Work with Us
TCRP values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture — women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from other underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply for open positions. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, creed, religion, physical ability, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, previous incarceration, veteran status, union membership or activism, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.
Applicants with lived experiences that inform an authentic understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable communities and a sophisticated understanding of the historical nature of structural power differences are enthusiastically encouraged to apply.
TCRP also offers excellent benefits, professional development opportunities and a deep commitment to a meaningful work-life balance. We envision and work towards an organization that reflects the communities we serve and a culture of radical inclusion, continuous growth, and openness. TCRP benefits include employer-paid health insurance, four weeks paid vacation, eight weeks paid family leave (with avenues to extend leave to 14 weeks in total), a professional development budget annually, and extensive holidays.
EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
Overview
The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) is a community lawyering organization, boldly serving the movement for equality and justice in and out of the courts, and seeking to advance a vision of a Texas in which all communities can thrive with dignity and justice, and without fear.
The Chief of Staff (CoS) at TCRP is an integral part of the Executive Team, reporting directly to the President. This role combines the abilities of strategic advisor, organizational leader, and cross-departmental connector. The CoS is expected to serve as an extension of the President, participating in high-level decision-making processes, anticipating potential problems, and developing and implementing organization-wide systems under the President’s guidance. The CoS serves as a key internal and external communicator from the Executive Team.
A successful candidate will demonstrate a high level of understanding in organizational development needs, possess high political acumen, display emotional intelligence, have the capacity to simplify complexity, and a strong ability to manage processes from idea to execution. Regular and meaningful interaction with the President and the Executive Team is expected, as well as a consistent contribution to TCRP’s culture and mission.
TCRP currently operates under a hybrid work policy, which allows for full remote work from anywhere in Texas, but requires in person attendance for specified work activities. The in-person activities are typically based out of any of TCRP’s offices: Alamo (in the Rio Grande Valley), Austin, or Houston. Exceptions to required in person activities may be made based on a case-by-case basis. However, some travel in and out of the state may be required for this position.
Key Responsibilities
● Strategic Advising and Coordination: Act as a strategic advisor to the President, participating in high-level decision-making processes, shaping TCRP's strategic and operational goals, and ensuring smooth interdepartmental collaboration.
● Organizational Development: Understand and address organizational needs to support TCRP's growth and strategic goals, with an eye towards programmatic goals, structural needs, and strategic plan implementation.
● Communication Management: Serve as a key liaison between the President, Leadership Team, and the broader organization, facilitating clear and effective communication.
● Coalition Building: Collaborate with the Development Director, Communications Director and President to communicate TCRP's impact with donors, media, and external partners; cultivate working relationships with external partners alongside the Executive team.
● Process Management: Simplify complex processes and manage the journey from idea to execution, ensuring initiatives are implemented effectively and efficiently.
● Budget and Resource Alignment: Collaborate with the President and Finance Team to ensure budget and resource alignment for the successful execution of the organization’s goals and ensure clear financial reporting to the Board of the Directors.
● Program Expansion: Spearhead and manage the expansion of our policy and advocacy programing, working closely with the President and in tandem with the Leadership Team.
Core Competencies
● Project Management Skills: being organized and disciplined, showing attention to detail, and following up doggedly to ensure the right results
● Political Savvy: an understanding of what generally motivates people and a keen insight into the Texas progressive landscape and political arena.
● Emotional Intelligence: ability to recognize various pressures within TCRP/Texas political landscape and recognition of key relationships and levers for change; ability to connect with individuals and build alliances among a wide range of players in the state; works well with diverse or marginalized populations; can bring in allies across diverse communities
● Strong Communication Skills: keenly aware of the power of language and representation: ability to communicate effectively and clearly in an inclusive and respectful manner. Uses references and examples that speak to the experiences of a diverse audience, particularly the communities we aim to reach.
