Description:
About the Position:A Non-Profit Organization in Baltimore, Maryland exists to empower Marylanders to exercise their rights so that the law values and uplifts their humanity.
The Public Policy Counsel's primary purpose is to work with the policy team to develop and execute the organization's policy and legislative advocacy agenda, including drafting legislation, testifying in front of government bodies, and lobbying local and state legislators to pass laws protecting and expanding civil rights and civil liberties, and opposing laws infringing on civil rights and civil liberties. In addition to managing a larger portfolio of policy issues, the Public Policy Counsel conducts extensive legal and policy research and analysis, answers legal questions, and drafts a variety of legal memos, letters, and other documents that require an understanding of many different aspects of law, particularly constitutional law and civil rights and civil liberties protections.
Essential Job Functions:
The Information provided below encompasses the essential functions and capabilities linked with this position:
- Lobby legislators and draft bill language for the organization's priorities.
- Perform legal analysis to determine the constitutionality and civil liberties and civil rights implications of existing and proposed laws and policies.
- Recommend revisions to team procedures and practices to incorporate best practices and address changes in the legal landscape and cultural environment.
- Disseminate, implement, and enforce organization and team standards, policies, and procedures, including providing proper guidance to those carrying out related duties.
- Draft legislative testimony for various bills and initiatives.
- Assist with developing and executing plans and strategies to meet team goals and objectives.
Functions:
- Actively elevate the work and leadership of communities directly impacted by injustice.
- Conduct legal research to identify key issues related to proposed legislation.
- Identify, track, and advise on introduced and proposed legislation before the Maryland General Assembly and local legislative bodies that affect civil rights and civil liberties.
- Maintain bill tracking database and hearing schedule, program calendars, and docket information.
- Monitor implementation of priority laws that passed from the previous session.
- Attend hearings, briefings, and other proceedings before the General Assembly.
- Draft testimony on a wide range of bills to explain the constitutional, civil rights, and civil liberties implications of legislation and the organization's position.
- Deliver verbal testimony at the state and local level to represent the organization in front of government bodies.
- Draft reports, memos, letters, and documents to different audiences to explain complex legal and policy matters and provide recommendations.
- Draft policy briefs, fact sheets, one-pagers, talking points, communications and education materials, and other documents to synthesize complex issues into persuasive language that is easy to understand.
- Build and maintain relationships with key legislators, coalitions, and advocates to advance the organization's legislative agenda.
- Identify, recruit, and prepare witnesses for hearings on key bills.
- Assist members of the legal department on an ad hoc basis by conducting legal research, writing, and analysis.
- Assist with development of and facilitate meetings with members of different departments and outside coalitions and advocates.
- Collaborate with the engagement team on outreach and organizing strategies.
- Collaborate with the communications team on media and communication strategies.
- Assist with developing and executing plans and strategies to meet team goals and objectives.
Collaborative Work Plans and Organizational Communications
- This position is expected to perform work assigned and outlined in the annual organizational strategic operating plan, departmental operational plans, and/or in project/programmatic area workplans in addition to the position's other work.
- This position primarily supports the following strategic priorities on an ongoing basis,: Individual Autonomy, Immigrant Rights, Government Accountability, Legal Justice, Education, and Voting Rights.
- Upon request, collaborate with the development team and program staff on grant proposals and reports; meet with funders; and provide information to funders.
- This position may be required to speak at public events and represent the organization as a spokesperson with media representatives upon request.
- This position is expected to maintain and manage regular communications channels with immediate supervisors, management, and coworkers to ensure the smooth and efficient operations of the organization. Communications include but are not limited to email, telephone inquiries, letters of correspondence, video conferencing, and organizational meetings; this position is also expected to complete regular operational administrative tasks, such as timekeeping for payroll purposes, etc.
- This position participates on the strategic planning committee(s).
Optional Organizational Commitments
- All individuals are encouraged to participate in voluntary work assignments and engage in extra work activities at their discretion and based on their availability and workload.
- Elective work performed should not interfere or pose a conflict with an individual's normal workload or ability to function in their organizational role.
- Optional Organizational commitments include but are not limited to aspirational work, organizational committees, organizational programs, employee resource and affinity groups, organizational membership groups, etc.
Voluntary Organizational Leadership
Performance
evaluations will consider the individual's overall job-related
performance based upon the job description. However, other unique
competencies may also be identified relevant to this position due to
work performed and specific or special skills demonstrated that are
required by staff to fulfill voluntary organizational leadership roles.
The recognition and appraisal of added organizational value achieved
through nonmandatory work will also be considered in completing annual
performance evaluations.Management & Supervisory Responsibility
These
positions are designated as a non-management position and do not
encompass supervisory responsibility. These positions may function as a
team leader and monitor interns and volunteer work assignments as
directed by their immediate supervisor.Qualifications:
Values Alignment
- Demonstrated personal commitment to advancing A Non-Profit Organization in Baltimore, Maryland's values, mission, goals, and programs, with an understanding of the range of civil rights and civil liberties issues and their implications through previous experiences.
Race Equity Commitment
- Demonstrated commitment to racial equity, dismantling white supremacy, and incorporating a structural power analysis into work.
- Must have knowledge and understanding of how power is manifested in matters of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstances.
Typical Education & Work Experience
(Relevant
education/experience may substitute for required education/experience
at a rate of one-year relevant education/experience per year of required
education/experience.)- Juris Doctorate Degree
- A minimum of 3 to 7 years' experience in a similar position.
Certification or License Requirements:
- None
Typical Functional Experience:
- Prior work experience or knowledge about the legal issues that are the focus of our legal and policy work.
- Ability to contribute legal knowledge and expertise in support of community-generated initiatives.
- Ability to be proactive and work effectively on civil rights and civil liberties issues.
- Negotiation skills and the ability to articulate complex issues and communicate them effectively to a variety of audiences.
- Ability to think strategically and conceptually with a self-awareness to dismantle your biases in order to approach to solutions using a race equity lens.
- Proactively identify issues and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to make policy recommendations.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to use professional judgment and practice patience.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with coalitions and community groups, motivate volunteers, and work across the political spectrum.
- Willingness to take direction from directly impacted communities and to contribute public policy and legal knowledge with the purpose of empowering community members and making the law accessible and useful to disenfranchised communities.
- Ability to give presentations and engage diverse audiences.
- Adaptable team player with the ability to engage various constituencies in a complex environment.
- Familiarity
with Maryland communities, state, and local government racial equity
and social injus
Similar Jobs
