Senior Counsel, Workplace Justice & Education

The Position

The Senior Counsel will work to promote gender justice in the workplace, with a particular focus on women in low-paid jobs and women of color.  Using a variety of legal and advocacy strategies, the Senior Counsel’s work may include efforts supporting and advancing worker power and worker voice from a gender justice perspective, including work to create and deepen relationships with labor unions and worker organizations; efforts to address algorithmic discrimination and other “future of work” efforts; in addition to other matters as assigned advancing workplace justice and, potentially, gender justice in education.

The Organization

The National Women’s Law Center fights for gender justice—in the courts, in public policy, and in our society—working across the issues that are central to the lives of women and girls.

We use the law in all its forms to change culture and drive solutions to the gender inequity that shapes our society and to break down the barriers that harm all of us—especially women of color, LGBTQIA+ people, and low-income women and families.

For 50 years, we have been on the leading edge of every major legal and policy victory for women. Find out more at NWLC.org.

Responsibilities

  • Engage in federal advocacy and lobbying before Congress and relevant administrative agencies;
  • Build coalitions and partnerships to identify and advance policy goals;
  • Research and analyze policy and legal issues and draft a variety of written materials, such as reports, factsheets, legal briefs, regulatory comments, legislative testimony, etc.;
  • Support litigation efforts to advance workplace justice, including contributing to amicus briefs and potentially representing clients in negotiations and litigation addressing workplace rights;
  • Use project management strategies to coordinate staff and advance team objectives;
  • Seek to advance progressive state and local policies in coordination with those staff leading state policy efforts;
  • Help shape program strategies and priorities;
  • Monitor legal trends in the Supreme Court and lower courts;
  • Represent the Center in the press and in public speaking opportunities.

Qualifications

The candidate must possess:

  • A law degree and a minimum of five years of legal experience;
  • Membership in the D.C. Bar or ability to waive into the D.C. Bar;
  • Significant experience with labor law, employment law, and/or antidiscrimination law, whether through policy and advocacy work, teaching, and/or litigation;
  • Demonstrated commitment to gender and racial equity and centering communities of color in legal and/or advocacy work;
  • Commitment to prioritizing diversity and equity in executing key job responsibilities;
  • Strong research, analytical, oral, and written communication skills; and
  • Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

Additional preferred skills and knowledge:

  • Experience in coalition building or organizing
  • Proven ability to influence and engage diverse audiences and to build long-term collaborative relationships with key organizational and individual partners.
  • Experience working with communities of color, immigrant communities, and/or LGBTQ communities.
  • Proven ability to work independently but also collaboratively in a team-based environment.

Key Relationships

The Senior Counsel will report directly to the Director of Workplace Equality and work closely with other members of the Education and Workplace Justice team as well as across the Center, including the Communications team. The Senior Counsel may supervise interns.

Compensation & Benefits

A minimum salary of $99,275 will be provided to the successful candidate who has at least 5 years of experience directly relevant to this role, consistent with the National Women’s Law Center’s compensation framework..

The Center offers a comprehensive benefits package, and four weeks of annual vacation.

NWLC is a non-profit organization whose headquarters and staff are based in Washington, D.C., However, due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, most NWLC staff are temporarily teleworking with the option to work from our office, which is located in historic Dupont Circle (moving to Franklin Square in early 2023). We continue to monitor public health guidance and keep safety, science, and flexibility top of mind as we evaluate what reopening looks like for our team.

Classification

NWLC recognizes a staff bargaining unit, NWLC United, affiliated with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union/IFPTE Local 70, a union for non-profit workers. This position is included in NWLC’s bargaining unit. Specific employment terms are subject to collective bargaining.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please forward a cover letter and resume outlining your interests and qualifications. Resumes should include exact start and end dates (month and year) of employment. Please send application materials via e-mail to: [email protected] and include the position title in the subject line. Applications accepted until position is filled.

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 all gender identities and sexual orientations; people of color; and veterans.

Reasonable Accommodations

If you require reasonable accommodations during any part of the hiring process, please email us at [email protected].