● Discretion: because this role is privy to sensitive information about TCRP’s personnel, strategies and external relationships, it is essential that the CoS have the maturity to exercise considerable discretion and, when appropriate, maintain confidentiality
● Commitment to Social Justice & Racial Equity: recognizes role of race, gender, and other identities in shaping disparities, is driven to improve conditions, and proactively learns re: race, equity, and identity
Compensation
Salary will be based on experience level. The pay range starts at $139,880.
This position is FLSA exempt, and does not qualify for overtime compensation. A minimum of 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, are expected.
Benefits
TCRP offers excellent benefits, professional development opportunities and a deep commitment to a meaningful work-life balance. We envision and work towards an organization that reflects the communities we serve and a culture of radical inclusion, continuous growth, and openness.
We offer a competitive benefits package, including employer-paid health, dental and vision insurance, four weeks paid vacation, eight weeks paid family leave (with avenues to extend leave to 14 weeks in total), a $500 professional development budget annually, and extensive holidays, including a two week winter break.
How to Apply:
To apply, please follow this link. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until we find the right candidate.
Inclusion & Non-Discrimination
TCRP values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture — women, Black and other people of
color, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from other underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, creed, religion, physical ability, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, previous incarceration, languages spoken, socioeconomic status,
veteran status, union membership or activism, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.
Research shows that while men apply for positions when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women, Black people, people of color and other historically underrepresented groups only apply when they check every box. If you feel like this is the position for you even though you don’t check every box please apply, you could be exactly what we’re looking for!
Overview of the Opportunity
The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) is a community lawyering organization, boldly serving the movement for equality and justice in and out of the courts, and seeking to advance a vision of a Texas in which all communities can thrive with dignity and justice, and without fear. We know that, to best serve the social justice movement in Texas, we must change hearts and minds along with formal changes to law and policy. To advance that goal, we are seeking candidates for a Director of Communications (DC).
At its core, the DC is TCRP’s primary media strategist, and will lead the organizational narrative with the public and the media while ensuring messaging alignment with our programmatic work, Executive Team communications, rapid media response, organic and paid digital communication channels, and legal team. The DC will directly manage our communications staff and collaborate closely with the Leadership Team and the President.
TCRP currently operates under a hybrid work policy, which allows for full remote work from anywhere in Texas, but requires in person attendance for specified work activities. The in-person activities are typically based out of any of TCRP’s offices: Alamo (in the Rio Grande Valley), Austin, or Houston. Exceptions to required in person activities may be made based on a case-by-case basis. However, some travel in and out of the state may be required for this position. This position will report directly to the President of the organization.
Key Responsibilities
● Strategic Communications & Narrative Development:
○ Design, execute, and support robust communications strategies aligned with TCRP's mission and values.
○ Manage and support the Executive team’s communications with the media and public engagements.
○ Collaborate with programs in campaign and strategy development, emphasizing a keen communications and narrative perspective.
○ Develop and advance long-term strategies targeting the public and decision-makers, with a focus on historically marginalized Black and brown communities.
● Message Framing & Content Creation:
○ In collaboration with the President and Leadership Team, oversee comprehensive message framing, including the creation of talking points, press releases, blog posts, website content, and social media posts.
● Media Relations & Outreach:
○ Design and implement earned media strategies across TCRP’s programs, ensuring equitable media coverage across issue areas.
○ Foster relationships with key media outlets, updating contacts and strategies to support TCRP's goals.
○ Hone internal press and media protocols to optimize rapid response times, highlight the voices of TCRP clients and communities.
○ Ensure that TCRP’s designated spokespeople are prepped for media interactions through training, briefing, and debriefing.
○ Act as an institutional spokesperson as necessary.
● Digital Strategy & Engagement:
○ Lead TCRP's overarching digital strategy across platforms like Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, email, blogs and the website.
○ Innovate with trending digital tactics to enhance message reach and brand development.
○ Engage the digital audience through collaborations using tools like EveryAction platform petitions, grassroots fundraising, and events.
○ Supervise TCRP’s digital advertising, be it internally or through external consultants.
