Position:
Senior Advocacy & Campaigns Strategist
Location:
Remote within the Continental U.S. Candidate must also be able to work Monday-Friday 1- 4 pm Eastern Time. (These are the hours when all FFJC staff must be available; other working hours within the day are flexible according to your time zone.)
Status:
Full-Time; Exempt
Fines and Fees Justice Center
Fines and Fees Justice Center (“FFJC”) is the only national organization focused exclusively on the fines and fees imposed in the justice system. We work together with affected communities, advocates and justice system stakeholders to eliminate fees in the justice system, ensure that fines are equitably imposed and enforced, and end abusive collection practices.
Across the country, state and local governments and their courts impose fines as a punishment for minor traffic and municipal code violations, misdemeanors and felonies. They then tax people with fees, surcharges, and costs used to fund the justice system and other government services. Those who cannot immediately pay face additional fees, license suspensions, loss of voting rights, arrest and jail. Stuck in a cycle of punishment and poverty, people can lose their jobs, their homes, and even their children. In this two-tiered system of justice, poor people – and particularly communities of color – are disproportionately punished.
Founded in 2018, FFJC has catalyzed a bipartisan movement to eliminate the fines and fees that distort justice, devastate the lives of millions of people and perpetuate and exacerbate economic and racial inequality. FFJC has a three-pronged strategy for implementing durable fines and fees reform.
First, FFJC is developing replicable advocacy models in four states: Florida, Nevada, New York, and New Mexico. Our state teams live and work in their states. Together with directly impacted communities, they have developed broad-based coalitions from across the political spectrum to enact significant reform at both the state and local level.
Second, FFJC also works across the country to drive fines and fees reform. Our national team provides strategic and technical assistance to impacted communities and advocates and leads two national campaigns: Free to Drive, a nationwide campaign to end debt-based driver’s license restrictions; and End Justice Fees, a national campaign to eliminate all fees in the justice system.
Finally, FFJC Is a hub for information on fines and fees reform. FFJC develops, collects and disseminates information through its digital Clearinghouse, an easily-accessible library of research, pilot projects, litigation, legislation, court-rule changes, data, media, and community voices related to fines and fees reform.
Position Summary
Initially reporting to the National Advocacy and Campaigns Director, the Senior Advocacy & Campaigns Strategist (“Strategist”) will be principally responsible for working with the national team to manage the day-to-day operations, relationships, and assistance to fines and fees advocacy efforts across the United States. The Strategist will also work with the National Advocacy & Campaigns team to build coalitions, identify state and local partners, provide strategic and technical assistance to stakeholder groups on fines and fees campaigns, and support legislative advocacy to advance fines and fees reforms. In addition, the Strategist will respond to requests for assistance from advocates, activists, justice system stakeholders and legislators with strategic and technical assistance.
Essential Responsibilities and Tasks
- Maintain and continue to advance the mission of the national Free to Drive and End Justice Fees campaigns, and work on emerging fines and fees issues.
- In consultation with the National Advocacy & Campaigns Director, and with state-level advocacy groups, develop strategies to launch and execute fines and fees campaigns.
- Organize and build bipartisan coalitions in states and nationally to advocate for fine and fee reform.
- Provide ongoing strategic and technical assistance to state and local advocates and community-based organizations, policymakers, and stakeholders on fines and fees related issues.
- Represent FFJC at conferences, meetings, and legislative hearings, make presentations, testify, and participate in panel discussions, as needed.
- Work with the National Advocacy & Campaigns team to track, analyze and prioritize legislation that impacts national campaigns.
Minimum Qualifications
- At least 8 years of professional experience, including at least 3 years in advocacy at the local, state or federal level, specifically in the criminal legal system. Fines and Fees advocacy/criminal justice, economic justice or racial justice advocacy and/or campaign experience.
- Experience with direct legislative advocacy, including drafting, analyzing, and commenting on legislation.
- Experience building and working in coalitions.
- Experience developing advocacy materials including model bills and talking points.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to communicate with professionals in various fields, as well as community-based organizations and impacted individuals.
- Excellent analytical skills.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a growing non-profit environment.
Attributes
- Organized, diligent, proactive, and attention to detail.
- Solution oriented and strategic thinker.
- Passion for criminal legal system reform.
- Flexible and adaptable.
- Excellent time management skills.
- Sense of humor.
- Willingness to travel occasionally and work occasional nights and weekends.
Those with personal experience of the impacts of the criminal legal systems are encouraged to apply.
Compensation
$85,00 – $100,000, depending on experience, with excellent benefits including 401k matching, 100% premium coverage for health care, and generous leave policy. The comprehensive benefits package includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in a 401k retirement plan and are eligible for a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match on 401k contributions. Employees are also eligible for pre-tax transportation benefits. Employees will receive 120 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually. Employees will also receive 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Employees are eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment.
How to Apply
Please submit a resume and cover letter (as attachments) explaining your interest in and qualifications for the position to jobs@finesandfeesjusticecenter.org. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
New Venture Fund Careers
The Fines & Fees Justice Center is a project of New Venture Fund (NVF), a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. NVF is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding, and enables each of us to realize our potential. NVF’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which they are working.
COVID-19 Policy
To center the safety and well-being of its employees, New Venture Fund requires that any employee who is required to conduct in-person activities for their job must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 within four weeks of their start date. This position may require candidates to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Accommodations may be sought and approved in accordance with the law by contacting human resources at HR@newventurefund.org.