The Director of Advocacy is a member of the NJP’s executive management team and is responsible for leading, inspiring, and promoting excellence in pursuit of NJP’s mission to combat injustice, strengthen communities and protect human dignity through legal representation and advocacy on behalf of client communities statewide. The Director of Advocacy brings strategic vision and management experience to NJP’s work to break down barriers to equity caused by poverty, racism, sex discrimination, disability, limited English proficiency, and other circumstances that systemically impair access to essential resources and opportunity. The Director of Advocacy carries out these responsibilities through close collaboration with, and supervision of, NJP’s Statewide Advocacy Team (Advocacy Counsel and Senior Managing Attorneys), and by serving as an expert, supportive counsel, and resource to NJP Managing Attorneys and advocates.
The Director of Advocacy is also responsible for fostering and maintaining relationships with advocacy leaders in the broader access to justice, public interest, and legal communities; is the chief spokesperson for communicating NJP’s strategic advocacy goals to partners; and works collaboratively with Alliance for Equal Justice partners and supporters to develop and promote comprehensive advocacy strategies to achieve systemic goals. Toward this end, the Director of Advocacy is engaged in access to justice community-wide activities that promote NJP’s advocacy goals and is a visible leader within Washington’s progressive advocacy community.
The Director of Advocacy reports to the Executive Director.
The Director of Advocacy’s role and function at NJP are:
Provides dynamic, motivational leadership for high quality, impactful, and innovative legal representation and advocacy to NJP’s highly committed advocates, and communicates NJP’s advocacy objectives and successes to encourage and enhance public support for NJP’s work and mission.
Promotes the effective use of organizational resources to advance NJP’s mission and advocacy objectives. Develops advocacy structures and programs to respond to emerging client community need and the needs of all NJP advocates.
With executive management and the Statewide Advocacy Team, implements advocacy related policies and protocols, including coordination with the Deputy Executive Director on regulatory and compliance issues, and develops effective systems for management and support of Managing Attorneys and advocates to ensure statewide collaboration on systemic advocacy efforts.
Works with the executive management team to address and enhance advocacy related professional development systems and provide opportunities to develop advocacy leaders, and specifically helps to lead NJP’s race equity focused staff development initiatives.
Leads the implementation of advocacy goals set out in NJP’s Strategic Plan, including regional office work, systemic, and statewide advocacy initiatives, and oversees NJP’s Strategic Advocacy Focus (SAF) development and initiatives.
Supports, and directly manages and supervises, NJP’s Statewide Advocacy Team in effectively carrying out their leadership and management responsibilities. These include, supporting systemic and individual advocacy and professional development opportunities for advocates, promoting inclusive, equitable office/unit management and supervision practices, promoting client-centered office/unit practices, identifying and responding to emerging client community legal needs, and coordinating statewide and systemic advocacy within NJP and with the broader Alliance for Equal Justice.
Facilitates coordination and collaboration among all NJP’s offices, client intake and service systems, and specialized projects and units to strengthen NJP’s statewide law firm culture to meet client access, legal representation needs, and advocacy objectives.
Equity and Inclusion NJP has adopted the Washington Race Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI) and is organizationally committed to fight racism and to incorporate equity and inclusion in our advocacy work and our internal systems and work environment. NJP expects all staff to uphold the REJI commitments and approach their role with a desire to learn and grow in this area. The Director of Advocacy plays a critical leadership role in advancing NJP’s REJI commitments and our work to center race equity in advocacy determinations, support staff’s anti-racist growth and development, and is committed to identify, and work to address NJP’s shortcomings and challenges in advancing our REJI commitments.
Qualifications for the position
To be successful in this leadership position, the Director of Advocacy will have many of the following qualities and competencies as demonstrated by specific experience:
A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in legal aid programs, social justice or public interest organizations, or law firms with a demonstrated commitment to systemic public interest litigation/advocacy for the common good.
Experience in complex litigation at trial and appellate levels of state and/or federal courts or administrative tribunals. Demonstrated success in multi-forum, community-centered advocacy efforts.
Ability to communicate strategic intent and to lead teams to identify, develop, and implement strategic advocacy initiatives and other systemic advocacy goals.
Experience managing and supervising individual advocate and non-advocate staff, managing advocacy teams, and/or managing managers.
Culturally competent and able to work in a diverse environment with lawyers, advocates, and administrative staff with a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities in a workplace committed to embracing equity and inclusion in all aspects of its work and organization.
Recognized as a leader in the public interest and/or equal justice community, legal community, local not-for-profit community, race equity or other similar social justice focused community of advocates, service providers, supporters and others pursuing social and systemic change to combat injustice, strengthen communities, protect human rights and/or promote human dignity.
Flexibility and patience are necessary.
Member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association or other state bar and the ability to become a member of the Washington State Bar through APR 3(c).
If unable to meet all criteria, NJP will consider the full breadth of experience in order to determine if an applicant is deemed qualified.
Salary Range: Specific salary will be based upon relevant experience starting at $130,000 annually. In addition, NJP offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes 100% paid employee health premiums and significant premium shares for family health premiums, as well as generous time off.
To Apply: Submit a letter of interest, current resume and writing sample to Human Resources at attorneyresume@nwjustice.org. Cover letter and email subject line should clearly reference “Director of Advocacy”. Cover letter should directly address reason for interest in the position and outline experience mentoring others.
Application Deadline: Open until filled, but priority given to applicants who apply by May 21, 2021 NJP is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and fosters an environment free of barriers and discriminatory practices. NJP actively promotes mutual respect, acceptance, teamwork and productivity. NJP is committed to maintaining an organization whose staff, Board and clients are diverse in background, experience, race, color, national origin, gender, age, religious preference, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sensory, mental or physical abilities, veteran status, and other qualities that strengthen the program while reinforcing its commitment to basic fairness. People of color, people who identify as transgender, lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and those with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals needing a reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process or for more information about the project should contact Human Resources at (206) 464-1519