Overview

ABOUT LATINOJUSTICE PRLDEF

Founded in 1972 as the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, LatinoJustice PRLDEF (LJP) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year as a leading civil rights and social justice organization. LJP’s core issue areas include voting rights and redistricting, economic justice, immigrant rights, criminal justice reform and policing, racial justice, leadership development, and issues specific to Puerto Rico. LJP uses multiple strategies, including litigation, advocacy, and community education and engagement, to protect and advance the rights of the Latinx and other communities of color.

JOB DESCRIPTION

LatinoJustice PRLDEF (LJP) seeks an experienced, dynamic, and creative professional with a demonstrated commitment to social justice to serve as the organization’s Chief of Advocacy. 

The Chief of Advocacy develops, leads, and oversees campaigns in various states to change laws and policies, in order to effectuate LJP’s strategic priorities in its core issue areas. The Chief of Advocacy supervises, directs, and mentors a talented, dedicated team of advocacy staff who also create and execute campaigns at the state and local levels. The Chief of Advocacy cultivates and works with a diverse group of stakeholders to lobby, build coalitions, and successfully enact legislation across the nation, as well as to defeat proposed laws and policies that would undermine civil rights and social justice.

The position requires a professional with a deep understanding of the inner workings of the legislative process and lobbying, and who has extensive lobbying experience in at least one state legislature; and a strategic thinker who is nimble, can assess a changing environment, and adapt their approach and tactics accordingly. The position also requires a highly collaborative individual with excellent communications skills who will work closely with staff throughout the organization and the wider community to develop and execute holistic campaigns that will optimize the chances of success. The successful candidate possesses a high degree of emotional intelligence, an ability to thrive in quick-paced and high-pressure environments, approaches their work with a level of sincerity and humility, and embraces teamwork.

This full-time position is based in one of LJP’s offices, in New York City, Orlando, or Austin. The Chief of Advocacy reports directly to the President & General Counsel and serves as a member of LJP’s senior leadership team. The Chief of Advocacy supervises a growing team of advocacy professionals—including the National Criminal Justice Director, several issue-specific advocacy coordinators, and a digital organizer—based throughout LJP’s offices. The position requires some travel. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Advocacy

  • Initiate and lead state-level advocacy campaigns, with an emphasis on legislative campaigns.
  • Spearhead the development of robust campaign goals, plans, strategies, tactics, and budgets to achieve outcomes on specific issue areas
  • Strengthen current and create new relationships with key decision makers.
  • Identify and cultivate allies and stakeholder partnerships with grass tops and grassroot organizations, advocates, community leaders, impacted persons, and other groups of interest to support campaigns.
  • Cultivate champions for reform among influential lawmakers and community-based leaders.
  • Nurture relationships with local and state advocates and community stakeholders.
  • Support organizational participation in specified coalitions and/or task forces.
  • In close collaboration with the Legal and Communications departments, prepare reports, testimony, memos, opinion pieces, and briefing materials for state-specific campaigns based on analysis and synthesis of research, data, and other information.
  • Work closely with LJP’s Legal department to analyze and draft legislation.
  • Collaborate with the Chief of External Strategy & Affairs, LJP’s Communications department, and external public relations firm to develop and disseminate strategic messaging in support of campaigns.
  • Collaborate with and supervise digital organizer to develop and execute digital advocacy campaigns in support of LJP’s strategic priorities. Develop and review metrics to evaluate digital advocacy strategies and adjust tactics accordingly.    
  • Serve as a spokesperson for reform efforts in campaigns.
  • Facilitate and curate state legislative hearings.
  • Identify new legislation opportunities and threats.
  • Represent LJP in various community coalitions and government task forces.
  • Facilitate and represent LJP at symposia, training, legislative hearings, and state-level task forces.
  • Retain and manage external consultants as needed.

Management and Supervision

  • Direct, mentor, and supervise advocacy team members who are executing the responsibilities listed above under Advocacy.
  • Conduct regular performance evaluations of supervisees and provide real-time constructive feedback.
  • Create and implement a professional development plan for each supervisee. 

Leadership

  • Contribute to the overall strategy for advancing the organizational mission as a member of LJP’s senior leadership team.
  • Help develop and implement long-term strategic plans that advance LJP’s mission and vision. 
  • In close collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer and President & General Counsel, develop and track annual budgets for the Advocacy Department.
  • Collaborate with the Chief of External Strategy & Affairs and Chief Financial Officer to inform grant funding proposals and reports for institutional funders.
  • Advise the President & General Counsel on key trends and developments in LJP’s core issue areas. 
  • Act as an ambassador to staff regarding LJP’s policies and procedures.
  • Uphold and live the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.   

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
  • At least 10 years of experience of demonstrated success in building coalitions and developing and executing legislative campaigns on the state level. This includes identifying champions for reform, navigating the state legislative process (i.e., identifying legislative sponsors, working with legislative leadership, navigating the committee process in state houses, including experience with relevant fiscal committees) to build necessary support for successful passage of legislation at the state level.
  • Experience providing oral and written testimony before legislative bodies.
  • Experience with synthesizing policy information from multiple sources, with analyzing and communicating complex legal issues, and articulating a stance in a cogent manner.
  • At least 10 years of supervision and management experience. Demonstrated success in providing high-quality supervision and working collaboratively to achieve strategic goals.
  • Experience and expertise in criminal justice, voting rights, and/or or one of LatinoJustice’s core issue areas. 
  • Demonstrated professional commitment to civil rights issues and commitment to advancing social justice and human rights for Latinos and other communities of color.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to speak publicly at both formal and extemporaneous presentations.
  • Excellent interpersonal and supervisory skills, with an emphasis on motivating, communicating, and coaching a highly-motivated team.
  • Sound judgment, with proven problem-solving abilities in environments of ambiguity.
  • A proven track record and ability to multitask under tight timelines and high pressure.
  • Detail-oriented and able to prioritize, delegate, and manage multiple tasks and responsibilities.
  • History of successful collaboration with a broad and diverse range of communities and individuals.
  • Shares values of equity, inclusion, excellence, collaboration, humanity, integrity, respect, and accountability.
  • Spanish fluency a plus.

COMPENSATION

Salary is commensurate with experience, with a start point of $135,000 for candidates who meet the minimum requirements.

LJP comprehensive benefits include fully paid health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability. Generous paid time off, voluntary retirement plan with employer match, and professional development. Employees can also take advantage of various pre-tax offerings such as commuter, parking, health savings accounts, and dependent care accounts.

PLEASE NOTE:

LJP staff is currently working in hybrid mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of this posting, this job is designed as hybrid. Workplace attendance criteria is being determined as conditions and public health guidance evolve.

LatinoJustice PRLDEF is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or any other legally protected status.

By submitting an application for employment you attest that all the information provided is true, accurate and complete. You acknowledge and are aware that the falsification, misrepresentation or omission of any requested information on your application and any accompanying documents will be grounds for denial of employment. In the event such falsification, misrepresentation or omission is discovered subsequent to an offer and acceptance of employment, you acknowledge that any such false or misleading information in your application or provided during interview(s) will constitute grounds for discipline including termination of employment and discharge, regardless of when or how such false or misleading information was discovered.

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