● Team Leadership & Collaboration:
○ Lead, mentor, and empower a high-performing communications team to achieve organizational goals.
○ Enhance collaboration across various departments through meetings, information sharing, and open communication.
○ Collaborate closely with the Development Department and President to communicate the impact of our work effectively to our funders.
○ Consistently apply an equity lens in strategy, priority setting, and team development, rooted in TCRP’s commitment to justice, equality, and organizational values.
Qualifications & Compensation
● Master storytelling and writing skills. You have at least four years of experience in communications strategies. You have a nuanced understanding of what stories and messages resonate and how to drive diverse audiences to action. You are a quick and able writer, who is comfortable knocking our talking points and press releases under pressure.
● Experience coaching and training spokespeople. Ideally, you have given introductory media training as well as more personalized coaching for organizational spokespeople.
● Experience and comfort in the digital sphere: You have experience in — and are excited about! — digital communications, cutting-edge website management and peer-to-peer technology tools.
● Meaningful team management skills and experience. You have previously managed at least a small team. You know how to delegate and to give meaningful feedback. You have experience holding a team accountable and providing support for growth.
● Deep commitment to racial equity and inclusion. You should recognize ways that race and other identities intersect in our work and are driven to make changes in systems and practices to operationalize equity.
● An inclusive and collaborative approach. This role is dependent on collaboration with diverse stakeholders — our internal team, our clients and our partner organizations, at a minimum. An ideal candidate will be excited about such a people-focused role and have a track record of successful collaboration.
● Strong organizational skills. TCRP is a high-paced environment, and this role will require the ability to stay on top of quickly developing news stories and work across the organization— expect a variety of moving parts! At all times! Strong organizational skills and systems will be critical.
● Proven ability to foster an optimistic, resilient work environment in the face of adversity;
● A personal drive for self-reflection, improvement, and learning;
● Patience, a sense of humor, gravitas and a high tolerance for ambiguity; the ability to adapt quickly to change; and a natural orientation towards collaboration;
● The ability and willingness to travel regionally;
● Spanish fluency is a plus.
Compensation
Salary will be based on experience level. The salary range for this position begins at $130,000 up to $139,880.
This position is FLSA exempt and does not qualify for overtime compensation. A minimum of 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, are expected.
Benefits
TCRP offers excellent benefits, professional development opportunities and a deep commitment to a meaningful work-life balance. We envision and work towards an organization that reflects the communities we serve and a culture of radical inclusion, continuous growth, and openness.
We offer a competitive benefits package, including employer-paid health, dental and vision insurance, four weeks paid vacation, eight weeks of paid family leave (with avenues to extend leave to 14 weeks in total), a $500 professional development budget annually, and extensive holidays, including a two-week winter break.
How to Apply
To apply, please follow this link. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until we find the right candidate.
Inclusion & Non-Discrimination
TCRP values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture — women, Black and other people of color, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from other underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. We do not discriminate on the basis of race,
ethnicity, national origin, age, creed, religion, physical ability, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, previous incarceration, languages spoken, socioeconomic status, veteran status, union membership or activism, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.
Research shows that while men apply for positions when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women, Black people, people of color and other historically underrepresented groups only apply when they check every box. If you feel like this is the position for you even though you don’t check every box please apply, you could be exactly what we’re looking for!
Overview of the Opportunity
The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) is a community lawyering organization boldly serving the movement for equality and justice in and out of the courts and seeking to advance a vision of a Texas in which all communities can thrive with dignity and justice, and without fear. To advance this work, TCRP is seeking a Senior Advocacy Manager to spearhead integrated legal advocacy campaigns within TCRP. By doing so, this person will further deepen the strategy and connectivity between TCRP’s impact litigation, policy advocacy strategies, and commitment to robust community engagement.
Working collaboratively across teams, the Senior Advocacy Manager will create and execute a vision for advancing TCRP’s legal and policy goals through community-informed legal advocacy strategies such as litigation, local, state and federal legislative lobbying, “grasstops” and community-based organizing and mobilization, coalition management and support, public education, narrative and communications strategies, and other tools.
