Deputy Director of Policy

The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the country’s first and foremost civil and human rights law organization. Founded in 1940 under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall, who subsequently became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice, LDF was launched at a time when the nation’s aspirations for equality and due process of law were stifled by widespread state-sponsored racial inequality. From that era to the present, LDF’s mission has been transformative — to achieve racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society.

LDF’s litigation, public policy advocacy and public education programs in the substantive areas of criminal justice, economic justice, education, and political participation seek to ensure the fundamental and basic human rights of all people to quality education, economic opportunity, the right to vote and fully participate in democracy, and the right to a fair and just judicial system. LDF continues to make an impact in the area of public service and was recognized by Fast Company as one of its 2023 Brands That Matter  under its public service category.

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) seeks an experienced Deputy Director of Policy to assist in the management, execution, and strategic direction of LDF’s policy efforts.

The Deputy Director of Policy will also be responsible for overseeing certain administrative duties with respect to the policy team at LDF and will report to the Director of Policy. 

As of March 7, 2022, LDF transitioned to a hybrid work environment. Any candidate selected for this position should be prepared to work in the office location assigned at least two days per week.

• Assist the Director of Policy in setting the overall strategic direction and priorities for LDF’s policy team in consultation with LDF’s Associate Director-Counsel and LDF’s President and Director-Counsel;
• Assist the Director of Policy in supervising and managing LDF’s policy staff;
• Assist the Director of Policy in managing various administrative duties related to LDF’s policy team including overseeing aspects of the policy team’s operations and work. This includes grant writing and reporting; assisting with the drafting annual budgets for the policy team and ensuring that the Policy team expenses do not exceed its annual budget;
• Assist the Director of Policy in ensuring that LDF’s policy staff are well trained in the substantive areas of their practices and in all relevant organizational policies and procedures;
• Assist the Director of Policy in ensuring that LDF’s policy efforts adhere to the highest standard of legal and professional ethics;
• Assist the Director of Policy and LDF’s Associate Director-Counsel or LDF’s President and Director-Counsel in building strong team spirit, creating professional growth opportunities, and fostering a work environment that encourages independent judgment and values self-starters;
• Assist the Director of Policy in developing and maintaining relationships with influential individuals, associations, and organizations to engage on shared priorities including advocacy;
• Increase the growth and visibility of LDF;
• Develop and implement policy and legislative reform strategies at the federal, state, and local levels that advance the goals of LDF’s mission and priorities;
• Build and/or participate in coalitions working to advance criminal justice, political participation, economic justice, and education reform, or to oppose laws and policies that will undermine reform;
• Write, publish and widely disseminate policy briefs, reports, and other documents that will educate legislators, agency officials, and the general public about the need for criminal justice, political participation, economic justice, and educational policy changes;
• Participate in and/or organize briefings with members of the U.S. Congress, state legislators, and state agency officials with a particular focus on state policy in all LDF core areas;
• Other duties as requested by the Director of Policy, LDF’s Associate Director-Counsel or LDF’s President and Director-Counsel.

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Juris Doctor or other graduate degree;
• Ten or more years of experience in policy reform or advocacy at the federal, state, or local level in one or more of LDF’s core priority areas;
• A proven track record using an integrated approach to social change, including strategic communications, research, policy, advocacy, organizing, and an understanding of litigation;
• A demonstrated commitment to civil rights and/or racial equity.
• Excellent research, writing, and public speaking skills for both formal and extemporaneous presentations;
• A demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strong relationships and partnerships with coalitions, media, scholars, policy advocates, community members/leaders, and public (elected) officials;
• Ability to represent LDF to diverse audiences, including funders, scholars, government officials, and grassroots activists;
• Substantial experience using both personal narrative and data to create effective arguments for change;
• A team builder who is able to delegate and prioritize multiple activities and responsibilities;
• One who inspires collaboration and functions decisively, with a well-established reputation for effective collaboration.

LDF offers a rich platform of benefits including medical (Empire), dental (Cigna), vision (NVA), flexible spending accounts (Flex Facts), transit/commuter plan, life insurance, AD&D, voluntary life & AD&D (UNUM), AFLAC, Employee Assistance Plan, and Health Advocate. As well as the many healthcare benefits, LDF offers a 403b plan with employer match, and a robust vacation, sick, and personal time program to ensure employees have a healthy work-life balance.

This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts or requirements or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This description does not constitute a contract of employment and LDF may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.

Please note that LDF requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Accordingly, successful candidates must be fully vaccinated and submit proof of vaccination prior to the commencement of employment unless they qualify for a reasonable accommodation for bona fide medical or religious reasons.

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The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to you without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, medical condition or disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law.

This position is open until filled.

To be considered for this position, applicants must submit a cover letter and a resume.

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