Federal Research & Advocacy Director

The federal courts are critical to our justice system. They have jurisdiction over all our federal regulations and civil rights protections and have broad impact due to their national reach. They are also an important safeguard for civil rights when the states don't work to protect them. Yet the conservative legal movement has led a decades-long effort to stack the courts with judges who favor the interests of the rich and powerful over the rights of all of us. It has never been more important to educate the public about who sits on these courts and how we can hold them accountable.

AFJ and AFJ Action are committed to defending the integrity and independence of our federal courts with as much vigor as they defend us. Since 1979, AFJ and AFJ Action have been leading on federal court issues. AFJ educates the public about judicial appointments and advocates for the appointment of judges committed to equal justice. AFJ also co-leads a coalition of progressive organizations dedicated to ensuring that our federal courts are filled with demographically and professionally diverse judges of the highest caliber committed to upholding and expanding our rights and democracy.

The Federal Research and Advocacy Director will oversee AFJ and AFJ Action's work to develop advocacy-oriented research that supports a rights-expansive judiciary; to lead a research team who advance advocacy efforts; to research and write reports on federal judicial nominees and some executive nominees; to research and write about major cases in the federal courts and trends in judicial philosophy and judicial nominees; to leverage research to raise awareness about the importance of the federal judiciary; to expand AFJ's relationships and networks to ensure research is utilized by the Hill, AFJ members, partners, and stakeholders; and to directly engage in federal court confirmation campaigns.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Federal Research and Advocacy Director will be familiar with the landscape of federal judicial selection and will ideally have direct experience engaging in judicial selection advocacy and research. As a member of the Justice Program's leadership team, the position will help plan research and advocacy that advances organizational and team goals. The person serving in this position will:

• Develop strategy and set an advocacy-oriented research agenda in service of AFJ and AFJ Action's program priorities promoting the importance of federal courts and the judges and justices who sit on them.
• Direct AFJ and AFJ Action's advocacy related to federal courts – including campaigns to support or oppose particular nominees – and manage staff to execute program priorities.
• Serve as AFJ's lead federal advocate, leveraging research to drive Hill strategy.
• Oversee research-based materials development, working with Communications, Outreach, and other AFJ and AFJ Action teams, for all AFJ and AFJ Action projects related to the federal courts. Substantive materials include reports, vetting documents, hill memos, op-eds, blog posts, fact sheets, polling, and other materials for grassroots and voter education, media, and other audiences for our programs and campaigns.
• Manage (including hiring, supervision, discipline, and firing) federal courts staff, currently comprised of two two-year fellows, ensuring staff is empowered and supported in meeting team and organizational goals as well as growing in their responsibilities and maximizing professional development.
• Identify trends and opportunities in the federal courts landscape to make the greatest impact; devise and oversee research campaigns, including coordination with law firms, outside counsel, law students, and non-attorney volunteers.
• Represent AFJ and AFJ Action to other organizations as part of coalitions on issues related to federal courts.
• Serve as a thought partner for and, at times, assist the State Courts Director and Building the Bench Director with strategy, goals, and priorities for candidate research, pre-appointment and confirmation advocacy, and shared research priorities to highlight trends across state and federal courts, prioritizing building support for demographically and professionally diverse movement lawyers on the bench.
• Maintain public facing research and campaign content such as online federal nominee and vacancy tracking materials, and AFJ Action federal courts content to ensure materials are timely and accurate.
• Work with Outreach team to strengthen and expand AFJ and AFJ Action's engagement with organizations and individuals in key states for federal judicial nominations work.
• Speak at legal and policy conferences, serve as a media surrogate on behalf of AFJ and AFJ Action, and brief policymakers, academics, member organizations, and other audiences on all issues related to federal courts.
• Lead, working across Outreach and Comms teams, convenings, strategy sessions, and coalitions of national and state-based progressive groups engaged on the federal courts.
• Work with the development, and executive teams to secure funding for AFJ and AFJ Action federal court programs, including assisting with grant reports and proposals.
• Advise the Justice Program Director, VP of Strategy, and AFJ President on all issues related to the federal courts and help prepare AFJ President for public appearances.
• Help develop and regularly report on the progress that the federal courts team has made towards key performance indicators and implementing AFJ's strategic plan.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• J.D. and 8+ plus years of experience in legal policy or legal advocacy work preferred.
• Familiarity with the landscape of federal judicial selection, with experience in campaign advocacy and management is strongly preferred.
• Strong experience directing research to support advocacy, especially legal and candidate opposition research, with exceptional analytical, writing, and speaking skills.
• Staff management experience, including hiring, supervising and supporting staff to achieve outcome-oriented results, strong delegation skills, and supporting professional development.
• Experience working on or closely with decision-makers on the Hill
• Strong project or campaign management experience, with demonstrated ability to prioritize and keep multiple projects on track.
• Experience leading work in coalition and partnerships, with familiarity with the progressive nonprofit sector.
• Solid understanding of nonprofit organization operations (including the difference between c3 and c4 appropriate activities).
• Demonstrated experience breaking down legal topics to non-legal audiences.
• Meticulous eye to detail to ensure high quality, accurate research and final products.
• Experience with funders or fundraising and grant writing preferred.
• Experience with media and public appearances preferred.
• Experience in civil rights, labor, environmental, consumer and/or constitutional legal movements preferred.
• Ability to work quickly under pressure, with shifting deadlines and priorities.
• Long hours and some travel required.
• Ability to inspire and work collegially with others.
• Strong interpersonal skills and positive attitude.

Alliance for Justice provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.