Reporting to TCRP’s Criminal Injustice Program Director, the Senior Advocacy Manager will oversee the design and execution of creative, impactful advocacy campaigns to advance TCRP’s legal and policy goals., working hand-in-hand with the team’s attorneys and TCRP’s Development and Communications staff.
About TCRP
For more than thirty years, TCRP has been a committed partner to community organizers, families and advocacy groups across the state. Whether through litigation or other means of legal advocacy, the attorneys and advocates at TCRP work to dismantle mass incarceration, fight discrimination in voting and civic participation, and right injustices occurring at the Texas border, all under a race equity lens. TCRP’s lawyers work with coalitions of community-based organizations to identify injustices facing Texas communities and develop systemic solutions using litigation and other legal advocacy tools. Learn more about TCRP at www.txcivilrights.org.
The Texas Civil Rights Project comprises five regional offices across the state of Texas with over 40 employees and an annual budget over $6 million dollars.
About the Criminal Injustice Program
The Criminal Injustice Program believes that since before this country’s founding, police and prisons have been weaponized against people. These systems have the potential to affect every one of us, but poor, Black, Brown, disabled, noncitizen, and LGBTQIA+ communities are among the most impacted.
Our state fails to take on the root causes that trap many Texans in the criminal injustice system. Texans falling through the cracks of our broken social welfare systems are overly policed and incarcerated, but police rarely keep our communities safe from violence. Instead, police use excessive force and even kill unarmed Black and brown people.
When people find themselves in court, they face a rigged system where punishment is based on who can pay. Jails and prisons are frequently on the verge of collapse with ever-growing populations, understaffing, inadequate services, and dangerous conditions for their residents and staff. Even after serving time, individuals face countless barriers to re-entering society.
We also believe a safer, more just Texas is possible. Every Texan should help determine what this looks like – especially Texans whose voices are so often overlooked. We must all fight together to make this a reality.
Our team’s work involves cases and campaigns that seek to prevent over-policing and criminalization as well as advocacy to reduce harm for our fellow Texans facing incarceration.
Overview of Key Responsibilities
● Drive the creation and execution of TCRP’s legal advocacy campaigns, which seek to empower social justice movements with excellent legal services; as community lawyers we work toward changes in law and policy through a variety of legal advocacy tools, including litigation, local and state legislative lobbying, “grasstops” and community-based organizing and mobilization, coalition management and support, public education, narrative and communications strategies, and other tools.
● In doing so, act as a thought partner to the Program Director in identifying the best strategies and, ultimately, tactics for driving the policy change TCRP and our partners seek, drawing upon a deep understanding of the relevant subject matter and of how ideas develop into public policy.
● Mentor the Program’s Outreach Coordinators. Mentoring responsibilities include, but not limited to:
○ Hold weekly 1:1s to track progress to goals and to ensure proper workflow.
○ Provide ongoing feedback, through 1:1s
○ Suggest career development opportunities.
○ Provide strategic guidance to outreach coordinators for the successful development, approval and implementation of advocacy campaigns.
○ Lead with outreach coordinators, and other teams as necessary, the development and execution of policy priorities during state and federal legislative sessions.
● Collaborate and work in thought partnership with TCRP’s Development and Communication staff to identify key narrative messaging frames, press, digital, and fundraising strategies to advance advocacy goals.
● Envision the ‘big picture’ and be proactive in helping TCRP advance its mission; seek out and identify issues and opportunities strategically aligned with TCRP's unique strengths and priorities.
● Represent the team on TCRP’s Legislative Advocacy Committee and oversea the team’s bill tracking and engagement in state legislative sessions.
● Partner across TCRP to drive equity, diversity, and inclusion. Grounded in TCRP’s commitment to justice and equality and its organizational values, the new Senior Advocacy Manager will bring an equity lens to all aspects of strategy, priority setting, team development, and community engagement. They will support TCRP’s work to reflect the communities it serves and build a culture of inclusion, continuous growth, openness, and antiracism.
