Director, Criminal Legal and Policing Reform

About the position

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) addresses the harms of drug use and drug criminalization through policy solutions, organizing, and public education. We advocate for a holistic approach to drugs that prioritizes health, social supports, and community wellbeing. DPA opposes punitive approaches that destabilize people, block access to care, and drain communities of resources. We believe that the regulation of drugs should be grounded in evidence, health, equity, and human rights. In collaboration with other movements, we change laws, advance justice, and save lives. DPA has 40 staff across the U.S. an annual operating budget of approximately $12 million, and 200,000 members, activists, and supporters. The organization has a solid track record of success at the local, state, and federal levels and consistent visibility in prominent media and policy circles. Recognizing the broad reach of the drug war, DPA works across issue areas to engage more deeply with organizations and leaders in immigration, family policing, education, reproductive justice, housing, and other aligned spaces. This commitment to building power across movements and building a base contributes to and works in tandem with DPA's work on policy and legislative change.

Responsibilities

• Generate DPA's criminal legal and policing reform strategy and policy positions to guide DPA's efforts in the field and to support DPA's internal Campaigns Department and external allies in launching CLPR campaigns and implementing successful reforms
• Engage in policy advocacy, technical assistance, legislative drafting, media relations, and public education in support of DPA's criminal legal and policing reform strategy
• Navigate managing a largely self-directed portfolio of work without support staff; while there is significant collaboration, position is an individual contributor to broader Policy and Campaigns Teams
• Set organizational priorities within program area and advise Campaigns Team as they operationalize priorities
• Identify emerging issues and lead processes to determine new organizational issue positions
• Monitor field and identify opportunities for technical assistance/campaigns/investments
• Lead or co-lead systems work (corporate, regulatory, programmatic) in close collaboration with Campaigns Team
• Provide expertise and technical assistance to support internal staff, policymakers, and advocates on DPA's key priority areas
• Analyze and provide feedback on policy proposals
• Conduct research in support of and draft legislation at local, state, and federal level
• Conduct research in support of and draft and give testimony in support of or in opposition to legislation
• Connect allies on the ground to necessary resources, everything from research studies or lists of expert witnesses
• Identify opportunities to transition from technical assistance to deeper campaign work and coordinate with Campaigns Team
• Manage national tables on policy priority areas
• Set agenda and facilitate quarterly calls
• Communicate with table on regular basis via e-mail with updates, resources, etc.
• Recruit and expand members that participate
• Seek feedback on how table and DPA can provide value and create useful spaces
• Work to build strategic partnerships with national grass-top organizations
• Develop list of key contacts/stakeholders in policy priority areas
• Set and maintain on-going check-in meetings at regular intervals
• Participate in national tables/coalitions and/or task forces in priority areas
• Attend key subject matter national conferences
• Attend key meetings and/or convenings
• Secure national organizational endorsements for key policies within program area (e.g., decriminalization)
• Conduct research in support of and develop policy content and resources on DPA priority areas, including model policies/bills, fact sheets, policy briefs, reports, and web content
• Monitor media and communications environment and work with Communications Team on appropriate strategy and responses
• Draft op-eds, LTE's, and other media pieces
• Help develop core messaging
• Identify where public opinion research is needed and work with Communications Team on polling
• Provide movement and public education on DPA policy priority areas
• Present at national conferences
• Plan and host virtual webinars and in-person convenings
• Identify other opportunities to uplift DPA's voice on criminal legal and policing reform

Requirements

• Strong commitment to DPA's mission to end the war on drugs
• Embrace harm reduction as a core value and principle of substance use disorder treatment and recovery
• Demonstrated commitment to social and racial justice
• Previous experience contributing to organizational agenda setting and implementation as well as leading and maintaining own portfolio of work with minimal day-to-day supervision
• Previous experience working on multiple issues within criminal legal and policing reform in an advocacy role
• Detail-oriented, work under pressure, meet deadlines and work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent writing, research, and policy advocacy skills
• Ability to work in concert with allies, partners, and impacted people
• Evaluate and synthesize complex legislation and regulations; legislative drafting skills preferred
• Bring a strong intersectional lens to the work, including racial justice, mental health, and disability rights

Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance and coverage (including dental and vision)
• 403b retirement plan with 10% employer matching contribution
• Paid time off including 20 days of vacation, plus national holidays, sick days, organizational closure at the end of December, and Year-round early dismissal on Fridays