Careers

The North Carolina Justice Center is a progressive research and advocacy organization dedicated to expanding opportunity and protecting the rights of low-income individuals in North Carolina. For almost 30 years, the NC Justice Center has been on the front lines in the courts, at the legislature, in the media, and in communities advocating for positive changes for low-income and working North Carolinians. We hold government agencies, institutions, and other actors accountable to address the root causes of racism. We have produced major research reports that have influenced important public policy change in North Carolina. The NC Justice Center has played a primary role in most of the state’s major policy debates and successfully litigated hundreds of individual cases and class actions.

Director of Litigation

Click here to apply

Reasonable accommodation is available.

  • Application Deadline: Recruiting until filled. Screening will begin immediately 
  • Location: Hybrid (Raleigh, NC)
  • Department: Litigation
  • Hiring Salary Range: $126,183 – $140,203
  • Reports to: Executive Director
  • Union Status: Non-Union

Job Overview:

The Director of Litigation is responsible for providing oversight and direction for the litigation work of the North Carolina Justice Center to ensure that our litigation effectively furthers the NC Justice Center’s mission, and the goals and objectives set for our work and that we provide the highest quality representation to our clients. The NC Justice Center is a leading nonprofit dedicated to eliminating poverty in North Carolina by ensuring that every household has access to the resources, services, and fair treatment needed to achieve economic security. Effective performance of this job requires a person who is an effective communicator and passionate about fostering a positive workplace culture.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Case Development
    • Oversee the NC Justice Center’s litigation program 
    • Develop litigation and advocacy strategies to identify systemic issues to help achieve the organization’s mission.   
    • Serve as lead counsel or co-counsel in impact cases and coordinate and advise on all levels of litigation 
    • Develop and maintain significant litigation caseload; earn attorney fees to support the organization’s budget. 
    • Develop and maintain expertise in all areas of the NC Justice Center’s litigation with specific expertise in one or more of the NC Justice Center’s substantive policy areas. 
    • Source grants to fund litigation efforts. 
  • Leadership and Supervision
    • Supervise and provide support to NC Justice Center litigation attorneys and paralegals to ensure provision of high-quality legal services.  
    • Ensure the professional development of litigation staff, including identifying training needs and opportunities. 
    • Work closely with and maintain relationships with pro bono and private bar co-counsel 
    • Collaborate in a leadership role within the legal services community and broader legal community in North Carolina, including developing and maintaining relationships within the social justice community, the private bar, potential funders, and other nonprofit agencies 
  • Senior Management Team Member 
    • Participate in organizational decision-making 
    • Offer leadership, strategic and creative thinking with other Senior Management Team members to respond to staff concerns. 
    • Working with other managers and key NC Justice Center staff, play a major role in setting the goals and agenda for the organization. 
    • Represent NC Justice Center in meetings with funders, community partners, advocacy groups, Courts, government agencies; serve as a voice for the legal services community and NC Justice Center’s client population concerning access to justice in North Carolina. 
    • Provide legal and compliance advice to the Executive Director across a wide range of issues, including employment law,  contract law,  non-profit governance, and risk-management

Qualifications:

  • Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
  • Active membership of the North Carolina Bar.
  • Ten years of professional experience in complex litigation in social justice or public interest law.
  • Understanding of the legal and policy issues affecting low-income individuals and communities
  • Five years of experience in management role, with full supervisory responsibilities
  • A passionate commitment to DEI principles.

Licenses and Certifications:

  • NC Bar

Competencies and Skills:

  • Strong commitment to social justice, equity, and human rights
  • Excellent legal research, writing and analytical skills
  • Ability to communicate complex legal concepts to non-lawyers clearly and effectively
  • Strategic thinking with a proactive and solutions-orientated approach
  • Advanced leadership practice skills
  • High ethical standards, discretion, and commitment to confidentiality
  • Ability to successfully work in a fast-paced highly collaborative work environment
  • Advanced level Microsoft 365 Office Suite skills

Physical Requirements:

The employee should have the ability to maintain focus and productivity while performing sedentary tasks at a workstation for prolonged periods, including working on a computer, managing documents, or engaging in virtual meetings.

Work Environment:

Hybrid, and other offsite meeting spaces, as required. Weekend and evening work may be required. Travel is required.

Benefits:

The NC Justice Center offers an extraordinary benefits package including affordable health insurance, a retirement plan, professional development opportunities, and six weeks of personal time off.

Director of Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project

Click here to apply

Reasonable accommodation is available.

