Director, Education and Law

To Apply: request The North Carolina Justice Center will provide reasonable accommodation for all candidates with disabilities.

Shape the Future of Educational Opportunity in North Carolina

Director Education and Law

North Carolina Justice Center Raleigh NC (Hybrid)

Hiring Range -$100K -106K

Reports To: Executive Director

The North Carolina Justice Center is seeking an accomplished attorney and inspiring leader to serve as the next Director of the Education and Law Project. This is an opportunity to lead one of North Carolinas most respected education advocacy teams while helping ensure that every childregardless of race income disability language or zip codehas access to a high-quality public education.

This role is for a leader who is equally comfortable developing legal strategy mentoring a high-performing team building coalitions influencing public policy and representing the organization as a trusted voice on educational equity.

If you are energized by complex legal work collaborative leadership and advancing systemic change wed like to meet you.

What Youll Lead

As Director you will provide strategic leadership for the Education and Law Project while serving as one of the organizations senior legal experts. You will guide the projects vision manage talented staff strengthen partnerships across North Carolina and help shape policies that improve educational outcomes for students and families.

Your work will include:

• Leading the overall strategy operations and performance of the Education and Law Project.
• Supervising coaching and developing attorneys and other project staff.
• Providing legal leadership through litigation legal analysis advocacy and strategic counsel on complex education law issues.
• Developing and implementing innovative strategies that advance educational equity through the courts public policy and community engagement.
• Building strong relationships with clients educators advocates policymakers coalition partners and community organizations.
• Managing project budgets grants contracts and reporting requirements.
• Identifying and pursuing funding opportunities while partnering with development staff on grant proposals and funder engagement.
• Serving as a member of the Justice Centers Coordinating Council contributing to organizational leadership strategic planning and cross-functional initiatives.
• Representing the Justice Center before courts administrative agencies legislative bodies public forums and the media.

What You Bring

Were looking for someone who combines legal excellence with collaborative leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in North Carolina or a state with reciprocal jurisdiction
• Brings significant expertise in education law with the ability to navigate complex legal issues while advancing equitable outcomes for students families and North Carolina public schools.
• Significant experience practicing law with substantial experience in education law civil rights public interest litigation or closely related fields.
• Demonstrated success leading teams managing projects and developing staff.
• Excellent litigation legal writing negotiation and advocacy skills.
• Experience building partnerships across diverse communities and stakeholders.
• Strong strategic thinking sound judgment and exceptional communication skills.
• A demonstrated commitment to racial equity educational opportunity and the mission of the North Carolina Justice Center.

Preferred Qualifications

Active member in good standing of the North Carolina State Bar.

Experience with nonprofit leadership legislative advocacy impact litigation grant- funded initiatives and coalition building is highly valued.

Why This Role Matters

Educational opportunity shapes every other opportunity.

The Director of the Education and Law Project helps ensure that North Carolinas education system works for all students not just those with the loudest voices or the greatest resources. Your leadership will influence litigation public policy organizational strategy and statewide partnerships that improve educational access and outcomes for generations to come.

Why Join the North Carolina Justice Center

At the Justice Center youll work alongside passionate colleagues committed to advancing economic justice and eliminating systemic barriers to opportunity. We believe meaningful change happens through collaboration innovation and a deep commitment to equity.

This position offers the opportunity to make lasting statewide impact while working in a mission-driven organization that values leadership learning and courageous advocacy.

The NC Justice Center 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.

Ready to lead meaningful change

We invite experienced legal leaders who are passionate about educational justice to apply and help shape a more equitable future for every child in North Carolina.