Director of Policy Implementation​/Policy Implementation Associate, Education Rights Institute; ERI

Director of Policy Implementation / Policy Implementation Associate, Education Rights Institute (ERI)

The Education Rights Institute (ERI) at the University of Virginia School of Law seeks a dynamic and collaborative attorney to join their team. The Director of Policy Implementation or Policy Implementation Associate will work under the direction of and closely with the Institute's Founder and Director, Professor Kimberly Jenkins Robinson. Launched in 2023, ERI advances equal educational opportunity by engaging policymakers, K-12 educators, and families to support delivery of a high-quality public education in the United States.

ERI accomplishes this goal by pursuing the following strategic priorities:

• Lead and amplify public discourse to advance a federal right to education and elevate the value of high-quality public schools for all.
• Expand district and educator capacity to interpret and implement protections against discrimination based on race, color, and national origin.
• Equip educators and district leaders to identify, measure, and close educational opportunity gaps along lines of class, race, and geography.
• Grow ERI's impact by securing diverse funding streams and cultivating a coalition of students, families, educators, scholars, and donors that champion high-quality public schools.

The Institute does not represent individual clients in legal proceedings or sue anyone. The Director of Policy Implementation and the Policy Implementation Associate responsibilities include:

• Collaborate with the ERI team to implement and serve as the lead contact for a new initiative to empower district and school leaders, educators, and staff to understand and improve implementation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) and other legal protections from discrimination based on race, color, and national origin.
• Participate during in-person and online professional development opportunities for school districts around Title VI and other legal protections against discrimination based on race, color, and national origin discrimination.
• Attend conferences and meet regularly with policymakers, school district staff and leadership, educators, and families. Meetings will be in-person and remote.

Research and Writing

• Share in writing and editing responsibilities for reports, editorials, and other written content regarding Title VI and other legal protections against discrimination based on race, color, and national origin discrimination.
• Share responsibility for writing webinar scripts and recording video and webinar content.

Mentorship

• Mentor ERI student research assistants.

Other Duties as Assigned

• All team members regularly pitch in to support fundraising; strategic planning; event planning; communications; and other areas of operations.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the Director of Policy Implementation will:

• Develop content and lead both in-person and online professional development opportunities for school districts around Title VI and other laws that protect students from race, color, and national origin discrimination.
• Develop and implement a plan for engagement with other organizations and scholars regarding ERI's mission.

Required Education and Experience for the Director of Policy Implementation:

• Education:
  
  J.D. from an ABA approved law school or foreign equivalent.
• Three years of experience
• Admission to a state bar by start date

Preferred Experience:

• Demonstrated experience applying legal principles to a variety of legal matters through legal research, analysis, and written and oral communication.
• Experience working with educators, school district leaders, and/or state and federal education leaders.
• Experience with public speaking and giving presentations to small and large audiences.
• Experience engaging with donors / fundraising.

Required Education and Experience for the Policy Implementation Associate:

• Education:
  
  J.D. from an ABA approved law school or foreign equivalent
• Experience:
  
  None required.

Preferred Experience:

• One or more years of demonstrated experience applying legal principles to a variety of legal matters through legal research, analysis, and written and oral communication strongly preferred.
• Experience working with educators, school district leaders, and/or state and federal education leaders strongly preferred.
• Experience with public speaking and giving presentations to small and large audiences.
• Experience engaging with donors / fundraising.

At either level, the successful candidate will be able to work efficiently in a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment while managing multiple responsibilities. They will have strong interpersonal, organizational, and project management skills, and the ability to communicate clearly and work collaboratively with others to achieve common goals. Physical Demands This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings and programs.

This position will require the ability to…