Senior Policy Director & Counsel, Voting & Fair Representation

We are looking for a Senior Policy Director & Counsel, Voting & Fair Representation, to lead Common Cause’s work to protect voting rights, ensure free and fair elections, and strengthen representative democracy. This leader will set the vision for our voting and fair representation policy pillar, lead our national Election Protection program, and bring together policy, litigation, legislative advocacy, organizing, and communications strategies to meet the challenges facing our democracy. 

 

The Senior Policy Director will lead a growing team of experts and work across Common Cause’s national and 22 state teams and coalition partnerships to turn ideas into action. This role requires a strategic leader who brings deep expertise in voting and fair representation, strong judgment in navigating complex political and legal landscapes, and the ability to build programmatic strategies that deliver impact. 

 

This is a full-time role reporting to the Vice President, Policy; this role is based in Washington, DC with an expectation to come into our office at least two days per week and travel at least six times per year. We hope our new Senior Policy Director and Counsel, Voting & Fair Representation will start in September.

 

Responsibilities

Lead our Voting & Fair Representation strategy 

• Set the strategic vision for our voting and fair representation work across federal, multi-state, and state-level advocacy 

• Develop and execute strategies that bring together policy, litigation, legislative advocacy, organizing, communications, and coalition engagement to protect voting rights and strengthen fair representation 

• Serve as a national coalition leader and trusted expert on voting, fair representation, and election protection 

 

Lead and grow our Election Protection Program 

• Lead our national Election Protection program, including strategy, coordination, and execution across our 22 state teams and national partnerships 

• Identify emerging threats to free and fair elections and develop proactive strategies, including policy solutions, litigation strategies, and rapid response plans 

• Represent Common Cause in key national coalitions and help shape the broader democracy movement’s response to election challenges 

 

Manage and develop a high-impact team 

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of voting and fair representation experts
• Manage a large team including direct supervision of policy directors and counsels: collaboratively set goals, coach and develop them towards these goals and support their career progression and retention at Common Cause

• Build a collaborative team culture focused on strategic thinking, bias towards action, creative problem-solving, and measurable impact 

• Ensure strong coordination across Common Cause departments and teams, including litigation, legislative affairs, campaigns, organizing, communications, and state teams 

 

Drive policy implementation and impact

• Work with state teams, partners, policymakers, and election officials to advance and implement pro-democracy reforms

• Translate complex legal and policy issues into strategies that move decision-makers, partners, and the public 

• Provide expertise through testimony, media engagement, coalition leadership, and strategic guidance 

 

Support organizational leadership 

• Help strengthen Common Cause’s role as a leading voice in the democracy movement
• Ensure Common Cause is recognized as a trusted leader in voting rights and representation policy, influencing national and state-level policy, regulatory, and legislative debates

• Play a leadership role in contributing to organizational strategy, planning, and cross-team initiatives 
• Perform other duties as assigned