We strongly encourage people of color, transgender and non-binary people to apply. HRC is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone, including non-LGBTQ+ people, to join our team. Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that people from marginalized communities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At HRC, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Position Summary:
The Human Rights Campaign is the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights and advocacy organization dedicated to achieving equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community. HRC’s Federal & State Affairs Department drives the organization’s legal and policy agenda using legislative and administrative advocacy in legislatures, before agencies, and with policymakers, and litigation in the courts.
The Director, Legal Policy (or Senior Director, commensurate with experience) works with the Senior Vice President for Policy & Litigation and the leaders of the department’s Government Affairs and Litigation teams to work to develop and execute comprehensive short- and long-term strategies to advance HRC’s policy and advocacy goals, and directs the work of the Legal Policy team to implement those goals.
This position is based at the HRC headquarters located in Washington, DC, and is a hybrid/in-person position. Due to the nature of the work and responsibilities of this role, this person will be expected to work in the office at least three days per week.
Position Responsibilities:
Legal Policy Team Responsibilities
- Oversees the Legal Policy team’s work, which is responsible for the legislative and administrative legal counsel for the organization, including:
- Analyzing policy proposals, regulatory changes, existing law, and judicial trends;
- Drafting policy recommendations, legislation and amendments, regulatory comments, testimony, and other legal products;
- Drafting memoranda, explanations, talking points, and other supportive materials;
- Partnering with internal teams to ensure timely, accurate legal analysis and messaging for campaigns, communications, and educational programs;
- Representing HRC externally on legal and policy matters, including in coalition, in media, with stakeholders, at conferences, with policymakers, and before legislative bodies; and
- Developing briefs, reports, and research that advances LGBTQ+ policy goals, including the Municipal Equality Index.
- Assigns specific legislative and policy portfolios to the Legislative Counsels and maintains their own portfolio.
- Performs other necessary and appropriate duties related to HRC’s policy and advocacy needs.
Leadership Responsibilities
- With the SVP and in collaboration with Government Affairs and Litigation teams, develop and lead the strategic vision for HRC’s policy and legal agenda, including a comprehensive legislative and administrative advocacy strategy on issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community.
- Provide an informed legal policy perspective in high-level strategic and policy discussions internally.
- Collaborate effectively with Campaigns & Communications, Equality Programs and Development and Membership teams to leverage organizational infrastructure toward policy goals.
- Work with FSA leaders to develop and maintain systems for managing policy materials, records, and supportive materials.
- Represent interests of HRC at events with external stakeholders (e.g., current and potential pro-equality policymakers), and internal stakeholders (e.g., board members, volunteer leadership)
Position Qualifications:
- A J.D. required and licensed to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction with at least 8 years of legal policy experience.
- Those with a minimum of 10 years of experience will be considered for hiring at the Senior Director level.
- Deep knowledge of LGBTQ+ rights law and experience in developing public policy, including working with and managing broad coalitions.
- Demonstrated management and supervisory experience, including providing clear direction, feedback, and support to team members; facilitating collaboration; providing calm and steady leadership even during times of high stress; ensuring timely progress toward goals.
- Critical thinking and problem-solving.
- Effective communication and collegiality.
- A deep understanding of the importance of intersectionality and a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
- Ability to manage projects independently, to work well in teams, and to supervise legal staff with a diverse portfolio of issues.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to handle multiple workstreams simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Understands the importance of incorporating different perspectives into the work and the workplace.
- Willingness to travel as needed and flexibility with work schedule.
- Experience with LexisNexis, Westlaw, and other web-based research tools.
- Demonstrated commitment to HRC and to advancing HRC’s goals and objectives.
- Strong commitment to and interest in the rapidly changing LGBTQ+ equality movement.
All positions at the Human Rights Campaign may require travel on a regular basis or periodically. Where the need arises for business travel, appropriate compensation as outlined by the Fair Labor Standards Act will apply.
Employer is the Human Rights Campaign, Inc., an I.R.C. 501(c)(4) non-profit entity.
No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to queries about application status.
