Policy Counsel/Advisor - Public Policy & Digital Justice Initiatives - Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

• Monitor key developments in assigned issue areas and identify opportunities for engagement and advancing the organization’s policy agenda.
• Analyze federal policy proposals and develop and produce advocacy tools for various audiences concerning important technology and privacy-related federal policies.
• Build and maintain relationships with congressional and executive branch staff to ensure that the principles of the Lawyers’ Committee mission are reflected in the policymaking process, including responding to questions from external sources regarding pending federal legislation and initiatives.
• Cultivate close relationships and regularly collaborate with coalition partners, including other civil rights organizations, grassroots racial justice organizations, and other civil society organizations. 
• Attend Congressional hearings, briefings, and meetings, and represent the Lawyers’ Committee in external meetings and briefings with congressional and executive branch staff.
• Work closely with colleagues across relevant Lawyers’ Committee units, primarily the Digital Justice Initiative, Criminal Justice Project, James Byrd Jr. Center to Stop Hate, Voting Rights Project, and other internal Projects as needed, to help identify and pursue shared advocacy objectives.
• Draft congressional testimony, talking points, reports, letters, comments on proposed administrative rules and regulations, and other materials for meetings, briefings, and other public speaking engagements on civil rights, technology, and privacy-related legislative, policy, and regulatory matters.
• Plan and execute advocacy events, such as congressional briefings, panel discussions, advocacy days on Capitol Hill, and webinars to further advocacy goals.
• Work with communications staff to coordinate a focused communications strategy and to elevate relevant legislative, administrative, and executive activity in the media.
• Track and summarize legislation, regulations, and other policy developments using databases, as well as monitoring media, social media, and government websites.
• Lead and participate in national coalition meetings focused on technology and privacy-related issues.
• Provide policy briefings and support for the President & Executive Director and other senior staff, including drafting testimony and helping with preparation for other appearances before executive branch and legislative officials.

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of at least four years of work experience relevant to this role, preferably working on federal policy.
• Deep commitment to the advancement of racial justice and civil rights with experience working for a civil rights or racial justice organization preferred.
• Experience with technology and civil rights issues, such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, online harassment, content moderation, anti-discrimination laws, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, surveillance and biometric technologies, online voter suppression and disinformation, unfair and deceptive practice laws, and other similar issues.
• Demonstrated experience working with and for communities of color.
• Must be willing to register as a federal lobbyist.
• Working knowledge of the federal legislative, regulatory, and policy process (experience as a Congressional staffer, in the White House, at a civil rights nonprofit, or at a federal or state agency is a plus).
• Exceptional research, writing, and communication skills—such as being able to draft legislative proposals, comments to agencies, and talking points.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills—such as being able to analyze how a proposal will affect both the strategy and the policy of the organization’s civil rights priorities.
• Strong organizational skills with superb attention to detail—such as being able to track several congressional and agency developments and quickly turn around precisely written talking points.
• Strong, creative, and curious intellect, and the ability to analyze issues and develop novel advocacy strategies.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, ability to build trust and credibility with partners, as well as Congressional and executive branch staff and officials.
• Ability to synthesize information and to manage multiple priorities, take direction and guidance, and follow through and complete assignments, meeting often strict deadlines.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team; receptive to instruction and guidance.
• Ability to be flexible, responsive, and a team player to meet the needs of the organization.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software and Internet research tools.
• Willingness and ability to travel on a regular basis for meetings.

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