Director of LGBTQ+ Family Law & Policy, Senior Policy Counsel
Job Title: Director of LGBTQ+ Family Law & Policy, Senior Policy Counsel
Location: Flexible – must be comfortable working from a remote
environment
Reporting to: Chief Policy Officer
Compensation: Salary commensurate with experience + generous benefits
package
Background:
Family Equality advances legal and lived equality for current and future
LGBTQ+ families through building community, changing hearts and minds, and
driving policy change. We envision a future where:
● All LGBTQ+ families and youth live in communities that recognize,
respect, protect, and value them.
● Everyone has the right and opportunity to form and sustain a loving
family.
● Systems of service and support are free of discrimination and maximize
opportunities for LGBTQ+ families & youth.
As an organization, we have prioritized anti-racism and integrating racial
equity into every facet of our work. We acknowledge our history as a
predominately white organization and are committed to ending white supremacy.
Doing so is essential to our objective of full equality for all LGBTQ+
people.
Family Equality is a distributed organization, with employees throughout the
country. The Director of LGBTQ+ Family Law & Policy is a full-time position
and may work remotely anywhere in the United States.
Position Summary:
The Director of LGBTQ+ Family Law & Policy will lead Family Equality’s work
on LGBTQ+ family law and policy throughout the country. They will lead
efforts to advance our legislative and public policy agenda at the state and
federal level, focusing primarily on relationship and family recognition,
family formation and expansion (adoption, assisted reproduction, and
surrogacy), and parentage. This includes legislative and administrative
advocacy, grassroots calls to actions, and creation of written resources and
materials to inform our families of their rights related to the various paths
to parenthood and family formation. The Director of LGBTQ+ Family Law &
Policy also will lead our work on amicus curiae briefs in key LGBTQ+ family
law and family recognition cases, including identifying opportunities to file
or join briefs related to LGBTQ+ family law, family formation, adoption,
and/or parentage. This work is done in collaboration with our pro bono law
firm or other LGBTQ+ movement partners.
As with all of Family Equality’s work, this position will have a
storytelling component aimed at driving and effecting change, and lifting up
the stories and lived experience of LGBTQ+ families and youth to highlight
the inequities that exist, the impact of discrimination, and the need for
legal and policy change. This will include defensive and proactive policy
advocacy and legislative work throughout the country, engaging in public
education efforts, creating of resources, and participating in and
facilitating panels, workshops, and presentations. In addition, as a senior
attorney on the Policy Team, they may assist with other state and federal
policy issues that affect the lives of LGBTQ+ families and those who wish to
create and expand them as needed to further Family Equality’s
organizational mission and the Policy Department’s mission and strategic
plan.
The Director of LGBTQ+ Family Law & Policy will report directly to the Chief
Policy Officer. This position is highly collaborative, working closely with
other members of the Policy, Communications, and Programs teams, as well as
civil rights partners at the national and state level, state equality groups,
federal and state lawmakers, and constituents.
Responsibilities:
• Carry out all work with a racial and economic justice lens and
intentional incorporation of the perspectives of multiple communities,
including communities of color and low-income communities, in consideration
of impacts and outcomes of policy advocacy.
• Draft and advocate for state laws and administrative policies related to
recognition of LGBTQ+ families and their right to form and expand them,
including parentage, family formation and expansion (foster care, adoption,
assisted reproduction, and surrogacy), relationship recognition, and
nondiscrimination.
• Work to eliminate discriminatory parentage laws and other barriers to
family formation, expansion, and recognition for LGBTQ+ people.
• Support legislative solutions to outdated laws such as laws that prohibit
marriage equality or inhibit equal recognition of marriages of same-sex
couples and LGBTQ+ families.
• Work in coalition with national and state partners to expand the rights
of LGBTQ+ people to form families and establish and protect their legal
rights as a parent and defend against legislative attacks on LGBTQ+ parents
and their families.
• Provide legislative drafting and other technical assistance (such as
talking points, fact sheets, tool kits, and action alerts) to national,
state, and local partners and elected officials.
• Carry out all work with a racial justice lens and intentional
incorporation of the perspectives of multiple communities, including
communities of color and low-income communities, in the consideration of
impacts and outcomes of policy advocacy.
• Lobby on key legislation, regulations, and policies related to LGBTQ+
family formation, parentage, and protection, including providing written or
in person testimony or written regulatory comments to local, state, and
federal agencies in support of priority policy goals.
• Work with our Communications team to develop and execute social media
driven public education campaigns on legislation and issues that impact
LGBTQ+ families and those who wish to form them.
• Participate in and facilitate strategic workshops, panels, presentations,
trainings, and webinars.
• Conduct legal research and create and update written resources to inform
and educate partners, allies, LGBTQ+ parents and families, and other
constituents.
• Track and analyze state legislation, regulations and litigation impacting
LGBTQ+ family formation, parentage, and protection, and identify
opportunities for collaboration with state and local partners.
• Lead amicus curiae work in key LGBTQ+ family law cases, including
identifying opportunities to file or join briefs related to LGBTQ+ family
law, family formation, adoption, and/or parentage; collaborate with pro bono
law firm or other LGBTQ+ movement partners to guide or assist with drafting
brief, and lead story collection effort for “voices” briefs.
• Engage with press and media on issues of local, state, and national
concern related to the role.
• Collaborate on an ongoing basis with the Director of Family Formation,
who leads the programmatic and family engagement work related to the various
paths to parenthood, to create and execute an interdepartmental work plan
related to the various paths to parenthood.
