CODEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY (HYBRID)

About the Legal Aid Justice Center :

The Legal Aid Justice Center is a nationally recognized, non-profit organization that partners with low-income clients and communities of color in Virginia to fight for racial, social, and economic justice. We understand that the harms our clients endure are inextricably linked to overarching systems of injustice. Together we are dismantling those systems through a combination of community organizing, litigation, policy advocacy, public relations, and individual legal services.

Founded in 1967, LAJC has offices in Charlottesville, Richmond, Petersburg, and Falls Church and provides services under six key program areas : Civil Rights & Racial Justice (focuses on the criminal legal system), Housing & Consumer Justice, Youth Justice, Health Justice & Public Benefits, Immigrant Justice, and Worker Justice. As examples of LAJC’s recent work, our lawsuit and organizing against the state forced reform of Virginia’s unemployment insurance system, including advocacy that resulted in the distribution of over $1 billion in illegally withheld payments to over 160,000 Virginians. During the pandemic, we demanded and secured a statewide eviction moratorium and emergency pandemic protections that helped hundreds of families avoid eviction. We reduced incarceration across the state, including reducing the population of a local immigration detention center down to historically low levels through a coordinated effort of organizing paired with impact and individual litigation.  Our staff are on the front lines of some of the most important anti-poverty fights happening today.

With a staff of over 90, the past few years have been a time of exciting growth and opportunity for the organization. In addition to the growth of programmatic efforts including increased organizing capacity, LAJC has expanded its operations and administrative capacity, created new opportunities for professional growth and leadership among staff, engaged in ongoing race equity work, and explored changes to organizational structure to deepen its efforts to create long-term, sustainable, community-driven change.

About the Position :

This position is responsible for building out and overseeing the implementation of an integrated advocacy strategy framework that uses multiple coordinated strategies to dismantle the systems that create and perpetuate poverty and racial injustice. In partnership with the other Co-Deputy Director of Advocacy, who is responsible for the client-centered systems that support our advocacy, you will set a strategic vision for our advocacy work and supervise some of our program directors, supporting them in leading their teams to execute client-centered strategic impact and case work to seek outcomes aligned with LAJC’s ambitious goals to achieve racial, economic, and social justice. As a member of LAJC’s executive team, you will help determine and execute LAJC's strategic vision and advise the Executive Director regarding organizational priorities for all programmatic work and the effective use of organizational resources.

Job Duties :

Advocacy Leadership :

Provide strategic vision and leadership to advocacy at LAJC to effectively shape and guide programmatic work internally, and to produce ambitious results externally for our client communities, by doing the following :

Where appropriate, promote coordination of resources and expertise across programs when such coordination more effectively and efficiently advances LAJC’s mission.

• Support the development of multi-strategy campaigns to dismantle systems that create and perpetuate poverty in Virginia. These tools include, but are not limited to, individual representation, organizing, policy advocacy, impact litigation, storytelling, community engagement and education, and technical assistance.
• Build and / or strengthen relationships with directly impacted community members, members of the bench and bar, state and local agency heads, and elected officials.
• Work in coalition with other legal, non-profit, and community-based advocacy organizations.
• Assist advocacy directors in supervising impact campaigns, ensuring coordination across advocacy strategies and encouraging cross-program collaboration.
• Serve as Chair of LAJC’s Advocacy Standards Committee, which develops standards and policies for community-driven advocacy and approving impact campaign requests from LAJC’s six programs.

Management, Supervision, and Mentorship :

Organizational Leadership :

Communications :   Work with the Director of Communications as needed to assist with internal and external communications.

Fundraising : Work with the Executive Director and Development Team as needed to brainstorm and develop relevant grant proposals and build strong relationships with LAJC donors.

Racial Equity :

Promote racial equity across all dimensions, including within LAJC, by doing the following :

Required Qualifications :

Preferred Qualifications :

Location : This role will be based in our Charlottesville, Falls Church, Petersburg, or Richmond offices. Occasional travel between offices will be required. Although a regular presence in the office is required, LAJC offers a remote work policy to support employees in co-creating schedules and arrangements that allow us all to do our best work.

A Note to Potential Candidates : Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary folks, and BIPOC are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.

Application Deadline : We will begin reviewing applications on August 05, 2024, but will accept applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. We encourage candidate to apply as soon as possible.

Salary : The salary scale for this position is $115,000 - $161,592.44 based on the LAJC salary scale, an upward 12% cost-of-living adjustment is available for positions based in Falls Church. To allow for salary growth within the position over time, the anticipated hiring range for this position is between $115,000- $142,947.16. Placement on the range will be based on factors such as years of relevant experience, budget, and internal equity.

Benefits :  Our mission is compelling, and our team members are passionate about their work, and so we recognize the need to provide generous benefits and encourage rest and a healthy work environment. For example, we provide :

Application Instructions : Complete the online application. This position requires a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references. You can direct the cover letter to the hiring manager, Angela Ciofli. Please note, we will not contact references without advance consent from candidates.

Vaccination Requirement : The Legal Aid Justice Center requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved medical or religious exemption as a qualification of employment. Proof of vaccination or accommodation request must be provided within one day of employment.

The Legal Aid Justice Center is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, and communities to apply. The Legal Aid Justice Center is committed to strengthening the voices of our low-income clients, working in collaboration with community partners, and rooting out the inequities that keep people in poverty. We strive to take on the issues that have broad impact on our client communities and to be responsive to client input. Recognizing the particular impact of racism on our clients and staff, we devote special attention to dismantling racial injustice. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment that enables staff and clients to feel empowered, valued, respected, and safe. In reviewing applications, we look for evidence that applicants have experience and / or thoughtfulness in working with traditionally marginalized populations.

Employment Type : Full Time

Salary : $115,000 - $161,592 Annual

Bonus / Commission : No

Salary : $115,000 - $161,592