The Southern Poverty Law Center is seeking a Deputy Director of Federal Policy committed to advancing civil rights!

The Deputy Federal Policy Director is responsible assisting the Federal Policy Director in managing day-to-day activities of the Federal Policy Team and its work in collaboration with the state policy, legal, communications, and program staff to advance Southern Poverty Law Center’s Impact Areas of eradicating poverty, transforming the criminal legal system, dismantling white supremacy, and strengthening voting rights and democracy, including but not limited to providing direct supervision for some members of the team. The role also includes working on projects to advance Federal Policy Team priorities across impact areas as determined by the Federal Policy Director.

Who You Are

Experienced. Demonstrated experience in working to advance civil and human rights through public policy and legal advocacy.

People Manager. Experienced staff manager with proven success in leading, training, and developing teams. Clear communicator of goals and priorities, organizational policies, and processes, keeping the SPLC’s best interest at the heart of all communications, decisions, and actions.

Effective leader. Established leadership in creating department work plans, setting annual goals, and tracking performance staff towards achieving the goals. 

Advocate. Experience working with community organizations, grassroots campaigns, and impacted communities, particularly in the South, to advance civil and human rights.

Strategic & Innovative. Ability to create vision and take calculated risks in crafting and executing strategies to move advocacy priorities forward.

Collaborative. Demonstrate a keen ability to work with other internal teams, external organizations, and stakeholders to execute specific strategies to advance the team's work.

Communicative. Exceptional communication skills and ability to communicate persuasively to various audiences through writing and speaking.

Mission, Vision & Culture Alignment. Demonstrated awareness for SPLC's mission and vision; and a commitment to ideals of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and fostering an anti-racist work culture and antiracist principles and learning.

What You'll Do

Supervise team members within the Federal Policy team, that includes but is not limited to SPLC Senior Policy Counsels/Advisors, Policy Counsels, Policy Associates, interns, and others within the SPLC, providing mentoring and coaching in support of the work.

Manage and advise direct reports on the development and implementation of SPLC policy priorities, including the development and executions of goals, objectives, strategies, and activities associated with the supervises' relevant areas of focus as directed by the Federal Policy Director.

Lead the development and implementation of innovative policy recommendations and advocacy plans on other key policy priorities, and draft appropriate advocacy materials (i.e., letters, statements, memorandums, factsheets, talking points, etc.), as needed and determined by the Federal Policy Director.

Support, in partnership with the Federal Policy Director, the day-to-day team functions, which include but is not limited to ensuring team members are fulfilling administrative reporting tasks, drafting, reviewing and approving various forms of written materials, providing written updates to the Federal Policy Director as needed, assisting in the development and implementation of team processes and procedures, and liaising with consultants and other SPLC departments as needed.  

Collaborate with the Federal Policy Director, the Federal Policy Team and the Policy Department to identify and support the advancement of SPLC’s state, local, and federal policy priorities; collaborate with team members of other SPLC Departments to advance the impact goals and campaigns of SPLC, including working with the Communications Department to develop communication strategies around policy advocacy priorities and campaigns.

Serve as a public thought leader on issues confronting the communities the SPLC serves, and represent SPLC in the media, at conferences, and in other public venues as assigned and/or approved.

Develop and maintain relationships with community partners, coalition members, and legal allies to maintain open communication and collaboration with directly impacted people and communities.

Monitor staff performance and development and conduct performance reviews for those being directly supervised.

Perform other duties as required or assigned which are within the scope of the duties in this job classification.

Uphold our JEDI principles by seeking diverse collaborators and partners that can deliver genuine, authentic, and impactful work while ensuring their contributions are directed towards the shared mission, vision and values of the center and department’s goals.

Minimum Qualifications 

We are committed to equitable hiring practices; therefore, you must meet the minimum qualifications to be considered for the role.

• At least seven (7) years of public policy and legal advocacy experience in advancing one or more of SPLC’s areas of focus;
• At least five (5) years of supervisor experience managing staff; and
• At least a Master's degree in Public Policy or related field.

Compensation & Benefits

This is an exempt role, and the minimum starting salary is $ 164,864.00 annually.

Click here to view the benefits available to SPLC staff.

Where & How You'll Work 

This role the following work designations options:

• Local Remote: Will work remotely but is expected to attend work-related activities that occur at the SPLC offices or in the states in which the SPLC operates.
• Telework: Will work at an SPLC office at least three days per week and may work two days per week from an alternative work location.
• This position will report to the Federal Policy Director.

Other Special Considerations 

This job is performed under general office conditions and is not subject to any strenuous physical demands or dangerous conditions.

Disclaimer:

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. These statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in this position.

An Equal-Opportunity Employer with a Commitment to Diversity

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally without regard to age, caregiver status, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, national origin, on the basis of genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy, or veteran status.