Campaign Strategist

Organizational Overview

The Sentencing Project advocates for effective and humane responses to crime that minimize imprisonment and criminalization of youth and adults by promoting racial, ethnic, economic, and gender justice. The Sentencing Project engages in research and advocacy on sentencing and related issues, advocates for criminal justice policy and practice reform, and conducts broad-scale public education through media, online and other communications. Information about The Sentencing Project is available at www.sentencingproject.org.

Job Description and Responsibilities

The Campaign Strategist will manage an advocacy portfolio of state policy issues on behalf of The Sentencing Project with a primary focus on sentencing reform. Priority sentencing issues include the abolition of life without parole, second look sentencing reviews, capping sentences at 20 years, and eliminating mandatory minimum sentences. This position may also work on other issues prioritized by The Sentencing Project including voting rights, reentry, and youth justice. This role will help implement an integrated advocacy and engagement strategy that includes research, public education, communications, coalition participation, and advocacy.

The position reports to the Senior Director of Advocacy, but operates within The Sentencing Project’s team structure and requires coordination with internal and external colleagues contributing their expertise and support towards shared advocacy goals. The Campaign Strategist’s external partners include people directly impacted by mass incarceration, local activists, and lawmakers.

Essential Job Functions

• Issue Advocacy
  • Initiate, lead, and support national and state-level advocacy efforts;
  • Prepare testimony, memos, letters, op-eds and other briefing materials for state-specific campaigns based on analysis and synthesis of research, data and other information;
  • Serve as a spokesperson for reform efforts in state and national campaigns;
  • Develop policy messaging, in partnership with the communications team, to accompany communications strategies for state and national campaigns; and
  • Identify and cultivate stakeholder partnerships to support state and national campaigns.
  • Provide local partners in multiple states with advice and support.
• Coalition Support and Building
  • Build allies at the state level to partner with The Sentencing Project’s sentencing reform agenda and other program priorities to challenge mass incarceration;
  • Support organizational participation in specified coalitions; and
  • Cultivate champions for reform among influential lawmakers, community-based leaders, law enforcement, and other criminal legal reform stakeholders in state and local government.

Qualifications & Experience

• A bachelor’s or advanced degree in a related field is not required for this position but equivalent experience and skills are desired.
• Substantial experience working with state-level coalitions that advance social justice issues
• Demonstrated success in advocacy work at the state level, including coalition growth; policy or legislative victories; demonstrated awareness-raising; and movement expansion
• Experience working with communities and people impacted by mass incarceration
• Ability to take initiative and work both independently and collaboratively
• Knowledge of and experience with the criminal legal system
• Strong written and oral communications skills
• Ability to travel
• Prefer experience providing oral and written testimony before legislative bodies, as well as overall comfort serving in a public-facing role

Compensation

• Salary range for this position is $80,000 to $90,000, depending on candidate experience.
• The Sentencing Project is based in Washington, DC. Current office policy allows for hybrid work, with at least two days each week in person. Preference will be given to applicants residing in the DC Metropolitan area or willing to relocate. The position is full-time. Travel outside the DC region will be required.
• The Sentencing Project’s generous benefits package includes four weeks paid vacation; accrued sick leave; parental leave; 100% employer paid health, dental, life and disability insurance for employees (dependents covered at 65%); a flexible spending account; both a discretionary and a matching contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan; annual professional development stipend, and transportation benefits.

Application Procedure

Applications are due August 31, 2025. Submit a cover letter, resume or CV, and brief writing sample of 3 to 5 pages to employment@sentencingproject.org. Please use the email subject line: “Campaign Strategist.” In the cover letter, please include a discussion of your issue advocacy experience and approach and writing qualifications.

The Sentencing Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to cultural diversity and ensures that applicants have equal opportunity for recruitment and selection without regard to their race, color, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, prior convictions, or status as a protected veteran.

We strongly encourage people with direct personal or familial experience with the criminal legal system to apply. This position is not subject to a criminal background check.

If there are any parts of the application requirements that you cannot complete, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.