Director of Policy & Coalition Building

Description

ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL

Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.

Public Counsel organizes its work through seven legal teams: Child, Youth & Family Advocacy, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Education Equity, and our impact litigation team, Opportunity Under Law.  

Public Counsel has a staff of approximately 170. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. We recognize the essential role of staff in achieving our goals, and we have set a long-term intention to provide competitive compensation, benefits, training, mentorship, and overall workplace wellness, making Public Counsel a leader among nonprofit law firms.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Vice President, Chief Advocacy Officer, the Director of Policy & Coalition Building provides strategic leadership for Public Counsel’s policy advocacy and coalition-building efforts across the organization. The Director works closely with program leaders and staff to identify policy priorities, strengthen coordination of existing policy work, and develop systems that enable Public Counsel to leverage its expertise and resources effectively. The Director builds and maintains relationships with community organizations, coalitions, policymakers, and other partners; provides guidance and technical assistance on policy advocacy; and helps connect policy work with Public Counsel’s direct services and impact litigation efforts. The Director also works collaboratively with the Directors of Litigation and Pro Bono, the Communications and Development teams, and other organizational leaders to advance Public Counsel’s policy goals and visibility. The ideal candidate is a strategic, collaborative, and highly organized leader who brings strong policy expertise, relationship-building skills, and a commitment to client- and community-centered advocacy.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Policy Leadership & Internal Organization

• Develop and advance a coordinated organizational approach to policy advocacy that supports Public Counsel’s mission, advances systems change, and amplifies the expertise of legal teams and staff
• Assess and organize Public Counsel’s existing policy work, identify opportunities for coordination and joint advocacy, and establish systems for tracking, sharing, and reporting policy activity and outcomes
• Work with legal team leaders and staff to identify policy priorities and develop strategies that leverage Public Counsel’s expertise and resources
• Develop and maintain internal guidelines, tools, and resources for policy advocacy, including processes for developing organizational positions and addressing compliance, lobbying, and disclosure requirements
• Convene and facilitate cross-team policy working groups and other fora to promote information-sharing, collaboration, and coordinated advocacy
• Advise organizational leadership and staff on policy strategy, including how policy advocacy can complement and strengthen direct services and strategic litigation

Coalition, Community & Government Relations

• Build and maintain strong relationships with grassroots organizations, community leaders, coalition partners, policymakers, government officials and staff
• Advance a community-centered model of coalition building and advocacy that supports community-led policy initiatives and incorporates partner priorities into Public Counsel’s policy strategies
• Identify and cultivate opportunities for Public Counsel to participate in, lead, or support coalitions and policy campaigns consistent with organizational priorities
• Provide guidance and support to Public Counsel staff in developing and maintaining external policy relationships and navigating political and coalition dynamics
• Represent Public Counsel’s policy priorities with policymakers, coalition partners, community organizations, funders, media, and other external audiences
• Build relationships with pro bono, academic, and other partners to bring additional expertise and capacity to Public Counsel’s policy advocacy

Policy Development, Advocacy & Analysis

• Provide technical assistance to staff in identifying policy opportunities, developing policy proposals, and crafting legislative and administrative advocacy strategies
• Monitor and analyze relevant federal, state, and local legislation, regulations, and policy developments and help assess their implications for Public Counsel’s clients, communities, and policy priorities
• Support the development of legislation, policy proposals, comment letters, testimony, public comments, policy briefs, and other advocacy materials
• Work with staff and coalition partners to develop and advance policy campaigns, including strategies for legislative, administrative, and other policy advocacy
• Help ensure that Public Counsel’s policy positions are coordinated, consistent with organizational priorities, and informed by client and community perspectives
• Partner with the Communications team to translate complex policy issues into clear, accessible messages and elevate the visibility and impact of Public Counsel’s policy advocacy

Organizational Capacity Building & External Engagement

• Identify policy-related training and capacity-building needs across the organization and develop or facilitate training, mentorship, and other resources to strengthen staff policy advocacy skills
• Develop and improve systems, tools, and processes that make policy advocacy more efficient, coordinated, and accessible to staff across Public Counsel
• Work with organizational leadership and the Development team to identify funding opportunities and strengthen grants and other support for policy advocacy and coalition-building efforts
• Collaborates  with the Communications, Development, and other organizational teams to advance Public Counsel’s policy priorities and external visibility
• Represent Public Counsel at conferences, panels, community forums, meetings with elected officials, and other public and professional settings
• Contribute to organizational leadership and agency-wide initiatives, including efforts to advance equity, inclusion, racial and economic justice, and community-centered advocacy

