The Legal Action Center’s new State Advocacy Coordinator will be based in Washington, D.C. and will play an integral role in advancing LAC’s national strategy to promote policies to reverse mass incarceration and to advance a health first, not punitive, response to issues that too often lead to criminal justice system involvement. LAC’s policy priorities include: 1) sentencing reforms, 2) diversion from justice-system involvement and incarceration to health care and social services, 3) restoration of civil rights after conviction, and 4) improved access to substance use disorder care.

The State Advocacy Coordinator will work with state and local criminal justice reform and health care advocacy coalitions and grassroots organizations, including those led by people with direct lived experience. This position will require significant travel.

Major responsibilities will include:

• Direct engagement with statewide coalitions focused on criminal justice and health reform

• Monitoring and reporting on state and local policy developments and the landscape, capacity, and technical assistance needs of the advocacy community in various states Convening and facilitating communication to bring together diverse sets of stakeholders

• Conducting policy research and analysis and developing support materials

• Delivery of presentations to stakeholders

• Working with the LAC Policy Team to implement different state-based health and criminal justice reform policy campaigns

Requirements:

• At least four years of experience in two or more of the following areas:

• Community or grassroots organizing

• Public policy/government relations

• Advocacy at the local, state, and/or federal levels

• Volunteer recruitment

• A Bachelor’s degree or some college plus experience is required. College coursework combined with related experience may be substituted for a degree

• Excellent written and oral communication, advocacy, and analytic skills, including the ability to explain complex issues in clear, persuasive terms

• Ability to develop expertise on various LAC policy priorities

• Passion for social justice and advocacy work

• Competency and sensitivity to working with people with direct lived experience

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

• Ability to travel up to 35% monthly, including overnight travel

• Highly organized and technology savvy; knowledge and skill in organizing data sets for reporting and evaluating

• Desire and ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a small (5-6 people), busy office

About the Organization 

LAC is a forty-five year old private, not-for-profit law and policy organization with offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. LAC is the only organization in the country whose sole mission is to fight discrimination against and protect the privacy of people living with criminal records, drug or alcohol histories, and/or HIV/AIDS. LAC’s multi-faceted approach involves direct legal services and impact litigation, technical assistance and training to agencies that serve our constituencies, and national, federal and state policy advocacy to create systemic change.

 Salary

Salary is commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits, including medical insurance, 403(b) plan with employer contribution, and pre-tax flexible benefits.

 Application 

Please e-mail a résumé and brief cover letter (no calls) to legal.action.centerdc@gmail.com and write State Advocacy Coordinator in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but please apply as soon as possible. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. The Legal Action Center is an equal opportunity employer.  Members of LAC’s stakeholder populations are strongly urged to apply.

September 14, 2017