strategic partnerships

·    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

Team Management

·   Manage the Wisconsin team: collaboratively set goals, coach and develop them 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 and other teams across the organization, ensuring coordination and alignment on shared work and priorities

Administration: 

·    Manage the operations of the Wisconsin team, including managing the budget

·    Build and engage a strong and diverse state advisory board that assists on policy, organizing, and fundraising activities

·    Collaborate with Common Cause staff across the country

Development 

·   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 Wisconsin

·   Cultivate, nurture, and grow relationships with Wisconsin’s network of donors 

• A strong commitment to Common Cause’s nonpartisan mission and to advancing civil rights through our pro-democracy agenda      
• A commitment to equity in the goals of your work and in how you work with others
• Ability to navigate organizational and power dynamics, respectfully navigate conflict while maintaining your values, and influence others to adopt changes to meet common goals 
• A track record of working collaboratively with others, with the ability to build rapport, trust, and credibility with multiple stakeholders with diverse interests 
• Innovative and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to navigate through ambiguity to achieve goals, and a resourceful approach to solve problems
• Ability to manage and meet deadlines for multiple short- and long-term priorities in a fast-paced environment, with high attention to detail; strong organization skills, and the ability to manage your time independently 
• 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; ideally you have experience working with the media and/or as a spokesperson for an organization
• Openness to feedback and awareness of your own strengths and areas for growth
• Familiarity with office productivity tools (Microsoft Office, Slack, Zoom)

• Experience leading successful local- or state-level 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 Wisconsin
• Demonstrated knowledge of the unique aspects of Wisconsin’s 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, participating in, 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 
• Ability to travel within state at least 4 days per month and up to multiple times per week during legislative session, 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

• This position is classified as supervisory and therefore not included in the union-represented collective bargaining unit.  
• 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.