Requirements

ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Bachelor’s degree, with an advanced degree in public policy, law, public administration, communications, or a related field preferred 
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in policy advocacy, legislative affairs, government relations, coalition building, public affairs, community organizing, or a related field, with substantial experience leading policy initiatives
• Significant experience navigating legislative and/or policy processes at the federal, state, or local level, with experience working across multiple levels of government strongly preferred 
• Demonstrated experience developing, advancing, or leading legislation, policy campaigns, regulatory advocacy, or other significant policy initiatives
• Significant experience working collaboratively with and developing and maintaining strong, trusting relationships with community organizations, grassroots advocates, coalitions, elected officials, legislative staff, and other external stakeholders
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, including the ability to develop systems, establish priorities, track multiple projects and deadlines, coordinate complex work across teams
• Inspiring, collaborative, transparent, inclusive, and approachable leadership style 
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal, technical, or policy issues into clear and accessible messages for different audiences, including in collaboration with communications teams 
• Demonstrated ability to assess an organization’s existing policy work, identify gaps and opportunities, and develop practical systems and strategies to improve coordination and effectiveness 
• Strong strategic judgment and the ability to distinguish among opportunities that Public Counsel should lead, support, monitor, or decline to pursue
• Strong meeting facilitation, consensus-building, diplomacy, and conflict-management skills 
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively across teams, levels, and functions within an organization and to build trust among colleagues with different levels of experience and expertise, including by providing thoughtful technical assistance and mentorship to colleagues with varying levels of familiarity with policy advocacy
• Demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice, and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and in the communities Public Counsel serves 
• High levels of emotional intelligence and cultural competency, including being curious, self-aware, cognizant of bias, compassionate, patient, and willing to listen, and having a growth mindset and openness to new perspectives
• Spanish-language proficiency is a plus 

JOB TYPE AND BENEFITS

• Full-time/exempt
• Salary range is $135,000–$165,000, with most candidates expected to fall within the middle of the range, depending on experience
• Non-bargaining 

Public Counsel offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Medical coverage with an option for 100% employer-paid employee and dependent child(ren)’s premiums; buy-up options are available for other HMO and PPO coverage 
• Dental and vision coverage 
• Option to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account
• Employer-paid life insurance and disability plans

Generous paid time off (per year):

• 15 accrued vacation days that increase to 20 days after 3 years of employment
• 12 accrued sick days that may be used for physical and mental health needs
• 2 personal observance days 
• 11 paid holidays plus 2 one-week office closures (during the summer and winter)
• Up to 60 hours of compensatory time per calendar year (for exempt staff only)

Additional benefits:

• 403(b) retirement plan with an elective employee contribution, and after a year of employment a discretionary employer contribution 
• Free on-site parking or public transportation reimbursement 
• $45 per pay period for employees who use non-English language skills to perform work duties
• Up to 6 months of parental leave 
• Organizational and team wellness activities to build team cohesion and camaraderie
• Professional development support and opportunities
• Annual payment of dues for required licenses or certifications (state bar dues for attorneys) and for a mutually agreed-upon professional organization 
• Centrally located headquarters in the heart of Koreatown, a vibrant neighborhood with easy access to public transportation, diverse dining options, and cultural attractions

HOW TO APPLY

We value lived experiences and experiences working with clients across a range of settings. Please discuss such experiences in your cover letter, especially if they are not reflected in your resume. We strongly encourage interested candidates to apply no later than November 30, 2026. We plan to start interviewing candidates during the week of January 11, 2027. Please submit the following materials:

1. Your cover letter

2. Your resume

3. Three references, including at least:

• One person you supervised
• One person who supervised you

If you are unable to submit any one of these materials through our portal linked below, please email it to Erica Garcia at egarcia@publiccounsel.org with the subject line: DPCB Application Supplement.

PUBLIC COUNSEL VACCINATION POLICY AND COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Public Counsel requires vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees, including new hires. Pursuant to federal and state laws, Public Counsel will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship.

Public Counsel is generally office-based, but remote work was launched during the pandemic. All employees with Public Counsel are now required to work in the office at least one day per week, at the discretion of the head of department. Some positions require additional in-office days. This policy is subject to redesign by leadership. Public Counsel will work in a manner consistent with public health and local and state emergency orders. 

PUBLIC COUNSEL EEO POLICY

Public Counsel is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate against employees or prospective employees on the basis of union membership or activity, race, religious creed, religious observance, ethnicity, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or predisposition, military service, military and veteran status, pregnancy, child birth and related medical conditions, marital and family status, national origin, ancestry, age, medical conditions as defined by state or federal law, or disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.

All qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Our leadership team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities discipline, discharge and general treatment during employment.