Policy Counsel
The Constitution Project, a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC, seeks an experienced Policy Counsel to manage a portfolio of constitutional issues including, primarily, privacy rights in the digital age and government transparency and accountability.
About Us
The Constitution Project’s mission is to promote constitutional rights and values by forging a non- ideological consensus aimed at sound legal interpretations and policy solutions. Created out of the belief that we must cast aside the labels that divide us in order to keep our democracy strong, The Constitution Project brings together policy experts and legal practitioners from across the political spectrum to foster consensus-based solutions to some of the most difficult constitutional challenges of our time. We then conduct policy advocacy and public education to promote the recommendations of these influential and unlikely allies, helping to transform this consensus into sound public policy. The Constitution Project has identified three priority areas on which its Policy Counsels will focus over the next 3-5 years.
- Safeguarding personal information, privacy, and First Amendment rights affected by rapid technological innovations
- Ensuring that our government maintains public safety responsibly by exercising its law enforcement, national security, and immigration powers in a manner consistent with the letter and spirit of the U.S. Constitution
- Making government more open and accountable and otherwise fostering respect for checks and balances and the separation of powers
About the Job
The Policy Counsel will work with high-level experts to develop consensus reports and recommendations for policy reforms, and promote the reforms through advocacy and public education campaigns. The Policy Counsel will also work with prominent law firms on amicus briefs supporting the Project’s policy goals in the courts, with allies in the advocacy community, and with Members of Congress and the Executive Branch – and their staff – in support of those goals. The position will include work on at least the following issue areas: promoting incorporation of civil liberties safeguards in government surveillance programs and advocating for increased transparency for national security programs and policies.
A competitive salary and benefits are available. We are seeking an experienced policy advocate. The position presents the opportunity to work on issues in the headlines in a challenging, fast-paced environment. Applicants should have:
- A law degree from an accredited law school
- At least 3 years’ experience following law school graduation in legal and/or policy work
- Substantial experience with policymaking or policy analysis
- Outstanding research and writing skills
- A proven ability to work as a member of a team and promote consensus among members of a group
- The ability to manage competing demands
Ideal candidates will have some combination of:
- Experience working on constitutional issues
- Knowledge of, and expertise on government surveillance and privacy, and transparency and accountability issues
- Experience in bipartisan environments
- Experience on Capitol Hill or as a public policy advocate or civil liberties litigator
- Experience with public speaking
The Constitution Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome candidates who contribute to the diversity of our staff.
Qualifications
More information about The Constitution Project is available at www.constitutionproject.org
To Apply
To apply, please submit a cover letter, résumé, references, and a writing sample to the attention of Scott Messinger, via email at smessinger@constitutionproject.org (including “LAST NAME – Policy Counsel Application” in the subject line).
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