About the Southern Poverty Law Center: 

The SPLC is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Using litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy, the SPLC works toward the day when the ideals of equal justice and equal opportunity will be a reality. 

Our lawsuits have destroyed some of the nation’s most violent white supremacist groups, and our litigation and legislative advocacy has protected the civil rights of children, women, people with disabilities, immigrants and migrant workers, the LGBT community, people who are incarcerated, and many others who face discrimination, abuse, or exploitation.  

In addition to our legal work, our Intelligence Project is internationally known for tracking and exposing the activities of hate groups and other domestic extremists. Our Teaching Tolerance program produces and distributes – free of charge – anti-bias documentary films, books, lesson plans and other materials that reduce prejudice and promote educational equity in our nation’s schools. 

About the Intelligence Project: 

The Intelligence Project (“IP”) monitors the activities of domestic hate groups and other extremists.  Currently, we are tracking more than 1,600 extremist groups operating across the country.  We publish investigative reports, train law enforcement officers and share key intelligence, and offer expert analysis to the media and public.  

Position Summary: 

The Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project (IP) seeks a Policy Counsel who will be based in our newly established Washington, D.C. office.  The Policy Counsel works under the supervision of the Intelligence Project Director and in close collaboration with our Special Litigation team (which litigates cases related to hate and extremism) to advance SPLC’s federal policy objectives to fight hate via several multi-strategy campaigns. Specifically, the Policy Counsel will work on issues related to domestic terrorism, hate crimes, the federal response to hate group activity and technology and hate. In addition, the Policy Counsel will take a lead role in IP’s work to counter online hate by working directly with policy teams at tech companies, advancing our interests on federal legislation related to tech issues and by taking a lead role in our coalition efforts devoted to advancing anti-hate initiatives in the tech arena. 

The Policy Counsel is an outgoing, results-driven, and experienced advocate who is passionate about advancing civil rights by reducing the level of hatred in society. The Policy Counsel works with IP analysts, researchers, and writers as well as SPLC’s Special Litigation team and members of SPLC’s Communications department. The Policy Counsel coordinates directly with elected and appointed officials, agencies, staff, and other non-profit organizations.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain relationships with elected legislators and their staffs, progressive allies, and the media.
• Serve as a spokesperson.
• Identify, secure, and prepare opportunities for SPLC to influence legislation and policy at the federal level, including commenting on proposed legislation and rules, submitting statements and letters, preparing advocacy materials, and organizing and conducting meetings with elected and administrative officials and their staff.
• Work directly with tech companies and our coalition partners in the civil rights community to reduce the level of online hate.
• Secure, draft, and deliver or coordinate delivery of legislative testimony and model legislation at the federal level.
• Assume a strategic role in and work in partnership with coalitions representing diverse groups of stakeholders to develop and implement strategies to advance SPLC’s anti-hate initiatives.
• Research, monitor, review, and summarize the constitutional and practical impact of proposed legislation related to anti-hate initiatives and develop strategies to defeat or advance legislation.
• Assume a leading and strategic role in coalition campaigns on advocacy issues consistent with SPLC’s priorities. Develop or work in partnership with coalitions representing diverse groups of stakeholders. Represent the SPLC’s interests and cultivate relationships with partners to advance reform.
• Work collaboratively with IP’s staff, the Special Litigation team and the communications staff to write, publish, and widely disseminate policy briefs, Op-Eds, fact sheets, talking points, score cards, reports, and other documents that will educate legislators, agency officials, stakeholders, and the public about our issues. 

Other Special Considerations:

This job is performed under general office conditions and is not subject to any strenuous physical demands or dangerous conditions.

Disclaimer:

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position.  These statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in this position. 

An Equal-Opportunity Employer with a Commitment to Diversity

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally of race, gender, gender identity, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability, political affiliation, national origin, or prior record of arrest or conviction.