Deputy Legal Director for Policy

Position: Deputy Legal Director for Policy

Department: Legal

Office

Location:

Washington, D.C. is preferred, but we are open to candidates located in any of the following states or major metro areas where Lambda Legal has an office:
New York, NY (Headquarters), Atlanta, GA (Southern), Chicago, IL (Midwest), Dallas, TX (Southern Central), or Los Angeles, CA (Western).

Work Type Designation: Hybrid

Reports to: Chief Legal Advocacy Officer

Union Status and Grade: Non-union

Annual Salary Range: $200,000 - $230,000 annually. The salary for this role will be determined by a candidate's years of relevant experience related to the position, as well as their geographic region.

Travel: Up to 30%

FLSA Status: Exempt / Full-Time

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

Lambda Legal is a national advocacy organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Since 1973, Lambda Legal has used impact litigation and other advocacy tools to decriminalize same-sex relationships; challenge discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV in the workplace, in the home, in schools, in health care, and in the military;

and protect LGBTQ+ families, including by winning and defending marriage equality. Our clients are not charged for legal representation or advocacy, and Lambda Legal receives no government funding. Headquartered in New York City, Lambda Legal also has regional offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington, DC.

We believe that serving the full breadth of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities requires cultural competency and enthusiasm for diversity of all kinds. To be successful, we must approach our work with an understanding that discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status is not the only obstacle to achieving full formal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV;

rather, we recognize the intersectional nature of discrimination, specifically including biases based on race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, education, and class. Considering this reality, we prioritize a proactive commitment to counteracting these biases and their compounding effects in the work we do, but also in how we work together as an organization.

The Deputy Legal Director for Policy (DLDP) leads Lambda Legal’s national policy strategy, shaping and advancing a long‑term vision for how policy advocacy drives durable gains for LGBTQ+ and HIV civil rights. This role is responsible for articulating a forward‑looking policy framework that identifies priority issue areas, strategic geographies, and the appropriate mix of proactive and defensive advocacy across federal, state, and local levels.

Working in close partnership with litigation, public education, and organizational leadership, the DLDP ensures that policy initiatives are strategic, integrated, and focused on areas where Lambda Legal’s legal expertise, partnerships, and positioning can achieve meaningful impact. The DLDP translates this strategy into action by guiding a policy team engaged in legislative and regulatory advocacy, policy analysis, coalition building, and cross‑departmental collaboration, while remaining responsive to urgent threats affecting our communities.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in LGBTQ+ and HIV civil rights, a sophisticated understanding of and significant experience with federal and state policy making and regulatory processes, and strong people and strategic leadership skills. This role requires the ability to exercise influence through partnership, set clear priorities in complex environments, and strengthen Lambda Legal’s strategic policy impact nationwide.

• Policy Strategy & Leadership
  • Lead development and execution of Lambda Legal’s national policy strategy and initiatives across federal, state, and local levels.
  • Conduct regular and comprehensive analyses to identify opportunities and threats, including major political, legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments.
  • Par…