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Criminal Justice Reform Legal Program Director

Houston

  • Organization: TCRP - Texas Civil Rights Project
  • Location: Houston
  • Grade: Senior level - Senior
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Legal - Broad
    • Human Rights
    • Civil Society and Local governance
  • Closing Date: Closed

The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) seeks a Director of our Criminal Justice Reform (CJR) Program, based in our Houston, Texas office. To apply, please send: (1) a cover letter briefly explaining your interest in and qualifications for the position (no more than 750 words); (2) a resume: (3) a writing sample; and (4) three references to hiring@texascivilrightsproject.org. For consideration, the deadline to apply is 07/19/2019, though we will be reviewing applications as soon as we receive them, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

While this position is traditionally based in Houston, applicants based in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio will also be considered.

About TCRP and our Criminal Justice Reform (CJR) Program

At TCRP, we are Texas lawyers for Texas communities. We use legal advocacy and litigation to empower Texas communities and create change. Today — with dozens of high-caliber attorneys and professionals around the state and an extensive network of pro bono counsel and community allies — TCRP is among the most influential civil rights organizations in Texas. We are proud of our work, welcome innovative thinkers, and offer flexibility to different people’s styles and strengths.

Texas locks up more people than any other state and our criminal justice system is in crisis. Abuse and discrimination are pervasive, while voices lifting up community needs and demanding human dignity are unheard. Texas is particularly quick to incarcerate poor Texans and persons of color, funneling them into inhumane conditions that thwart meaningful rehabilitation and ultimately prevent successful reentry and reintegration. Our Criminal Justice Reform (CJR) Program fights to reduce mass incarceration by litigating to decriminalize mental illness and poverty, to remove racism and restore justice from our system, and to demand dignity in the treatment of the people by police, jailers, and ultimately by society itself.

Learn more at www.texascivilrightsproject.org.

Overview of Responsibilities

As the leader of our CJR Program, the Director is responsible for developing and articulating the theory of change for the CJR Program, defining annual priorities, overseeing the advancement of those priorities through strategic impact litigation and advocacy campaigns, managing the Criminal Justice Reform Program team, and providing a leading voice in the movement to end mass incarcerations in Texas. As a member of TCRP’s Leadership Team, the Director will report directly to TCRP’s President and will regularly interact with TCRP’s Board of Directors.

Required Skills and Experience

TCRP is seeking a leader with the ability to build a reform strategy, move a team to achieve results, and be the lead lawyer in key cases and campaigns. This requires:

  • Excellent lawyering skills
  • Five years of meaningful experience in federal civil litigation
  • Meaningful experience in policy reform 
  • Demonstrated success leading and managing a team to achieve significant results in litigation and advocacy
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking
  • Competency in diversity and inclusion, including the ability to assess a particular context and identify and implement solutions to make a team or process more inclusive and equitable
  • Ability to build strong, trusting relationships across a diverse range of identities, including with coalition partners and allies
  • Proven success in complex problem-solving, with an ability to identify reform opportunities and creative tactics to implement reforms
  • J.D.
  • Licensed to practice in Texas or ability to waive into Texas bar

Preferred Skills and Experience

  • Deep knowledge of criminal justice reform
  • Understanding of Texas culture and politics
  • Fluency in Spanish

Compensation

Salary will be based on years of experience and any additional job responsibilities. TCRP also offers excellent benefits, professional development opportunities and a deep commitment to a meaningful work-life balance. Benefits include: employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance, four weeks paid vacation, eight weeks paid family leave (with opportunities to extend leave to 12 weeks in total), a $500 professional development budget annually, and extensive holidays, including a two-week winter break at the end of December.

Inclusion & Non-Discrimination

TCRP values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture — people of color, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from other underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, creed, religion, physical ability, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, previous incarceration, veteran status, union membership or activism, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.

This vacancy is now closed.
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