Senior Policy Counsel & Researcher

FAIRVOTE SUMMARY

FairVote, headquartered in Silver Spring, MD, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is associated with FairVote Action, a 501 (c)(4) advocacy organization. Our focus is electoral reform that gives voters a greater choice, a stronger voice, and a more representative democracy. Since 1992, FairVote has been the national leader in developing and distributing the educational tools and analysis necessary to increase public appreciation of the value of ranked-choice voting (RCV).

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Policy Counsel & Researcher advances FairVote’s legal, policy, and legislative initiatives through legal analysis and research, policy development, writing, and strategic partnership work. Specifically, this position will lead FairVote’s engagement with policy-makers around the country to engage and inform their actions on adoption of ranked choice voting. Additionally, the position will engage pro bono attorneys and partner organizations attorneys, participate in work with scholars about our reform goals, support strategic outreach to the civil rights and voting rights communities and develop policy positions, model legislation, and actionable legal guidance for FairVote and its partners.

Position Type:

This is a full-time exempt position. Exempt employees are expected to work the appropriate and necessary time to complete key assignments and related tasks on schedule. This is a union role. The Senior Policy Counsel & Researcher will report to the Chief Program Officer (FairVote Action).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

State Legislative (30%)

This role would be point on all state legislative matters FV/A undertakes. This includes partnership work with A4, UA, RepUs and others, but also in-state partners.

• National legislative strategy

• Individual state legislative strategy

• Managing lobbyists, as needed

• Lobbying and coordinating expert speakers to testify

• Coalition building / support for in-state groups

• Drafting/reviewing legislation (see LRT)

• Engaging election admins on implementation concerns (see EA)

• Co-leading our defensive work with GOP outreach team

• Policy-making engagement will also include engagement at the municipal and federal levels

Election Administration & Implementation (30%)

• Cultivate and manage an election administrative outreach plan, including managing related consultants

  • Represent FairVote and RCV/PRCV at EA conferences and gatherings (in-person and virtual)

• Launch and lead the Election Administration Roundtable, facilitating real-time problem-solving alongside other practitioners in the areas of technology, training, partnerships, and policy

  • Lead rapid response on behalf of FairVote alongside coalition partners, following any implementation issues or attacks on implementation

  • Bringing unique relationship/elections expertise to implementation technology discussions with coalition partners

• Managing the creation of an EA training curriculum and lead in relationship-building to add training modules to EA certification programs

• Manage products and materials from FairVote, including implementation handouts, cost estimates, research papers, policy papers, etc.

Legal Round Table (LRT) (20%)

This role would be part of the RCV Legal Roundtable along with at least one other FairVote representative and representatives from seven other national reform organizations. The LRT works collaboratively on the following:

• Draft, edit, monitor, and testify regarding legislation and regulations in target states

• Research and analyze state and local laws and regulations impacting the ability to adopt and implement ranked choice voting

• Develop resources, guides, and materials to serve legal and policy needs in support of local, state, and federal reform efforts

• Assist in the development of pro bono resources and assets at the national and state-by-state level to serve movement-wide legal needs

• Prepare public-facing materials examining and explaining legal issues

• Assist legal roundtable in developing core resources that can be deployed by litigators with less familiarity with RCV and particular issues that might commonly arise in RCV related litigation.

• Reflect on emerging long-term legal challenges and opportunities from collateral developments in scholarly analysis, constitutional law, statutory law, enforcement practices and policies (e.g., remedial preferences), positions held by key political and legal actors (e.g., state AGs, DOJ support, etc.)

• Model language for statutes and state constitutional amendments associated with FairVote’s advocacy goals

Research (10%)

This is not primarily a researcher role, but will play an important part in connecting FairVote’s research work with the needs of campaigns and other stakeholders.

Legal Scholarship / Theory Development / General Legal and Policy Support :

• Produce scholarship to analyze and shape debate on emerging legal and policy questions relating to RCV and adjacent policies, including:

  • Occasional popular press pieces (op-eds, etc.)

• Assist staff lead with organizing FairVote’s conference/symposium on the relevant research, including:

  • Editorial assistance with symposium contributions

  • Identification and recruitment of symposium participants and contributors

• Identify and engage with potential thought leaders and influencers to develop broader support for and interest in RCV and PRCV

• Help share strategy and participate in the execution of events at law schools and universities on RCV and PRCV

  • Produce scholarship relating to redistricting reform around the country with a particular focus on multi-member districts and PRCV.

Additional Duties (10%)

• Planning, Measurement, Evaluation and Learning (PMEL)

  • Ensure learning and evidence are integrated into programming and implementation plans.

  • Assist in the evaluation and evolution of FairVote's state advocacy outreach, Election Administration Roundtable, and RCV Legal Roundtable efforts.

  • Participate in the bi-annual PMEL cycle (planning and learning)

  • Facilitate contacts between relevant stakeholders for feedback and evaluation

• Fundraising

  • Identify, cultivate, and maintain ongoing relationships with key individual donors and institutional giving partners.

• Administrative

Knowledge, Education, and Experience:

• JD is required; advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., public policy) a plus

• Expertise in election law is required

• A minimum of five years of relevant policy experience

• Demonstrated interest in FairVote's core strategic priorities issue areas and a strong commitment to FairVote's mission and values

• Thorough knowledge of the legislative process, outstanding political judgment and commitment to work across the political spectrum for FairVote reforms

• Strong networking skills and the ability to build and maintain relationships with individuals, organizations, and funders, as well as to work with diverse groups of people

• Strong problem-solving and project-management skills

• Experience building coalitions and advancing discussion through conversation

• Excellent oral, writing, editing, presentation, and interpersonal skills

• Entrepreneurial spirit and desire to work in a fast-paced startup environment

• Self-motivated, creative, organized, and deeply committed to personal and organizational excellence

• Ability to appreciate and contribute to a work environment that values integrity, adaptability, reliability, collaboration, and a commitment to learning

• Understanding of and commitment to diversity, racial and gender equity, and inclusion

LOCATION

The FairVote office is located in Silver Spring, MD. The role can be performed remotely.

SALARY & BENEFITS

This is a full-time, exempt position. FairVote offers a competitive benefits package for all full-time employees.

HOW TO APPLY

A Cover Letter and Resume are required to consider an application complete. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Due to the volume of applications, we will unfortunately not acknowledge receipt of all applications. No phone calls, please.

FairVote is an equal-opportunity employer committed to maintaining a non-discriminatory work environment. FairVote places a high value on fostering an inclusive workplace, and we are committed to building a team as diverse as the American people. We do not make hiring or advancement, or other employment decisions based on race, religion, gender, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, political affiliation, pregnancy, disability, or any other status protected by law. Individuals from across all spectrums who are passionate about fixing our broken political system are strongly encouraged to apply.