Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Justice Advocacy Director

🎯 Role Definition

As the Justice Advocacy Director, you will be the strategic architect and driving force behind our organization's efforts to achieve meaningful and lasting justice reform. You will provide visionary leadership to a dedicated team, overseeing the full spectrum of our advocacy work, from grassroots mobilization to high-level policy negotiation. This role requires a seasoned leader who can navigate complex political landscapes, build and sustain powerful coalitions, and effectively communicate our mission to policymakers, the media, and the public. You will be responsible for developing and implementing cutting-edge, multi-pronged campaigns that leverage policy analysis, direct lobbying, community organizing, and strategic communications to dismantle systemic inequities and build a more just and equitable society.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Policy Advisor or Policy Counsel
Advocacy or Campaigns Manager
Senior Staff Attorney (with a policy focus)
Government Affairs Manager

Advancement To:

Vice President of Policy & Advocacy
Chief Policy Officer
Executive Director or President of a non-profit organization

Lateral Moves:

Director of Government Affairs
Director of Litigation
Communications Director (in a policy-heavy organization)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, direct, and execute a comprehensive, multi-year advocacy strategy in alignment with the organization’s mission to advance justice reform at the local, state, and federal levels.
Serve as the organization's lead strategist and primary spokesperson on matters of public policy, legislative priorities, and systemic justice issues.
Lead and manage high-impact, integrated advocacy campaigns that combine direct lobbying, grassroots organizing, strategic communications, and litigation efforts.
Cultivate, maintain, and leverage strong relationships with elected officials, government agency leaders, legislative staff, and other key policymakers to advance our policy agenda.
Oversee the research, analysis, and drafting of sophisticated policy reports, legal memoranda, legislative testimony, issue briefs, and other advocacy materials.
Build, lead, and participate in diverse coalitions with allied organizations, community stakeholders, directly impacted leaders, and non-traditional partners to amplify our collective impact.
Direct the organization’s lobbying activities, ensuring full compliance with all applicable lobbying and ethics regulations while maximizing our influence in legislative and administrative arenas.
Provide inspirational leadership, mentorship, and professional development to a high-performing team of policy staff, advocates, and organizers, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
Represent the organization in high-stakes negotiations, public forums, expert panels, press conferences, and media interviews to shape public discourse and policy debates.
Develop and manage the advocacy department's annual budget, ensuring strategic and efficient allocation of financial resources and staff time.
Advise the Executive Director and Board of Directors on emerging policy trends, political opportunities, and strategic risks, providing expert counsel on organizational positioning.
Monitor, track, and analyze legislative proposals, administrative regulations, and judicial decisions to proactively identify and respond to threats and opportunities for reform.

Secondary Functions

Collaborate closely with the Development and Philanthropy team to articulate the impact of our advocacy work for grant proposals, donor reports, and fundraising appeals.
Partner with the Communications department to craft powerful and persuasive messaging, press releases, op-eds, and digital content that mobilizes public support.
Provide compelling expert testimony before legislative committees, city councils, and administrative bodies to influence policy outcomes.
Design and implement public education initiatives, including policy briefings, community town halls, and webinars, to raise awareness and build constituent power.
Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of advocacy campaigns and provide regular, data-informed reports to leadership.
Oversee the creation of accessible advocacy tools and resources, such as action alerts, legislator scorecards, and social media toolkits, for use by partners and the public.
Ensure the authentic integration of the voices and lived experiences of directly impacted individuals and communities into every facet of our policy development and advocacy strategy.
Foster a culture of continuous learning and strategic innovation within the advocacy department, staying abreast of best practices in the field.
Engage with the organization’s legal team to identify opportunities for strategic litigation that complements and advances legislative and policy goals.
Manage relationships with external consultants, lobbyists, and vendors to supplement the team's capacity and expertise as needed.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep Policy Expertise: In-depth knowledge of the justice system, including criminal law, civil rights, juvenile justice, or immigration law, and a sophisticated understanding of contemporary reform debates.
Legislative & Policy Advocacy: Proven track record of successfully designing and winning legislative or policy campaigns at the state or federal level.
Government Relations: Extensive experience in direct lobbying, navigating the legislative and administrative processes, and building effective relationships with policymakers.
Policy Analysis & Research: Superior ability to conduct rigorous legal and policy analysis and translate complex issues into clear, persuasive written materials like reports, testimony, and briefs.
Strategic Campaign Management: Expertise in developing and executing multifaceted campaign plans that integrate various advocacy tactics for maximum impact.
Budgetary & Staff Management: Demonstrated experience in managing departmental budgets, allocating resources effectively, and leading, mentoring, and developing a team of professionals.

Soft Skills

Strategic & Visionary Thinking: Ability to see the big picture, anticipate future trends, and develop innovative, long-term strategies to achieve ambitious goals.
Exceptional Communication: World-class public speaking, written communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and persuade diverse audiences, from grassroots activists to high-level officials.
Coalition Building & Networking: Natural ability to build trust and forge strong, collaborative relationships and coalitions across ideological and professional divides.
Leadership & Influence: Proven ability to lead and motivate teams, influence decision-makers without formal authority, and serve as a credible, compelling public figure.
Resilience & Adaptability: Thrives in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and can skillfully navigate political complexities, setbacks, and shifting priorities.
Commitment to Equity: A profound and demonstrated commitment to racial and social justice, and experience centering the leadership of directly impacted communities in advocacy work.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

Juris Doctor (J.D.)
Master of Public Policy (MPP)
Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Relevant Fields of Study:

Law
Public Policy
Political Science
Criminal Justice
Sociology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 10-15+ years of progressively responsible experience in policy, advocacy, or government affairs.

Preferred: At least 5 years of experience in a senior management role, including direct supervision of staff, budget management, and strategic planning within a non-profit advocacy organization, government agency, or legislative office. A demonstrated history of leading successful, large-scale justice reform campaigns is highly desired.