Healthcare Director or Supervising Attorney

The New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty is hiring a Team Director or Supervising Attorney to advance innovative changes to the healthcare system for children and families.

NMCLP is a nationally recognized nonprofit law firm that engages in systemic advocacy and impact litigation to advance the health, economic, and educational wellbeing of New Mexico’s families. We partner with communities across New Mexico, including immigrant and Native American communities, to provide advocacy and representation through the courts, the legislature and administrative agencies, community education, and media. NMCLP prioritizes education, housing, food and health justice, public benefits and workers’ rights, among other issues. To learn more about NMCLP, please visit our website at www.nmpovertylaw.org.

We seek a dynamic attorney to work on major system-wide reforms to healthcare in New Mexico. NMCLP’s Healthcare team is working with community leaders to advance innovative solutions to make healthcare affordable for all New Mexicans, fix barriers to Medicaid, reduce medical debt, and ensure access to care. The work builds upon successful campaign efforts to secure policies prioritized by immigrant, Native American and low-income communities, and in collaboration with a broad network of community partners, leaders, and advocates.

This position will provide legal representation and may conduct impact litigation. Additionally, this position will conduct policy advocacy and analysis, legislative efforts, media work, community education, and coalition-building – with a special focus of working with immigrant communities on healthcare access barriers. The role can be tailored to applicants with more management experience (Team Director) or provide opportunities for professional development to grow your management skills (Supervising Attorney).

Responsibilities

• Supervise team members and law clerks by overseeing work product quality and fostering professional growth, within an inclusive and collaborative environment.
• Ensure that team members have access to the resources they need and tools to grow professionally.
• Lead team planning and the integration of team plans into the broader organizational strategic planning.
• Ensure accountability on the achievement of team goals and objectives.
• Manage relationships with key agencies, advocacy partners, and community partners.
• Develop and maintain current expertise in specified program areas of NMCLP.
• Conduct legislative and administrative advocacy campaigns in specified program areas.
• Plan and implement litigation and legal projects, and represent clients by investigating facts, conducting research and resolving systemic legal issues.
• Collaborate with other attorneys and/or outside co-counsel.
• Provide legal analysis, research and writing concerning existing and proposed laws, regulations, practices, and policies both for internal and external use.
• Represent NMCLP in public appearances, meetings, in the media and other situations.
• Provide education, information, and training to community members, organizations, advocates, attorneys and the broader public.
• Conduct outreach, participate in coalition building, and collaborate with community partners to support community-driven advocacy and systems change.
• Participate in the identification of issues for strategic planning, and reporting and evaluation activities.
• Collaborate with and support supervision of law student clerks and/or interns as needed.
• Other responsibilities as required.

Required Characteristics

• Demonstrates a deep understanding of and relentless commitment to NMCLP’s mission, and economic and racial justice for New Mexico’s communities.
• Passionate about healthcare reform.
• Indomitable, no-stone-unturned thoroughness and persistence.
• Law degree and 5 years experience for Team Director; law degree and 3 years or more experience for Supervising Attorney.
• Excellent research, writing and legal advocacy skills.
• Ability to be articulate and forceful in the face of powerful opposition.
• Ability to develop expertise in complex regulations and policies.
• Ability to problem-solve creatively and develop innovative advocacy strategies.
• Very well organized and detail-oriented.
• Success in managing and supervising employees.

Preferred

• Strong Spanish language skills.
• Knowledge and experience in advocacy, lobbying, legislative, government administrative processes.
• Experience living in and/or working with low-income communities.
• Experience in establishing working relationships with nonprofits, businesses, and government.

The position will report to the Policy Director. The typical salary range is $92,000-$110,000 for Team Director and $86,000-$110,000 for Supervising Attorney, dependent on experience.

Things to know about the job:

• Full-time (40 hours).
• Position is based in Albuquerque, NM and requires some physical presence at the office and ability to attend in-person meetings.
• We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a healthy, collaborative, and inclusive work environment for a diverse staff. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Native, and indigenous people, people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+, and New Mexicans and individuals of multiple backgrounds and identities.
• We offer a competitive salary and a healthy benefits package: paid vacation, sick, and other leave (13 holidays including Juneteenth, Indigenous People’s Day and your birthday), paid parental leave, 401k retirement plan, and opportunities for professional development.
• Not sure if you meet all of the qualifications listed? We recognize that no one person will. If you are interested in this job, we encourage you to apply in confidence by emailing a resume and cover letter that describes what interests you about the mission of NMCLP to contact@nmpovertylaw.org. Posting will remain active until the position is filled, with first consideration given to applications received by August 8, 2025.