Deputy, Law & Policy Director

New Jersey Institute for Social Justice • Newark, NJ

2d • $160,000 - $180,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice is seeking a Deputy Law and Policy Director to serve as a senior leader responsible for overseeing the coordination, execution, and day-to-day management of the Institute’s legal and policy agenda. This role provides operational and strategic leadership across the Institute’s programmatic pillars, advancing advocacy campaigns, supervising staff, and strengthening cross-functional collaboration. The Deputy Law & Policy Director will lead internal program operations, support strategic advocacy initiatives, and help align legal, policy, communications, and development efforts to maximize organizational impact. This role requires a proactive and solutions-oriented leader who can manage complex projects, mentor staff, and drive initiatives forward in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) required.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of experience in legal advocacy, public policy, civil rights, nonprofit leadership or related fields.
• Member of the New Jersey bar or eligible to waive into, or able to obtain New Jersey Bar admission within one year of hire.
• Demonstrated experience leading advocacy campaigns, grassroots organizing efforts or movement-building initiatives.
• Significant experience supervising, mentoring and developing staff and teams.
• Strong understanding of legislative advocacy, policy development, coalition building and strategic communications.
• Exceptional writing, editing and drafting with the ability to produce and refine high-quality, empirically-grounded advocacy materials.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to build strong relationships across departments and with external stakeholders.
• Ability to operate strategically while also managing day-to-day execution and operational details.
• Commitment to the Institute’s mission and demonstrated passion for racial, social, and economic justice.

Responsibilities

• Help lead the implementation of the Institute’s strategic vision for legal and policy programs, including legislative advocacy, public education initiatives, strategic campaigns, and litigation support as needed.
• Drive day-to-day execution and coordination across pillars to ensure alignment with organizational priorities and goals.
• Lead internal Programs Team meetings, planning discussions, cross-functional initiatives, and regular programmatic check-ins.
• Identify ownership and accountability for shared responsibilities and cross-departmental initiatives.
• Monitor progress on strategic priorities and proactively address operational or programmatic challenges.
• Support the development and execution of advocacy campaigns and grassroots engagement strategies.
• Ensure strong coordination and communication across legal, policy, communications, development, and operations teams.
• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and support policy and legal staff, including attorneys, policy analysts, fellows, interns, and other junior team members.
• Conduct regular staff check-ins and provide clear, timely, and constructive feedback.
• Lead Programs Team evaluation processes and support staff growth through coaching and professional development opportunities.
• Foster a collaborative, respectful, and high-performing workplace culture rooted in teamwork, accountability, and shared purpose.
• Identify and coordinate training and leadership development opportunities for staff.
• Support the professional development and advancement of junior staff members.
• In partnership with the Communications Team, help lead the development, review, and dissemination of advocacy and public education materials, including reports, talking points, op-eds, press materials, public education resources, campaign messaging and communications strategies.
• Review and edit research reports, policy briefs, flyers, presentations, and public-facing materials to ensure consistency, quality and strategic alignment.
• Coordinate closely with the Development Team on grant proposals, reports, funder communications and program updates.
• Represent the Institute in coalition meetings, advocacy spaces, public forums, and strategic partnerships as appropriate.
• Strengthen internal communication systems and improve coordination across teams and initiatives.
• Ensure smooth execution of programmatic operations, timelines, and deliverables.
• Help establish systems and processes that improve collaboration, accountability, and organizational effectiveness.
• Support internal planning, priority-setting, and organizational alignment efforts.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance – Eligible from day one with 85% employer contribution.
• Employer-Paid Life Insurance.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) – Includes medical, commuter, and dependent care plans.
• Medical Reimbursement Plan.
• 401(k) Plan – Eligible after 90 days of employment with a 3% safe harbor contribution.
• Generous Paid Time Off – Vacation, sick, personal, and holiday leave.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree