Senior Policy Manager, Anticorruption and Accountability

Common Cause

7d • $100,786 - $116,699 • Remote

About The Position

Common Cause is seeking a collaborative, strategic Senior Policy Manager to lead state and multistate efforts and support federal work on anti-corruption and accountability, with a focus on challenging corruption emanating from the federal executive branch. The position will turn growing state-level momentum into a coordinated multistate portfolio, advancing legislation, enforcement tools, and organizing activities that promote integrity and public trust within and across states.

The role is full-time and reports to the Senior Policy Director, Anti-Corruption & Accountability. It is remote anywhere in the lower 48 United States, with a strong preference for a candidate in the Washington, DC area who can work in the office at least two days per week. The organization hopes the successful candidate will start in February. Travel may be required up to once per month for team meetings, events, stakeholder meetings, and staff retreats.

The Senior Policy Manager will develop and advance policy and campaigns related to campaign finance, ethics, transparency, and accountable government; support state teams and partners; coordinate multistate initiatives and coalitions; engage policymakers and stakeholders; and contribute to organizational strategy, communications, and fundraising alignment. The role also includes developing educational resources, conducting policy research and analysis, filing campaign finance or ethics complaints in collaboration with staff, mentoring junior colleagues, and managing grant deliverables and impact evaluation.

This position is part of a union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific employment terms and conditions are subject to collective bargaining negotiations. Common Cause cannot sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. Staff may not currently hold elected office or be running for office, serve on a political candidate’s Steering or Finance Committee, or be affiliated with political party leadership, consistent with the organization’s nonpartisan policy.

Requirements

• Strong commitment to Common Cause’s nonpartisan mission and to advancing responsive governance and civil rights through its pro-democracy agenda.
• Track record of working collaboratively and building rapport, trust, and credibility with stakeholders who have diverse interests.
• Ability to navigate power dynamics and conflict respectfully while maintaining values and influencing others toward shared goals.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to distill complex concepts for broad audiences and adapt communications to different audiences.
• Innovative and strategic thinking, ability to navigate ambiguity, set goals, take initiative, and solve problems resourcefully to meet short- and long-term objectives.
• Ability to manage multiple short- and long-term priorities and deadlines, with strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and independent time management.
• Commitment to equity in both work goals and interactions with others.
• Openness to feedback and awareness of personal strengths and areas for growth.
• Familiarity with office productivity tools, including Microsoft Office and Zoom.
• Demonstrated knowledge of recent federal and state trends and legislation in at least two of the following: anti-corruption, accountability, ethics, and campaign finance reform.
• Familiarity with civil, criminal, and administrative processes and other options for addressing corruption, especially at the state level, and interest in developing new options.
• Familiarity with state legislative processes, including policy research and analysis, policy development, legislative drafting, legislative advocacy and lobbying, and policy implementation.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the national political dynamic and familiarity with decision-makers and key players on anti-corruption and accountability issues.
• Experience leading or substantially contributing to successful local- or state-level public advocacy campaigns involving grassroots and grasstops stakeholders.
• Experience managing coalitions or groups with diverse stakeholder interests to achieve a goal.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to once per month for team meetings, events, stakeholder meetings, and/or staff retreats.
• Willingness to maintain a social media presence on behalf of Common Cause, including being tagged in posts and creating content as needed.
• Must not currently hold elected office or be running for office, serve on the Steering Committee or Finance Committee for a political candidate, or be affiliated with political party leadership.
• Must provide documentation of authorization to work in the United States if hired; Common Cause is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.

Nice To Haves

• Existing relationships with decision-makers and key organizations working on anti-corruption and accountability issues.
• Experience with public advocacy campaigns related to public integrity, campaign finance, ethics, or accountability.
• Preference for candidates based in the Washington, DC area who can work in the office at least two days per week.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic policy development and advocacy to build out the multistate network.
• Identify and develop opportunities for state staff and members to contribute to Common Cause’s anti-corruption and accountability work.
• Develop and coordinate multistate initiatives to strengthen enforcement of existing laws and create new anti-corruption guardrails.
• Capture and share lessons from state-level work across the network to strengthen nationwide efforts.
• Provide policy assistance and strategic guidance to Common Cause state staff and teams.
• Develop and advance policy proposals related to campaign finance, ethics, transparency, and accountable government.
• Conduct policy research and analysis to inform organizational strategy and public-facing communications.
• Collaborate with the Campaigns & Organizing team and lead campaigns that mobilize people in support of anti-corruption and accountability goals.
• Develop and file campaign finance and/or ethics complaints with state or federal bodies in collaboration with Common Cause staff.
• Track state and federal legislative developments and identify opportunities for state and multistate intervention and partnership.
• Design and implement strategic campaigns, in collaboration with the Senior Policy Director, to support campaign finance reform, ethics, and anti-corruption issues.
• Develop innovative approaches, policy resources, educational materials, toolkits, and other resources to support state teams and partners.
• Cultivate stakeholder participation in multistate initiatives where Common Cause has no staff presence.
• Analyze legislative trends to inform proactive policy development and rapid response strategies.
• Collaborate with programs, communications, organizing, and development teams to translate policy issues into compelling narratives and integrate policy priorities into programmatic work and fundraising.
• Build and lead coalitions, sustain relationships with coalition partners and allied organizations, and lead or participate in multistakeholder campaigns.
• Facilitate peer learning and knowledge-sharing among coalition partners and identify strategic collaboration and coordination opportunities.
• Engage policymakers and their staff to explain policy priorities and build support for reforms.
• Develop tailored engagement strategies for different stakeholder communities.
• Represent organizational positions in public forums, testimony, and media appearances on anti-corruption, ethics, and campaign finance policy.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior staff, interns, and others working on related projects.
• Contribute to organizational strategic planning and align policy work with broader democracy reform goals.
• Manage grant deliverables and reporting requirements related to policy funding.
• Track and evaluate policy initiative impact, using data and metrics to refine strategies and demonstrate outcomes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Healthcare plan covering 97% of employee medical care, 100% of employee vision and dental benefits, and 75% of family medical care and 100% of family vision and dental benefits.
• Long-term disability insurance and life insurance.
• 20 vacation days and 10 observed holidays per year, plus additional days off for Thanksgiving and winter break.
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with immediate employer match.
• Dependent care and pet care support when traveling for work.
• Funds for professional development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed