Justice Project Project Director & Senior Attorney
Advancement Project’s national office in Washington, D.C., seeks a dynamic seasoned litigator, strong community advocate, and innovative manager to serve as Project Director & Senior Attorney of the Justice Project. This position executes program plan initiatives under the supervision of the Executive Director.
Advancement Project is a next generation, multiracial civil rights organization. Rooted in the great human rights struggles for equality and justice, we exist to fulfill America’s promise of a caring, inclusive, and just democracy. We use innovative tools and strategies, in conjunction with strong community alliances to strengthen social movements and achieve high-impact policy change. We combine law, communications, policy and technology to create workable solutions and achieve systemic change. We change the national discourse on race to provide opportunities for breakthroughs on racism. We aim to inspire and strengthen movements that expand opportunity for all.
DESCRIPTION OF ROLE
The Justice Project Director & Senior Attorney will manage a dedicated team of professionals from multiple disciplines working to transform policing and the criminal justice system. This work includes supporting organizations within the Movement for Black Lives and other local and national efforts to eliminate over-policing, mass incarceration and their impact on communities of color.
The Project Director & Senior Attorney will orchestrate rapid response support to grassroots groups as we have done following many of the police killings of Black people in the U.S., and lead legal and policy support to groups working to end over-policing and over-criminalization.
The Justice Project seeks to work with Black, Brown and Muslim grassroots organizations/networks and support solidarity efforts among them to re-imagine safety and justice. The strategies and tactics of the Justice Project are carried out within the broader goal of racial justice. The Project Director & Senior Attorney will be expected to provide direction for the work, build a strong team, supervise staff, litigate, provide expertise internally and externally, build relationships within the field, and work closely with partnering grassroots organizations. This position will use a variety of legal, policy, communications and coalition-building strategies to assist community partners and allies in achieving transformation of policing systems and abolishment of overly aggressive criminalization practices that disproportionately affect people of color.
ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
-Offer strategic vision and implement strategies that transform policing and criminal justice systems and build public will in an effort to address these issues.
-Manage the Justice Project team, tools, resources, and activities to ensure goals are accomplished.
-Oversee implementation of local, state and national advocacy campaigns in partnership with community-based organizations.
-Establish, cultivate and manage strategic relationships, coalitions, and diverse partnerships at the grassroots and national level.
-Work in collaboration with executive leadership team and staff to create project goals and work plans that create systemic change and deliver impact.
-Utilize metrics and reporting to track progress towards goals, and to keep leadership team and development team apprised of successes and challenges.
-Work collaboratively with executive director, executive leadership team and project staff to develop plans and articulate goals/objectives related to the initiative.
-Assist the development team with budgets, fundraising and provide necessary information related to project initiatives.
-Seek and participate in external events and networking opportunities.
LEGAL & POLICY
-Remain apprised of key criminal justice issues (legal and policy) to provide guidance on litigation and policy development in collaboration with litigation director.
-Research and challenge current regulations and practices that are disadvantages to criminal restoration, policing practices which promote over-criminalization.
-Assist program/project directors’ cross-functionally in managing investigations and litigation respective to other internal programs/projects that intersect with the justice initiatives.
COMMUNICATIONS
-Persuasively articulate the mission, goals and program/project priorities of Advancement Project’s national office in written and oral presentations, including at conferences and in media.
-Develop presentation materials, slides, scripts, talking points and proposal collateral for prospect meetings.
-Work in collaboration with communications team to develop and align strategic messaging related to the project.
-Review team projects to ensure the consistent production of high-quality work products and advocacy materials.
ADMINISTRATION
-Manage program’s budget effectively and adjust expenditures as necessary.
-Supervise team members, provide timely feedback and support growth.
-Foster and motivate a highly functioning, energetic, innovative, collaborative and responsive team.
-Conduct annual reviews for assigned team members and administer personnel policies.
-Maintain collegial work relationships across the organization.
-Periodically supervise department interns and/or volunteer staff.
-Represent department as a member of various organizational committees.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
-A demonstrated commitment to racial justice required.
-Juris Doctorate required with state bar membership and ability to waive into the DC Bar.
-Seven to ten years of post JD experience, including three to five years of significant litigation experience required, preferably on criminal justice issues.
-Knowledge of legal and policy issues surrounding criminal justice and policing systems.
-Two to three years of supervisory experience of full-time professional staff including mentoring and training of junior staff required.
-Prior experience working with grassroots organizations and/or non-profit environments; advocacy campaign experience strongly preferred.
-Track record of getting results, handling a heavy workload and developing strong working relationships with and among a diverse group of people.
-Fundraising, budgeting and planning experience desired.
-Prior project management experience is necessary; strong technical skills are highly desired.
-Must possess strong interpersonal, research, analytical and writing skills.
-Superior verbal communications skills.
-Bilingual ability with fluency in Spanish desired.
-Previous work in a cross-functional or matrix team environment strongly preferred.
-Willingness to travel on a reoccurring basis required.
TOTAL REWARDS
Salary commensurate with experience. Generous benefits package included.
HOW TO APPLY
Advancement Project is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter with salary expectations, resume, two writing samples and a list of three references to [email protected]. Reference “Project Director & Senior Attorney – Justice Project” in the subject line.