Ideal candidates should have the following characteristics & skills:
● Experience analyzing public policy issues, including an ability to synthesize and summarize large amounts of information and to focus quickly on the essence of an issue;
● Excellent communication skills, including interpersonal and public communication skills, and an ability to translate vision and strategy into internal and external messaging;
● Subject matter experience in criminal justice reform;
● Experience organizing and coalition;
● Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace;
● Significant experience strategizing, designing, and executing successful, multifaceted issue-based advocacy campaigns and movements; experience leading strategic partnerships between litigation and other kinds of legal advocacy efforts is a plus;
● Significant experience engaging and mobilizing around policy priorities during Texas or federal Congressional legislative sessions is a plus;
● A skilled strategist with a deep knowledge of legislative and policy advocacy, and an ability to map positions of power and understand the ways in which good ideas can develop into actual policy;
● Proven experience as an effective manager and as someone who can collaborate and manage projects across diverse teams;
● Experience in Texas politics and a nuanced understanding of the state’s complex, diverse regions and populations is a plus;
● Proven success in engaging with, and working in partnership with, diverse communities; An authentic understanding of the challenges faced by communities impacted by injustice and a sophisticated understanding of the historical nature of structural power differences with a lens into how that impacts social justice efforts today;
● Excellent interpersonal skills, including maturity, keen judgment, the ability to facilitate challenging conversations and quickly read interpersonal dynamics and work with people from a wide array of backgrounds, perspectives, and personalities, across projects and programs;
● Excellent and consistent attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines;
● Spanish fluency is a plus, but not required.
Compensation
The salary range for this position is very competitive and will be discussed during the interview process. TCRP offers excellent benefits, professional development opportunities and a deep commitment to a meaningful work-life balance. We envision and work towards an organization that reflects the communities we serve and a culture of radical inclusion, continuous growth, and openness. TCRP benefits include: employer-paid health insurance, 4 four weeks paid vacation, eight weeks paid family leave (with avenues to extend leave to 14 weeks in total), a $500 professional development budget annually, and extensive holidays, including a two week winter break. This position is FLSA exempt, and does not qualify for overtime compensation. A minimum of 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, are expected. Occasional travel within Texas to TCRP’s other offices is also expected.
How to Apply
To apply, please complete the application by clicking here. The deadline to apply is 11:59 P.M., Friday, October 6, 2023. Applications completed via SUBMITTABLE.COM will be reviewed first.
Inclusion & Non-Discrimination
TCRP values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture — women, Black and other people of color, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from other underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, creed, religion, physical ability, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, previous incarceration, languages spoken, socioeconomic status, veteran status, union membership or activism, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. Research shows that while men apply for positions when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women, Black people, people of color and other underrepresented groups only apply when they check every box. If you feel like this is the position for you even though you don’t check every box please apply, you could be exactly what we’re looking for!
Every year, the Texas Civil Rights Project sponsors multiple legal fellows across our three programs (Beyond Borders, Criminal Justice Reform, and Voting Rights) and in all of our five offices across the State (Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Rio Grande Valley).
These fellows are recent law school graduates or judicial clerks who obtain external funding to work with us, usually on a specific project for a predetermined period of time, usually 1 or 2 years. Opportunities for external funding are extremely diverse, including law firms, law schools, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and private foundations of all sizes.
To view full fellowship description and apply, click here.
FELLOWSHIPS
Part of our mission is building up the next generation of leaders to power this movement, and we are so proud that we can offer this opportunity to young law students. Our law clerks are a critical part of the TCRP family and will assist our attorneys with every aspect of our work, from investigating potential cases, crafting strategic advocacy plans and preparing complaints to assisting with discovery, briefing dispositive motions and trying cases in federal and state court.
We ask that students commit to at least 400 hours of work over the course of the summer. We have opportunities available at all of our 5 offices across Texas (Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Alamo). Click here to apply.