Job Title: POLICY DIRECTOR
Reports To: Executive Director
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Durham, NC
Employment Type: Full-Time, 3-year term
Position Summary
The Center for Death Penalty Litigation (CDPL) seeks a Policy Director to lead and expand CDPL’s policy, advocacy, and public education efforts related to capital punishment, racial justice, and criminal legal system reform in North Carolina. Working closely with attorneys, mitigation specialists, community partners, and impacted individuals, the Policy Director will help CDPL develop and advance initiatives aimed at reducing the use of the death penalty in North Carolina, identifying and advocating for systemic reform, and educating the public regarding the harms inflicted by North Carolina’s capital punishment system.
This position is funded for three years, with the possibility of renewal contingent upon available funding.
Areas of Focus
The Policy Director will oversee and support CDPL’s work related to:
- Death penalty abolition and capital punishment reform
- Racial disparities in prosecution, sentencing, and jury selection
- Public education regarding the history and ongoing impact of the death penalty
- Research and data initiatives examining systemic flaws in implementation of the death penalty
- Coalition-based advocacy with legal, academic, faith, and community organizations
- Strategic communications connected to racial justice and criminal punishment
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement CDPL’s policy and advocacy strategy with input from Board, staff, and community partners
- Lead public policy initiatives related to criminal legal system reform, with a focus on reducing the use of and/or abolishing the death penalty
- Conduct and oversee legal and policy research, analysis, and strategic planning
- Draft policy briefs, reports, public education materials, and communications
- Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, advocacy organizations, researchers, journalists, and community stakeholders
- Represent CDPL in coalitions, conferences, public forums, and media engagements
- Collaborate closely with litigation teams as needed to align policy strategy with legal advocacy
- Oversee data, historical research, and public education projects related to racial inequities and capital punishment
- Identify funding opportunities and contribute to grant development and reporting
- Supervise consultants, interns, or fellows as appropriate
Qualifications
Required:
- Training and experience in law, public policy, criminal justice, or related field (J.D. not required)
- Experience in criminal legal reform, civil rights advocacy, criminal defense
- Strong understanding of the criminal legal system and systemic inequities within capital punishment
- Excellent writing, research, strategic thinking, and communication skills
- Demonstrated commitment to racial equity and client-centered advocacy
- Ability to communicate effectively across legal, governmental, media, and community audiences
- Ability to work collaboratively in a mission-driven environment and comfortable operating in public-facing environments
- Ability to travel within North Carolina
Preferred:
- Experience with North Carolina criminal law, courts, or legislative processes
- Familiarity with media strategy, public education campaigns, or narrative change work
- Experience working directly with impacted communities and advocacy partners
Compensation and Benefits
- Salary range: 55K-75K
- 3-year term. Possibility of renewal contingent upon available funding.
- Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and retirement plan options.
- Paid time off, comp time, holidays, flexible work options
How to Apply
Applicants should send a cover letter detailing interest, as well as a resume, writing sample (approximately 10 pages) and contact information (email and phone number) for two professional references to barrie@cdpl.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
About CDPL
CDPL is a non-profit law firm and advocacy organization that works to provide the highest quality representation to people facing the death penalty and other extreme sentences in North Carolina. We expose and confront racism within the criminal punishment system. Through strategic litigation, education, training, and policy reform, we strive to create a more humane and equitable society.
CDPL seeks to build an organizational culture that promotes our anti-racist values and is an equal opportunity employer welcoming qualified applicants of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities. We seek applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds. Our racial equity statement can be found here.