  • Application Deadline: Recruiting until filled. Screening will begin immediately
  • Location: Hybrid (Raleigh, NC)
  • Department: Litigation
  • Hiring Salary Range: $88,980- $93,162
  • Reports to: Director, Litigation
  • Union Status: Non-Union

Job Overview:

The Director of the Immigration and Refugee Rights Project (IRRP) will lead efforts to support and advocate for low-income immigrants and refugees in North Carolina. This role involves overseeing legal services, policy advocacy, community engagement, and public education initiatives to protect and advance the rights of immigrant and refugee populations.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Management

  • Develop and implement strategic plans to advance the mission of IRRP.
  • Supervise and support a team of attorneys, advocates, and support staff.

Legal Services

  • Oversee the provision of quality legal representation.

Policy Advocacy

  • Lead efforts to advance public policies that improve the wellbeing of immigrants and provide opportunities for economic security.
  • Lead community engagement and education initiatives.
  • Provide support to immigrant organizations throughout NC.
  • Lead workgroups and coalition of advocates and community leaders to coordinate advocacy and education initiatives.

Public Relations

  • Serve as primary spokesperson for IRRP. Represent the Project in media, public forums, and community events.
  • Develop and retain relationships with key stakeholders, including community leaders, policymakers, and partners.
  • Work with communications staff, support the implementation of the Justice Center’s communications plan to advance the project’s agenda.

Qualifications:

  • A juris doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
  • Member of NC State Bar.
  • Five years of overall experience in immigration law, policy, and /or advocacy practices.
  • A working knowledge of significant policies, laws, practices, and trends in immigration law, particularly as it impacts low-income immigrants.
  • Two years of experience in management roles (with full supervisory responsibilities).
  • A comprehensive understanding and passion for the rights of immigrants.
  • Demonstrated commitment to the mission of eliminating poverty through social, economic, and racial justice.

Competencies and Skills:

  • Advanced legal research, writing and analytical skills.
  • Cultural competence and fluency in Spanish required.
  • Ability to communicate complex legal concepts to non-lawyers clearly and effectively.
  • Strategic thinking with an initiative-taking and solutions-orientated approach.
  • Advanced leadership practice skills.
  • High ethical standards, discretion, and commitment to confidentiality.
  • Ability to successfully work in a fast-paced highly collaborative work environment.
  • Advanced level Microsoft 365 Office Suite skills.
  • Demonstrated public speaking and presentation skills, including the ability to engage effectively and respectfully with diverse groups of people such as policy makers, the immigrant population, the public and community allies.
  • Excellent organizational skills, ability to balance multiple tasks, respond calmly under pressure, and be a dependable collaborator who can both set and meet deadlines.
  • Strong commitment to DEIB and the understanding of racial justice issues.

Physical Requirements:

The employee should have the ability to maintain focus and productivity while performing sedentary tasks at a workstation for prolonged periods, including working on a computer, managing documents, or engaging in virtual meetings.

Work Environment:

Home, corporate offices and other offsite meeting spaces, as required. Weekend and evening work may be required. Travel is required.

Benefits:

The NC Justice Center offers an extraordinary benefits package including affordable health insurance, a retirement plan, professional development opportunities, and six weeks of personal time off.

Communications Director

Click here to apply.

Recruiting until filled.

Location: Hybrid (Raleigh, NC)
Department: Communications
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports to: Director, Gifts
Union Status: Non-Union
Hiring Salary Range: $75,000-$81,624

Overview:

The Communications Director is responsible for the development of communication infrastructure for the NC Justice Center; partnering with NC Justice Center staff to develop and articulate a strong message for progressive social change across the organization’s issue areas; and elevating the organization’s profile among its key audiences. The Director developments and maintains the organization’s digital and legacy media strategies, which includes its website, email communications and list building, social media channels, publication creation and release, style and branding guides, press outreach, and media monitoring. The Director also leads and manages the organization’s editorial calendar to ensure timely and coordinated communications efforts.

Key Responsibilities: 

Team Leadership

  • The Director creates and drives a multichannel communications strategy with the goal of developing the organization’s voice, brand, and integrity.
  • The Director coordinates the work of the central communications team. project communications staff, development staff, and engagement staff to ensure strategic alignment.
  • The Director collaborates with central communications staff to create and assess individual and team work plans.
  • The Director supervises the communications and graphic design staff.
  • The Director leads in the development, implementation, and evaluation of an annual communications plan in collaboration with the team.
  • The Director regularly updates communications processes and ensures that all staff are trained as needed.
  • The Director writes applications for grants and supports reporting requirements.
  • The Director oversees the professional development of the team, including identifying training needs/opportunities, assessing the skills and deficits of staff under their supervision, and conducting annual performance evaluations for those staff.

