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Movement Policy Associate

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Movement Policy Associate

Movement Policy Associate

The Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR) invites applications for a Movement Policy Associate to join its Public Policy Unit (PPU).

About SCHR

The Southern Center for Human Rights is working for equality, dignity, and justice for people impacted by the criminal legal system in the Deep South. SCHR embraces multifaceted strategies in its fight for a world free from mass incarceration, the death penalty, the criminalization of poverty, and racial injustice.

Over our forty-five-year history, SCHR has forced county, state, and federal governments to make significant improvements in prisons and jails to reduce overcrowding, provide adequate medical and mental health care, and abate violence and abuse. We have argued and won five death penalty cases at the United States Supreme Court, four of which challenged profound race discrimination in capital trials. Our combined litigation and policy advocacy helped bring about the creation of a statewide public defender system in Georgia. Our advocacy has also advanced significant reforms in the Georgia General Assembly as well as in local governmental bodies. For more information about SCHR, visit www.schr.org.

About the Position

The role of the Movement Policy Associate (“Associate”) is to advance criminal legal policy shifts that materially benefit marginalized communities by building and strengthening SCHR’s partnerships with coalition members and directly-impacted stakeholders both statewide and in local jurisdictions. The Associate is housed within SCHR’s Public Policy Unit and collaborates with the Capital and Impact Litigation Units. The Associate reports to the Movement Policy Counsel (“Counsel”) and Public Policy Director (“Director”) and partners with them to develop and execute statewide and local policy reform strategies.

SCHR seeks applicants who are highly motivated, detail-oriented, well-organized, communicate well with others, have strong writing skills, and have a deep commitment to SCHR’s work. The candidate should be a strong team player and able to work independently. The ideal candidate is someone who has prior employment or volunteer experience with marginalized communities harmed by criminal legal systems. People with direct personal or familial experience with the criminal legal system are encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

  • Serve as a liaison for implementation and oversight of recently passed local legislation; lead public education efforts through meetings and forums with stakeholders; collaborate with SCHR’s legal staff to maximize impact;
  • With the Director and Policy Counsel, assess potential sites for local policy campaigns. This will include reaching out to partners in other jurisdictions, including metropolitan and rural areas statewide;
  • Serve as local policy support for coalitions engaging legislation on the municipal and county levels, including but not limited to JUSTGeorgia and the Communities over Cages coalition;
  • To the extent necessary, communicate with colleagues responsible for coordinating the Justice Reform Partnership (JRP) to ensure that local organizing formations are aware of ways to engage the JRP to advance their work;
  • Center and seek the participation of the most-impacted people and populations in all efforts;
  • Regularly collaborate with key grassroots partners to plan and execute political education activities as needed;
  • Assist Counsel in providing technical policy assistance to organizations and other stakeholders, including drafting, editing, analyzing, and explaining local legislation;
  • Collaborate with state policy counsel and associates within the PPU to understand and develop engagement materials/events pertaining to statewide legislation;
  • Cultivate relationships with diverse allies, including conservatives, survivors of crime, faith-based leaders, prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement;
  • In collaboration with the Public Policy Unit, assist Counsel and Director in providing technical assistance to statewide and local elected officials and other decision-makers on sentencing reforms, decriminalization, criminalization of poverty, and more. This assistance will include policy and legal research, drafting legislation, in-person assistance, and making connections with national experts;
  • Research policy issues and prepare briefings and other resources for SCHR’s legal team, legislators, and allies;
  • Monitor emerging research and important developments in the field;
  • Represent SCHR at meetings of interest to the mission, including those held by correctional agencies, local governing bodies, and community allies;
  • Attend Atlanta City Council committee and full council meetings on a consistent basis;
  • Speak publicly at national, state, and local forums, conferences, and meetings; and
  • Represent SCHR and its work in community meetings and classrooms.

Qualifications

A successful Associate:

  • Operates within liberatory anti-racist frameworks when approaching tasks, community, and colleagues;
  • Is a smart self-starter with a track record of initiative and success;
  • Has excellent writing and oral communication skills;
  • Works collaboratively with other members of the Public Policy Unit;
  • Is comfortable working independently and being self-directed while staying regularly connected with the Public Policy Unit and the rest of the organization;
  • Has a demonstrated ability to work well with diverse groups and communities;
  • Understands and enjoys multifaceted strategic public policy advocacy that involves legislative advocacy, strategic communications, litigation, policy analysis, and coalition-building activities;
  • Is comfortable with the limitations associated with working at a law firm that adheres to the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct and general notions of professional ethics;
  • Is a strategic thinker with excellent research, prioritization, analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills; can think the ‘big picture’ as well as translate ideas into realistic, actionable plans.

Applicants must be:

  • willing to travel extensively by car and have a valid driver’s license;
  • trustworthy with confidential information;
  • committed to serving low-income communities and other communities targeted by the criminal legal system; and
  • dedicated to uprooting anti-Black racism and working to advance SCHR’s commitment to antiracism.

Commitment and Compensation

SCHR seeks a commitment of at least three years. The start date is negotiable. Salary is commensurate with experience, within SCHR’s modest, public interest salary range of $50,000-$60,000. SCHR offers an excellent, 100% premium-paid benefit package, including medical, dental, vision care, and life insurance. Additional benefits include modest stipends for transportation and wellness, access to a flexible spending account, and childcare assistance (if eligible).

TO APPLY

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Those who are interested are encouraged to apply immediately. NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE. Email [email protected] with the following:

  • Statement in the subject line of the e-mail that you are applying for the Investigator position;
  • Letter of interest;
  • Resume; and
  • Writing sample (could be an article for a blog, academic paper, policy brief, or whatever shows your style and voice).

The Southern Center for Human Rights is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer which welcomes qualified applicants of all races, ethnicities, genders, gender identities, and sexual orientations, as well as those who have been system-involved.