Director, Criminal Legal and Policing Reform

Job Title: Director, Criminal Legal and Policing Reform

Department: Policy

Reports To: Managing Director, Policy

Who We Are

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is the leading organization in the U.S. working to end the drug war, repair its harms, and build a non-punitive, equitable, and regulated drug market. We envision a world that embraces the full humanity of people, regardless of their relationship to drugs. We advocate that the regulation of drugs be grounded in evidence, health, equity, and human rights. In collaboration with other movements and at every policy level, we change laws, advance justice, and save lives.

DPA has 40 staff across the U.S. an annual operating budget of approximately $12 million, and 200,000 members, activists, and supporters. The organization has a solid track record of success at the local, state, and federal levels and consistent visibility in prominent media and policy circles.

Recognizing the broad reach of the drug war, DPA works across issue areas to engage more deeply with organizations and leaders in immigration, family policing, education, reproductive justice, housing, and other aligned spaces. This commitment to building power across movements and building a base contributes to and works in tandem with DPA’s work on policy and legislative change.

Learn more about working at the Drug Policy Alliance here and learn about our work to end the drug war here.

The Role

Generate DPA’s criminal legal and policing reform strategy and policy positions to guide DPA’s efforts in the field and to support DPA’s internal Campaigns Department and external allies in launching CLPR campaigns and implementing successful reforms

Engage in policy advocacy, technical assistance, legislative drafting, media relations, and public education in support of DPA’s criminal legal and policing reform strategy

Expect to navigate managing a largely self-directed portfolio of work without support staff; while there is significant collaboration, position is an individual contributor to broader Policy and Campaigns Teams

Opportunities for growth include utilizing or developing leadership skills and engaging in high level strategic planning within program area, deep collaboration with other senior leaders, leaning into or becoming nationally recognized expert withing drug policy movement

Key Responsibilities

• Set organizational priorities within program area and advise Campaigns Team as they operationalize priorities
• Identify emerging issues and lead processes to determine new organizational issue positions
• Monitor field and identify opportunities for technical assistance/campaigns/investments
• Lead or co-lead systems work (corporate, regulatory, programmatic) in close collaboration with Campaigns Team
• Provide expertise and technical assistance to support internal staff, policymakers, and advocates on DPA’s key priority areas
  • Analyze and provide feedback on policy proposals
  • Conduct research in support of and draft legislation at local, state, and federal level
  • Conduct research in support of and draft and give testimony in support of or in opposition to legislation
  • Connect allies on the ground to necessary resources, everything from research studies or lists of expert witnesses
  • Identify opportunities to transition from technical assistance to deeper campaign work and coordinate with Campaigns Team
• Manage national tables on policy priority areas
  • Set agenda and facilitate quarterly calls
  • Communicate with table on regular basis via e-mail with updates, resources, etc.
  • Recruit and expand members that participate
  • Seek feedback on how table and DPA can provide value and create useful spaces
• Work to build strategic partnerships with national grass-top organizations
  • Develop list of key contacts/stakeholders in policy priority areas
  • Set and maintain on-going check-in meetings at regular intervals
  • Participate in national tables/coalitions and/or task forces in priority areas
  • Attend key subject matter national conferences
  • Attend key meetings and/or convenings
• Secure national organizational endorsements for key policies within program area (e.g., decriminalization)
• Conduct research in support of and develop policy content and resources on DPA priority areas, including model policies/bills, fact sheets, policy briefs, reports, and web content
• Monitor media and communications environment and work with Communications Team on appropriate strategy and responses
  • Draft op-eds, LTE’s, and other media pieces
  • Help develop core messaging
  • Identify where public opinion research is needed and work with Communications Team on polling
• Provide movement and public education on DPA policy priority areas
  • Present at national conferences
  • Plan and host virtual webinars and in-person convenings
  • Identify other opportunities to uplift DPA’s voice on criminal legal and policing reform

Your Skills and Experiences

Passion

• Strong commitment to DPA’s mission to end the war on drugs
• Embrace harm reduction as a core value and principle of substance use disorder treatment and recovery
• Demonstrated commitment to social and racial justice

Experience

• Previous experience contributing to organizational agenda setting and implementation as well as leading and maintaining own portfolio of work with minimal day-to-day supervision
• Previous experience working on multiple issues within criminal legal and policing reform in an advocacy role

Skills

• Detail-oriented, work under pressure, meet deadlines and work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent writing, research, and policy advocacy skills
• Ability to work in concert with allies, partners, and impacted people
• Evaluate and synthesize complex legislation and regulations; legislative drafting skills preferred
• Bring a strong intersectional lens to the work, including racial justice, mental health, and disability rights

Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt position. The salary range for this position is $95,000-$105,000, depending on the level of experience. Benefits for DPA staff include comprehensive health insurance and coverage (including dental and vision), 403b retirement plan with 10% employer matching contribution, paid time off including 20 days of vacation, plus national holidays, sick days, organizational closure at the end of December, and Year-round early dismissal on Fridays.

Location

Applicants should ideally reside in DPA’s priority areas: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Washington D.C, but they can be anywhere in the U.S. Applicants based in New York City, you are expected to be onsite 2-3 days per week and may work remotely other days. Applicants outside of NYC will work remotely on an ongoing basis. Close proximity to major airports is essential (i.e., Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, etc.) as travel is required.

Hours

Full-time, remote, and flexible schedule.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit the following:

1. Your resume
2. A writing sample
3. A letter of interest that includes brief responses to the following prompts:
   1. What about DPA’s mission and portfolio of work most resonates with you?
   2. What skills and experiences from past jobs do you think are most applicable to this role and how so?

Equal Opportunity

Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. DPA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity, personal appearance, political affiliation, family responsibility, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction. Drug Policy Alliance is particularly interested in hiring people who have been adversely affected by the war on drugs.