Summary: The Policy Director reports to the Vice President, Civil Legal Services & Strategic Policy Initiatives and leads the Association’s development and implementation of advocacy strategies for policies that advance equity in access to justice and fair treatment in the civil and criminal legal systems, and by cultivating and mobilizing support for these policies. Achievement of NLADA’s policy and government relations objectives requires the capacity to create and administer strategies designed to identify and successfully pursue NLADA’s policy priorities, and the development of materials, resources, and protocols, to advance equity and justice in the civil and criminal legal systems. The Policy Director is responsible for implementing and promoting NLADA’s policy agenda within federal, state, local and tribal government entities, and other legal system reform arenas. This position is a member of NLADA’s Leadership Team and is critical to the implementation of the mission and vision of NLADA.Salary: Salary range is $100,000 - $120,000.00, commensurate with experience, expertise, and other qualifying factors. Essential Duties and Responsibilities  Leads the policy team in designing and implementing campaigns, projects, and other strategies through an equity lens to advance NLADA’s institutional goals and strategic objectives, and lobbies to advance these objectives.Leads and oversees relationship building, engagement and contacts with important players in the federal government, including on Capitol Hill, and in the executive and the judiciary; at peer organizations; and at the state, local and tribal levels;Leads and oversees development, maintenance, and engagement of NLADA’s grassroots network and strategic partnerships with NLADA’s wide array of partners, including business leaders and peer organizations aligned with NLADA’s goals and objectives;Leads the development of evidence-based materials to support advocacy efforts, including: research reports and summaries, policy statements, fact sheets, and talking points on core issues;Leads efforts to inform and provide substantive input to NLADA members, stakeholders, and peer organizations on policy matters, proactively identifying issues that intersect in both civil/defender spaces;Contributes to the development of NLADA’s policy agenda with an eye toward maximizing impact, and representative of the highest standard of NLADA’s vision of racial equity and equal justiceContributes to the policy team’s development of subject matter expertise, and expertise and engagement on legislative and administrative proposals relevant to NLADA’s community and policy agenda, including informing, reviewing, and drafting these proposals;Serves as an expert and resource to press and other media regarding NLADA policy priorities;Designs and delivers substantive programming for NLADA’s training events, including topical webinars, on-demand courses, and in-person trainings and conferences;Participates as an integral leader of NLADA’s policy team, supporting the team’s activities and initiatives, and advancing its objectives.Financial LeadershipWorks with the Vice President, Civil Legal Services & Strategic Policy Initiatives and Vice President, External Relations to pursue grant and contract opportunities with outside funding sources.Strategic PartnershipsWithin AssociationCultivates and pursues opportunities to support NLADA leadership, including members of NLADA’s Civil, Client/Community Advocate, and Defender Councils, and state/local/tribal member-leaders by highlighting their efforts and elevating their experiences and voices;Works with Communications Department to support effective social and other media strategies and outreach;Provides expertise and serves as a staff lead to NLADA sections;Staff relevant NLADA governance entities, including its Councils and their committees, and provide expertise regarding NLADA’s government relations activities.Outside of the AssociationDevelops and cultivates contacts with executives from NLADA’s membership; representatives from federal agencies; foundation and corporate personnel; law firm representatives; and contributors;Develops collaborations with representatives of allied organizations;Serves as a leading representative for NLADA and its membership in coalitions and with strategic allies;Maintains strategic and effective communications that represent the highest standard of NLADA’s vision of racial equity and justice. Performs additional responsibilities as needed.
