Senior Advocacy & Campaign Strategist

Summary

Reporting to the National Advocacy and Campaigns Director, the Senior Advocacy & Campaigns Strategist (“Strategist”) is an advocate, project manager, and collaborator who will work with the National Advocacy and Campaigns Team to build and manage the day-to-day operations, relationships with partners, and engagement with state advocates and coalitions to advance fines and fees advocacy efforts across the United States.

The Strategist will also work with the National Advocacy & Campaigns team to identify state and local partners, provide strategic and technical assistance to stakeholder groups on fines and fees campaigns, and support legislative advocacy to advance fines and fees reforms.

The Strategist will be able to exercise good judgment and good faith, understanding and anticipating the impact of their actions and statements on teammates and stakeholders. The Strategist will also be able to work toward and achieve ambitious goals, and to learn from and contribute to the work of colleagues across the organization.

The position requires travel throughout the US to meet with stakeholders, participate in legislative meetings and coalition meetings, and conduct community campaigns and educational events. It also requires periodic national travel to organization-wide convenings and national events, including FFJC’s two (bi-annual) multi-day team retreats each year, as well as some national conferences.

About FFJC

Nearly every interaction a person has with the justice system, regardless of guilt or innocence, comes with a bill. But for those without the means to immediately pay up or fight back, one missed payment opens the door to dire, lifelong consequences.

The Fines and Fees Justice Center was founded to end the immoral practice of governments’ using fines and fees to profit off the most vulnerable. We empower state and local efforts to end fees in the justice system and ensure that fines are fair and equitably imposed.

FFJC has achieved over 20 legislative victories and directly aided even more, authored two dozen original research and policy reports, and partnered with more than 300 organizations to advance the national fines and fees reform movement.

Job Responsibilities and Opportunities

Reporting to the National Advocacy and Campaigns Director, the Senior Advocacy & Campaigns Strategist (“Strategist”) will:

• Maintain and continue to advance the mission of the national Free to Drive and End Justice Fees campaigns, and work on emerging fines and fees issues.
• In consultation with the National Advocacy & Campaigns Director, and with state-level advocacy groups, develop strategies to launch and execute fines and fees campaigns.
• Organize and build bipartisan coalitions in states and nationally to advocate for fine and fee reform, effectively building strong relationships with partners across lines of race, power, and other identities.
• Provide ongoing strategic and technical assistance to state and local advocates and community-based organizations, policymakers, and stakeholders on fines and fees related issues.
• Engage multiple stakeholders, working collaboratively to build trust and followership across the organization.
• Represent FFJC at conferences, meetings, and legislative hearings, make presentations, testify to legislative bodies, and participate in panel discussions, as needed.
• Track, analyze, and prioritize legislation that impacts national campaigns, demonstrating excellent project management skills to develop, implement, and adapt plans to meet ambitious goals.
• Own and drive a body of multi-state advocacy work from ideation to implementation, ensuring high-quality outcomes.

This role is full-time and remote within the continental United States. All FFJC staff work core hours from 12-4pm ET, Monday through Friday, with the remainder of working hours flexible according to the time zones in which they are located. The 12-4pm block is the hours during which all staff must be available; the other working hours within the day are flexible according to one’s time zone and the needs of one’s team and the approval of the direct supervisor.

Qualifications

Candidates must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• At least 8 years of professional experience, including at least 3 years in advocacy at the local, state, or federal level, specifically in the criminal legal system. Criminal justice, economic justice, or racial justice advocacy and/or campaign experience preferred.
• Experience with direct legislative advocacy, including drafting, analyzing, and commenting on legislation.
• Proven ability to manage a high volume of work efficiently, juggle competing demands, ask questions and seek support where needed, and prioritize without sacrificing quality.
• Experience building and working in coalitions.
• Experience developing advocacy materials including model bills and talking points.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, demonstrating an ability to build trusting relationships internally and externally.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a growing non-profit environment.
• Demonstrated resilience and ownership in driving tasks to completion.

Attributes

• Organized, diligent, proactive, and attention to detail.
• Committed to personal and professional growth and constant learning.
• Balances confidence and humility, especially when collaborating with others.
• Solution oriented and strategic thinker.
• Passion for criminal legal system reform.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Sense of humor.
• Willingness to travel and work nights and weekends as needed.

FFJC encourages and welcomes those who have personal experience with the impacts of the criminal legal system, or the social systems connected to poverty or debt relief, to apply for this role.

FFJC’s compensation philosophy consists of a 5-band salary structure. The Senior Advocacy and Campaigns Strategist is a band 2 position. The starting salary for the position is between $85,000-92,500 based on the qualifications of the candidate at the time of hire. FFJC offers excellent benefits including:

• 401(k) option with up to 6% employer contribution;
• Extremely generous employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families;
• Pre-tax transportation, dependent care, and flexible spending account benefits;
• Substantial paid time off, including all federal holidays, the day after Thanksgiving, 4 floating holidays, 120 hours of vacation time, 96 hours of sick leave, and 24 hours of volunteer leave annually. FFJC also closes its office during the week of July 4th for all employees;
• Employees who work 4 consecutive years at FFJC receive an additional week of paid vacation annually.
• Employees who work 6 consecutive years at FFJC receive an 8-week paid sabbatical in their sixth year.