Digital Media

  • Ensure the NC Justice Center website serves as an effective tool for advocacy, education, and fundraising, integrating seamlessly with email, social media, and other digital platforms. In collaboration with communications specialists, update and maintain the NC Justice Center’s website content, ensure search engine optimization, and oversee regular Google Analytics reporting.
  • Oversee the creation and maintenance of digital ads, such as Google Ads for Nonprofits, paid Google Ads, and Meta ads.
  • Regularly update communications processes and tutorials based on best practices and digital safety and security needs and ensure all staff are trained as needed.
  • Collaborate with staff on the production and editing of all public-facing content, such as publications, briefings, blog posts, one-pagers, videos, and infographics.
  • Collaborate with the fundraising and advocacy teams to create digital campaigns that drive action, support, and awareness. Support projects in developing, launching, and tracking digital advocacy/lobbying campaigns (petitions and action alerts) in EveryAction customer relationship management system (CRM).
  • Build and/or supervise the building of emails and email campaigns in EveryAction CRM, ensuring style and design parameters are followed.
  • Work with Director of Information Technology and other staff to develop and maintain distribution lists and distribution process for all NC Justice Center publications and emails in EveryAction CRM.
  • Develop, write, and host the NC Justice Center’s quarterly podcast, Carolina Changemakers.
  • Provide regular updates of templates, headers, letterheads, and other designs.
  • Implement comprehensive social media strategy for the NC Justice Center’s existing channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X); monitor current trends and analytics reporting, and create style and usage guidelines for posts.

Legacy Media

  • Serve as a spokesperson for the NC Justice Center, in coordination with NC Justice Center staff, by fielding and directing responses to media inquiries.
  • Actively cultivate media relationships using Prowly and oversee and maintain a current list of media contacts. Pitch stories and appearances to reporters, columnists, editorial writers, broadcast producers, reporters, hosts, etc.
  • Lead in the preparation and circulation of news releases, advisories, op-eds, and letters to the editor.
  • Identify external events and other speaking opportunities for the Executive Director and staff. 
  • Create remarks for organizational public appearances as needed (interviews, briefings, awards, etc.).
  • Monitor staff appearances in the media through Prowly; analyze trend data. 

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or marketing
  • Five years of responsible work experience in communications, marketing, or journalism
  • Website management experience on WordPress or comparable CSM platform
  • Experience working at the state level on issues that impact communities with low incomes
  • Two years of supervisory experience
  • Ability to successfully work in a fast-paced highly collaborative work environment
  • Advanced level Microsoft 365 Office Suite skills
  • Knowledge of basic graphic design principles with Adobe Creative Suite and/or Canva. Experience audio/video editing is a plus
  • Strong attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines, work with diverse populations, work independently, and work collaboratively across teams
  • Demonstrated commitment to social justice and commitment to issues impacting North Carolinians with low incomes
  • Strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and deep understanding of racial justice issues
  • Availability on some nights and weekends, particularly during legislative sessions

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master’s degree in relevant field
  • Nonprofit communications work history is strongly preferred
  • Experience in providing communications support for the NC Justice Center’s suite of issues: public education, housing, education, energy, transportation, criminal justice, workers’ rights, health care

Skills and Competencies

  • Project management experience 
  • Exceptional oral and written communication skills and the ability to lead the creation of a variety of content types (media releases, op-eds, blogs, social media copy, etc.)

Physical Requirements

The employee should have the ability to maintain focus and productivity while performing sedentary tasks at a workstation for prolonged periods, including working on a computer, managing documents, or engaging in virtual meetings.

Work Environment

Home, corporate offices and other offsite meeting spaces, as required. Weekend and evening work may be required.

Benefits

The NC Justice Center offers an extraordinary benefits package including affordable health insurance, a retirement plan, professional development opportunities, and six weeks of personal time off.

The North Carolina Justice Center is an equal opportunity/ Affirmative Action employer:

The NC Justice Center is is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, creed, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, personal appearance, marital or family status, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, natural hair styles, or other status as protected by State and Federal laws. We are a Fair Chance Employer and work to reduce barriers to employment for individuals with criminal records. It is our intention to promote the full realization of equality in opportunity and employment.