Director of Policy & Advocacy

Status: Full-time

Location: Brooklyn, NY/ Remote

Reports to: Executive Director

Application Deadline: March 12, 2021

The National Black Women’s Justice Institute (NBWJI) is a nonprofit research and policy organization working to eliminate racial and gender disparities in the U.S. criminal legal system. Our work specifically focuses on the criminalization and punishment of Black women, girls, and gender nonconforming people, aiming to bring attention to the ways that race and gender discrimination create conditions that heighten Black women, girls, and gender nonconforming people’s risk of coming into contact with the criminal legal system and their risk of harsher treatment by law enforcement, our courts, and other systems and institutions of criminalization and punishment. Our approach is grounded in an intersectional framework, and our mission is to uplift the voices of Black women, girls and gender nonconforming people to position their needs and experiences at the center of research, policy, and practice. 

At NBWJI, we envision a society where healing--not punishment--is upheld as justice. 

NBWJI’s Core Commitments:

1. Dismantle pathways to criminalization and confinement;
2. Expand services and resources with and for system-impacted Black women, girls, and gender-nonconforming people; and
3. Promote healing-centered justice.

What you’ll do. NBWJI is hiring a director of policy and advocacy who is passionate about developing and implementing policy and advocacy strategies that promote race and gender equity and advance the wellbeing of system-impacted Black women, girls, and gender nonconforming people. The director of policy and advocacy will lead NBWJI’s policy and advocacy projects, working closely with the executive director to carry out NBWJI’s strategic goals and objectives. Your primary responsibilities will be to develop and implement policy agenda aligned with NBWJI’s strategic goals; to research and analyze current policies and practices affecting system-impacted Black women, girls, and gender-nonconforming people and propose policy recommendations and new alternatives; and to lead projects with the capacity to transform practice. In addition, you will be responsible for leading and growing an interdisciplinary team and building cross-sector partnerships.

*Note: While this is a grant-funded position for 24 months, NBWJI is seeking additional funding for the role to continue beyond that timeframe, as the position is critical to the organization’s strategic vision. 

 Who we’re looking for. 

• You are experienced in evidence-informed policymaking, preferably related to the criminalization and punishment of Black women, girls and gender nonconforming people directly impacted by the criminal legal system and/or issues regarding youth justice, gender-based violence/criminalized survivors, and policing.
• You are comfortable with and capable of translating complex data analysis for community stakeholders and advocates. 
• You are well-versed in the concept of intersectionality and its utility as a framework for analyzing and challenging current policy and practice and identifying new strategies for action. 
• You are experienced with developing and managing a diverse portfolio of work and multiple funding streams.
• You have experience setting and implementing strategic goals in alignment with broader organizational objectives. 

Responsibilities.

• Serve as NBWJI’s policy expert.
• Identify policy priorities aligned with NBWJI’s core initiatives to develop the organization’s advocacy agenda.
• Direct the development and implementation of policy and advocacy strategies at the state and federal levels.
• Provide in-depth research & policy analysis related to youth justice, education justice, reentry, and other relevant issues.
• Monitor and analyze implementation of state and federal laws and legislation and prepare reports that convey the impact, both positive and negative, of policy and legislative proposals.
• Establish relationships with community organizers and advocates, as well as local, state and national lawmakers in order to influence policy.
• Produce high-quality written materials, such as Issue Briefs, fact sheets, blogs, and letters. 
• Plan and staff convenings, facilitate meetings, and give presentations. 
• Represent NBWJI in select state, local and national external workgroups, meetings, briefings and other venues to promote the organization’s goals and strategies.
• Organize, participate in, and conduct trainings, webinars, and conferences to spotlight and disseminate best practices and build awareness and knowledge. 
• Manage projects, including developing work plans, tracking activities, managing budgets, and writing reports and proposals.
• Coordinate project partners around project scope and objectives and ensure that all project components are delivered on-time, within scope and within budget.

Qualifications. 

• Expertise. You have a master’s degree or another relevant graduate degree, such as a J.D. You have 7+ years working in the fields of criminal-legal reform, education justice, child welfare, gender-based violence, or other related fields. You have a proven track record of conceiving of and implementing innovative, solutions-focused policy recommendations and advocacy efforts. 
• Leadership. You are an experienced leader and manager. You have the ability to supervise and guide teams. You hold staff accountable and create opportunities to support team members’ professional development and growth.
• Project management. You are detail-oriented and are committed to producing work of the highest caliber. You have the ability to multitask and understand how to prioritize and delegate work as needed. You are able to work independently and in groups. 
• Communication. You are an effective written and oral communicator. You have experience presenting to large audiences, and you are adept at communicating complex ideas and concepts in an accessible manner.
• Collaboration. You value collaboration and have experience leading participatory projects that involve system-impacted people. You are open to sharing and receiving feedback. And you are interested in finding synergy between projects.
• Travel. Some travel is required, although all travel is on hold at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Equal Opportunity Employment. NBWJI is an Equal Opportunity Employer that will not discriminate against applicants or employees based upon any characteristics that are protected by federal, state, or local laws, regulations or ordinances. NBWJI encourages people who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system to apply.