• Recruit and supervise legal and policy interns.
• Occasional travel will be required.
Qualifications:
All candidates must enjoy a fast-paced environment, be highly organized
without losing sight of larger objectives, and be committed to justice and
equality for LGBTQ+ families.
• Law degree; licensed in at least one state; and a minimum of 7 years of
post-law school legal or policy experience, which must include LGBTQ+ family
law and/or policy.
• Expertise in LGBTQ+ family law and/or policy, including assisted
reproduction, surrogacy, parentage, and adoption.
• Commitment to legal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ families and those who
wish to form and expand them.
• Commitment to racial and economic justice, and an understanding of - or a
strong and demonstrated desire to learn about - the concepts of institutional
and structural racism and bias and their impact on underserved and
underrepresented communities.
• Strong legal research, analysis, and writing skills.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including experience with
written legal, legislative drafting, and policy document development and
analysis; ability to communicate complex legal and policy issues in
accessible ways to a variety of audiences; and experience with lobbying or
advocating with government officials and external partners.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently in a remote work setting.
• Interest in writing and creating content and ability to translate
complicated legal concepts into non-legalese and digestible content.
• Willingness to collaborate with people who are mixed across race, income,
gender identity, sexual orientation, abilities, and more.
• Experience incorporating the perspective of multiple communities,
including communities of color and low-income, rural, and/or southern
communities, in the consideration of impacts and outcomes of a
decision-making process is preferred.
• Interest in engaging with lawmakers and state agency employees.
• Ability to handle and prioritize appropriately multiple tasks in a timely
and efficient manner.
• Strong interpersonal and team-collaboration skills, with a willingness to
work across departments and teams, both internally and externally.
• Comfort working with a regionally diverse team in a solely remote work
environment.
• Familiarity with and strong personal relationships with state and
national LGBTQ+ organizations is preferred.
• Willingness to participate in professional organizations including the
LGBTQ+ Bar Association’s Family Law Institute.
• An impeccable sense of discretion at all times, especially when under
pressure; ability to apply sound judgment skills when giving, denying, or
asking for information and conducting internal and/or external operations.
● Adaptable and able to adjust and contribute to a continually evolving
work environment and ever-changing and evolving priorities while prioritizing
multiple tasks in a timely, efficient and flexible manner.
Even if you don’t meet all of the qualifications, but feel you have
something unique to contribute to Family Equality, we encourage you to apply.
Benefits Summary:
Family Equality is 100% committed to revolutionizing the workplace, with a
goal of demonstrating to the larger LGBTQ+ Movement that a human-centered
workplace based in equity and justice is an effective workplace, where we can
thrive as we work to change the world. Here is an overview of our benefits,
plus below are some new ideas that we are working on:
● 100% employer-paid health premium for individual employee
● FSA / HSA options
● 3 weeks paid vacation, 10 days health time, 3 personal days, 13 paid
Holidays
● Winter office closure between Christmas and New Year’s
● 1% employer 401k Match (plus discretionary 1% additional match when
finances allow)
● Paid Family Medical Leave
● Monthly Day of Rest
● “No meeting” Fridays
The entire staff is currently evaluating various options to radically
transform our work lives. These ideas are in the evaluation phase as they
will require a radical transformation of how we define work and hold
ourselves accountable:
● A “take what you need” vacation policy (“We trust each other to
care for each other”)
● A 4-day minimum workweek (or a workweek with 5 shorter days)
● A scheduled week off in the summer (complimenting our existing winter end
of year office closure)
Leadership Philosophy
We are a team of enthusiastic, empowered, and capable professionals who love
our work. You don’t have to think of yourself that way to be successful
here, but we think if you like a challenge, and if you enjoy being prized,
valued, and recognized for your contributions, and if you’re ok making a
mistake because you know that it’s through mistake-making that we grow the
fastest - then this could be your work home. We prioritize the employee
experience because when you feel cared for, you’ll give your work
everything you can. To thrive here, it’ll help if you’re very organized,
able to see “now” and “later” both at the same time, and do it
clearly. That way, you’ll have a better idea of what to pay attention to.
But don’t worry; you’ll have a passionate, smart, and - most importantly
- compassionate work family behind you.
To apply, please submit a letter of interest, resume, and salary
requirements inside Idealist. (Director of LGBTQ+ Family Law & Policy)
Anticipated Search Timeline: Interviews will begin the week of June 13th,
with the goal of making an offer by the end of June.
For questions, please contact Brandon Gill, Director of HR + People
Operations, at bgill@familyequality.org [2] - PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT
APPLICATION MATERIALS VIA EMAIL, AS THEY WILL BE DELETED.
Family Equality provides a team-based environment and we value the benefits
of a diversified workplace.
Family Equality provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and
applicants without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national
origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, (or related
medical conditions, including, but not limited to lactation), physical
disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status or
status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status,
registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex
stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition
(including, but not limited to, cancer-related or HIV/AIDS-related), genetic
information, or sexual orientation in accordance with applicable federal,
state and local laws.
Women, people of color, transgender individuals and members of other
underrepresented populations are strongly encouraged to apply.
Family Equality performs background checks on all volunteers and staff
members as a condition of employment.
However, Family Equality also supports and encourages people who were
formerly convicted to be active in their community.
Background checks results that indicate a conviction do not necessarily
disqualify you from employment – Family Equality reserves the right to
request further information to fully assess an applicant’s candidacy in
relation to the job duties associated with the position.
For more information on Family Equality please visit our website at
www.familyequality.org [3].