Senior Fellow

Make a difference with us! At Alliance Defending Freedom we believe God has brought you here for His purposeto stand for truth and defend the God-given right to live and speak it. Together we protect religious freedom free speech the sanctity of life marriage and family and parental rights. Review our Statement of Faith to ensure were a fit for you.

Location: Lansdowne VA Scottsdale AZ Washington D.C

Team Overview

As a Senior Fellow you are a vital part of ADFs Research & Innovation team. The R&I team exists to meet our civilizational moment anticipating legal and cultural threats generating consequential scholarship and translating ideas across the full spectrum of ADFs work: litigation legislation communications and movement-building. ADF wins at the Supreme Court in legislatures and in the public square. Fellows here develop ideas and strategies that shape law and culture.

In this role you will report to the Senior Counsel and Vice President for Strategic Research & Policy Innovation and through that office to the Senior Vice President. You will carry a dedicated research portfolio within one or more of the teams strategic focus areas producing original work and carrying it into the public square through writing speaking testimony and media.

Key Responsibilities

Thought Leadership & Scholarship

• Identify and analyze emerging threats to religious liberty freedom of speech parental rights life and related freedoms including threats from disruptive technologies and government action at the local state federal and international levels using AI-assisted horizon-scanning tools and traditional research methods.
• Produce original written work in popular and academic formats including long-form essays policy papers white papers op-eds and articles for Christian and general audiences with the goal of placement in leading legal Christian and conservative journals and publications.
• Build a recognized public voice in your strategic focus area developing the platform and external relationships that establish you and ADF as an indispensable source on those issues.

Policy Litigation & Movement Support

• Working with ADFs internal teams develop practical action-oriented proposals for litigation strategy model legislation regulatory comments and executive policy that advance ADFs strategic goals and objectives.
• Collaborate with ADFs Legal Legislative and Policy and Communications teams on case strategy amicus briefs model bills testimony and public messaging.
• Contribute to ADFs internal position papers and knowledge management project.
• Represent ADF before policymakers regulatory agencies and allied organizations.

External Engagement & Alliance Building

• Represent ADF through speaking engagements media appearances podcasts and symposia communicating complex ideas with clarity and conviction to diverse audiences.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with leaders in the conservative movement the Church academia and policy institutions bringing existing networks to the role and expanding them in service of ADFs mission.
• Organize and lead colloquia symposia pop-up salons and strategic gatherings that generate high-quality intelligence publishable thought leadership and movement-building opportunities.

Team & Organizational Contribution

• Contribute to ADFs broader programmatic events including conferences panel discussions and public lectures.
• Support the professional development of Research Specialists and early-career attorneys through substantive feedback mentorship and intellectual formation.
• Assist in developing materials including testimony position papers and public commentary that advance ADFs mission across all issue areas.

Minimum Qualifications

• A terminal degree J.D. Ph.D. M.D. . or equivalent is strongly preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of ascending experience in law policy academia journalism theology ministry or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated range: the strongest candidates will have experience across more than one of these fields and a record of work that has advanced solutions not merely documented problems.

Pay & Benefits

At Alliance Defending Freedom we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package to support your well-being and growth. While we do not disclose specific salary ranges our compensation is competitive with top non-profit law firms. Our benefits include 100% covered medical and dental insurance medical and dependent care reimbursement paid disability long-term care life insurance and a 401(k) plan with a 4% company match. We prioritize work-life balance with paid time off and 12 paid holidays each year.

Want to Know More About ADF