Jobs at LatinoJustice PRLDEF (Now Hiring) — 2 open

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Working under the direct supervision of the National Criminal Justice Director, the Justice Advocate Coordinator for the SWR will serve an essential role in strengthening LatinoJustice (LJP)’s Criminal Justice and Immigration Rights platforms by engaging primarily in advocacy and community engagement campaigns. The ideal candidate is passionate about transforming the criminal justice and immigrant rights systems; has knowledge of criminal justice and immigrant rights policies, laws, and regulations; and is a strong communicator with a collaborative spirit. This position is structured to cover approximately 50% criminal justice work and 50% immigrant rights work in the SW region, with primary focus on Texas.

This position is based in Austin, Texas, and does not entail supervisory duties. The start date is no earlier than September 7, 2026.

GENERAL DUTIES:

• Organizes and coordinates advocacy initiatives, community engagement and advocacy campaigns in the area of criminal justice reform and immigrant rights for the LJP Southwest Region, primarily for the state of Texas at the local and state levels but also covering Arizona and New Mexico as needed; collaborates on these same issues on the national scale where necessary.
• Identifies policy reforms that will benefit the Latino community directly.
• Represents LJP at conferences, meetings, rallies, hearings, and community events in the Southwest Region, as necessary, and specifically participates in the Parole Advocacy Coalition of Texas and Texans United for Justice coalition.
• Designs work plans with specific deliverable and deadlines for community engagement and advocacy.
• Provides training and workshops, especially during legislative sessions, about how the legislature works, to lobby the legislature, how to testify, how to write policy, and other related topics; contributes to creating content and building workshops agendas.
• Builds new and strengthens existing relationships with partner organizations; stays up to date with, and in community with, organizers and campaigns in different parts of Texas specifically the Texas border region, as well as the wider Southwest region, providing support where necessary, including providing support in building out campaign strategies especially where criminal justice and immigrant rights issues are implicated.
• Engages with the Communications Department to support Advocacy campaigns.
• Assists, as feasible, the community engagement efforts in the border and Southwest region.
• Regularly participates and engages in criminal justice and immigration rights team meetings.

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY DUTIES:

• Engages in legislative advocacy.
• Lobbies in support of LJP's priority bills and against bills that increase the carceral state by identifying and convening supporters and testifying in support of LJP's priorities.
• Support allies’ efforts when aligned to LJP's criminal justice and immigrant rights priorities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of four years of criminal justice and immigration rights advocacy experience required.
• Knowledge of criminal justice and immigrant rights policies, laws and regulations required.
• Strong writing skills for community education, advocacy and policy required.
• Strong communication skills and ability to lead and facilitate community engagement meetings are required.
• Ability to communicate and engage with the population we serve, verbally and through creation of presentations or any communication resource needed is required.
• Formerly incarcerated individuals are strongly encouraged to apply.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

This is a union position with no supervisory duties, and salary is based on collective bargaining agreement. The salary for this position is commensurate with experience and starts at $71,146 for the minimum years of experience required. LJP offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes health, dental, vision, life, long-term disability, and a voluntary 403(b) retirement plan, as well as generous paid time off benefits.

PLEASE NOTE:

LJP staff works in a hybrid model with an onsite requirement of 6 days per month of office or at an external location conducting LJP work.