Due Process Institute, a 501(c)(4) headquartered in Washington, DC, is looking for a criminal justice reform Legal + Policy Director to build and execute legislative and legal campaign strategies—particularly with Democratic and Progressive Congressional offices and allies as well as a Biden-Harris Administration—in order to achieve outcomes that increase justice and fairness, protect due process, and improve lives. Specific current topical areas of reform include (but are not limited to): prosecutorial accountability; plea bargaining; right to counsel; federal sentencing; due process trial rights (including grand jury and criminal discovery reform); surveillance; traditional and digital search and seizures issues; overincarceration; overcriminalization; forensic integrity; policing; and other criminal justice topics. We seek to effectuate immediate and meaningful change via our amicus curiae practice, public education, programming, and direct policy advocacy.
We are looking for a highly professional, goal-oriented leader who is capable of playing a significant role in our organization and delivering measurable results to make criminal legal reform a reality.
Responsibilities:
--Work within a politically diverse team to build bipartisan goals and strategies;
-- Shape policy development and otherwise operate as a key decision-maker regarding federal policy and legal engagement;
--Take leading role in federal advocacy work (legislative and administrative) through lobbying and other direct engagement, with a particular emphasis on Democratic and Progressive members of Congress as well as allies that are considered politically left-leaning;
--Partner with a wide and diverse group of existing allies whenever appropriate to secure desired policy and legal outcomes;
--Develop relationships with new allies and organizations to further advocacy goals;
--Analyze criminal law legislation;
--Represent the organization’s policy positions and principles at coalition meetings, in meetings with lawmakers and other stakeholders, and in public forums;
--Contribute to drafting criminal reform legislation;
--Contribute to authoring long-form reports, short advocacy pieces, and blogs on a wide variety of criminal law and policy topics;
--Assist with grant development and management;
--Develop and help execute legal and policy related programs and events;
--Participate meaningfully in shaping and executing the organization’s social media and communications campaigns; and
-- Assist in supervision of projects executed by Policy Counsel, Policy Associates, Externs, and Independent Contractors.
Additional responsibilities of a qualified candidate could also include:
--Assist in determining amicus involvement in criminal law cases and
--Draft amicus briefs and/or supervise drafting of pro bono lawyer volunteers.
--Proven commitment to the mission of increasing economic and racial justice and a demonstrated long-term interest in criminal law and criminal legal reform;
--Minimum of 5 years of issue advocacy and/or criminal law experience at the federal level (our preferred candidates for this position will likely have significantly more than 5 years experience);
--Significant federal criminal law and criminal justice reform knowledge and expertise;
--Experience with legislative and administrative analysis and/or advocacy;
--Proven ability to design strategies and tactics and execute plans to achieve concrete goals;
--Demonstrated ability to write well with minimal editorial assistance;
--Ability to create, develop, and execute projects independently—initiative and follow-through are must-have qualifications for this position;
--Demonstrated ability to speak in public settings and other advanced communications skills;
--Excellent research and analytical skills;
--Pro-active problem-solving skills and ability to compromise when necessary for the greater good;
--Ability to work in a fast-paced environment that can occasionally have odd hours;
--Ability to simultaneously handle multiple tasks, effectively manage time, and meet deadlines;
--Ability to build, lead, and work within diverse coalitions;
--Evidence of the ability to consistently make good decisions through a combination of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment;
--Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and problem solve with creative resourcefulness; and
--Demonstrated commitment to diversity that values all persons and respects differences regarding race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability, socio-economic circumstance, and political viewpoints.
Previous federal public defender experience is a plus. Previous hill experience is a plus.
Applications will be reviewed immediately and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Please submit a cover letter explaining why you would be a great fit for our organization and this position, as well as a resume detailing your experience. Salary requirements must be addressed in your cover letter. Please also submit a writing sample that represents your best advocacy work and that is substantially authored/edited by you alone (10 page maximum--excised portions of longer works are acceptable). Submit your materials to Tamara Kalacevic via email ([email protected]). If your candidacy advances, you will be asked to provide references.
Due Process Institute is prepared to offer competitive nonprofit compensation and benefits.