The National Women's Law Center seeks a Director to oversee and manage its federal legal and policy work on reproductive rights issues, including expanding and protecting access to abortion. Working in close partnership with other Center staff, the Director will play a leadership role in ensuring that the Center's mission is advanced at the federal level by educating, engaging, and working closely with policymakers, coalition partners, and other key stakeholders. This is an exempt position and reports to the Vice President for Reproductive Rights and Health.

The Organization

National Women's Law Center: Expanding possibilities. Eliminating barriers. We are passionate champions of national and state policies and laws that help women and girls achieve their potential throughout their lives: at school, at work, at home, in their families, and in their communities. We are committed advocates who take on the toughest challenges, especially for women who face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and women who are low-income - and we make change happen. We are proud to have been on the front lines of virtually every major advance for women since 1972, benefiting women, their families, their communities, and the nation.

Key Responsibilities

• Spearhead strategies to expand the reach and impact of the Center's reproductive rights work at the federal level, including by building and maintaining relationships with congressional and executive branch staff;
• Undertake legal and policy analysis in response to requests from federal policymakers and to help develop the Center's federal reproductive rights priorities;
• Lead collaborative federal issue campaigns in coordination with other Center staff, including helping to develop messages and policy proposals;
• Direct the Center's response to proposed rules and other agency initiatives on reproductive rights issues including by assigning roles, managing team, and helping with drafting and outreach as needed;
• Work in close coordination with key Center staff, including those on the Reproductive Rights and Health team, other Center staff undertaking federal advocacy work, and the Campaign Strategies Team, to provide information and support on federal legislation and policy, and strategically and collectively further the Center's work;
• Represent the Center's positions in coalition meetings and work closely with partners in various federal progressive coalitions;
• Directly supervise at least one Counsel, and have supervisory responsibilities for legal fellows and interns;
• Conceive, draft, and oversee development of written products, legislative testimony, talking points, letters, and other materials for congressional staff;
• Assist in fundraising activities;
• Help to shape overall organizational and RRH team goals and strategies;
• Respond to requests from the press and participate in press interviews;
• Represent the Center and its federal reproductive rights work at public events, conferences, and meetings.

The National Women's Law Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek applications from people with disabilities, people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, veterans, and LGBTQI individuals.

Qualifications

The candidate must have:

• A law degree or other professional degree and a minimum of eight years of relevant experience;
• A proven record of developing and implementing legislative strategies and tactics by maintaining contact with key staffers and members of Congress;
• A strong understanding of House and Senate procedural rules to inform legislative strategies;
• A minimum of three years of experience with program management and preferably more;
• Sound and strategic judgment, ability to problem solve, and nimbleness in adapting to changing circumstances;
• Excellent legal reasoning and analytical skills;
• Superior oral and written communications skills, including the ability to explain the Center's work in compelling terms and to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively;
• Outstanding time management and organizational skills, with careful attention to detail, and a demonstrated ability to manage multi-faceted projects and perform well independently with grace under pressure in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment;
• The ability to build trust and credibility with key stakeholders;
• Commitment to centering diversity and equity in executing key responsibilities;
• A demonstrated commitment to the mission of the Center.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Existing network of relationships on Capitol Hill and/or executive agencies;
• Knowledge of reproductive rights, health, and justice issues;
• Demonstrated success in leading, mentoring, and motivating a team, including an ability to mentor and develop talent;
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively;
• A high degree of self-motivation and an entrepreneurial ability to identify and seize opportunities;
• Collaborative and collegial approach, and an ability and desire to work in a diverse and team-based environment, an orientation to the work that recognizes and values the contributions of all team members, and demonstrated success applying an equity lens to leadership and management;
• Demonstrated ability to influence and engage diverse audiences and to build long-term collaborative relationships with key organizational and individual partners;
• Flexibility and a sense of humor;
• Experience with grant-making.