Compensation: $75,000-$98,000 Salary levels are guided by PJI’s Collective Bargaining Agreement and is based on years of relevant or direct experience.
Start Date: ASAP
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana. Frequent travel is required.
Deadline: Position is open until filled.
About PJI
Promise of Justice Initiative (PJI) is a New Orleans-based organization that stands at the forefront of the fight for the liberation, freedom,
and autonomy of Black people and all those targeted and touched by the criminal legal system and mass incarceration.
PJI moves life-changing work:
Because racism and mass incarceration are entrenched and pervasive foes, PJI’s approach is multifaceted, including collective action, legislative advocacy, civil and criminal litigation, and reframing narrative discourse.
We challenge the notion that prisons keep us safe and that people with convictions should have no rights. We fight for freedom for people sentenced to die in prison. PJI blocks harmful legislation and pushes for dignity-advancing legislation. PJI partners on and co-strategizes social movement work with hundreds of currently incarcerated people. We advance the voices of survivors of violence and challenge the death penalty. Our work builds powerful authentic stories, pushes counter-narratives, and changes discourse.
The world that PJI pushes for is one where the legal system recognizes freedom and dignity as universal rights and embodies an ethos of transformation, restoration, and safety.
Summary of Position
The Associate Director – Campaign Manager position is housed in the Community Impact department. PJI organizers collaborate with PJI’s legal department and community stakeholders to co-develop and implement strategies to build collective power and pathways for freedom across Louisiana. The Associate Director – Campaign Manager position co-develops and implements campaign strategy, identifies issues and the levers impacting those issues, identifies and develops leaders in directly affected communities, and supports those leaders in base building and winning issues.
Who We Are Looking For
This work is hard on every level. PJI optimistically and strategically fights for a better future and requires staff who are committed to one another and to people who are incarcerated or otherwise harmed by the criminal legal system.
PJI is committed to hiring smart, talented, skilled people who have directly experienced the issues that we fight against. People who are formerly incarcerated, survivors of violence, working class, LGBTQ+, and people of color, particularly Black, are all strongly encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities of the Position:
• Lead organizing strategy for victim family members against death penalty and state violence across Louisiana, grounded in community input, research, and data.
• Produce comprehensive, data-informed reports, toolkits, and briefs that support legislative, litigation, narrative change, and systems change efforts.
• Engage directly with impacted communities and local leaders to co-create campaigns that center lived experience and elevate marginalized voices.
• Serve as a thought leader on justice transformation in Louisiana.
• Design and lead strategic campaigns
• Monitor and evaluate campaign progress and impact, adjusting tactics as needed to ensure measurable and sustainable outcomes, using qualitative and quantitative data, and regularly report on outcomes to internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify key policy, narrative, and grassroots opportunities to shift public opinion, influence decision-makers, and achieve systemic change.
• Develop campaign plans and materials including messaging frameworks, organizing strategies, digital content, policy briefs, and advocacy tools.
Supervision Responsibilities:
• Supervise Community Impact organizers, interns, fellows as designated.
• Support Director of Community Impact in leading Community Impact team
Experience and Qualifications Preferred:
• 5+ years of experience developing and leading strategic campaigns;
• Experience supervising organizers and teams;
• Experience professionally developing staff;
• Demonstrated ability to successfully develop grassroots leaders;
• An understanding of issues bearing on criminal justice, social justice, racial justice, and the desire to learn more;
• Experience teaching and implementing organizing tools;
• The ability to communicate and work cooperatively with a wide range of people including government officials, attorneys, imprisoned individuals and their families, members of the community and partnering community organizations;
• The capacity and internal motivation to take initiative and think strategically;
• Familiarity with, or ties to, Louisiana;
• Demonstrated commitment to racial and social justice;
• Superb organizational skills, including organizing and maintaining large amounts of paper and data tracking;
• Excellent follow-through;
• Valid driver’s license;
• Willingness, ability, and desire to travel and work irregular hours under challenging conditions;
Compensation & Benefits
The salary range is $75,000- $98,000. Salary levels are guided by PJI’s Collective Bargaining Agreement and is based on years of relevant or direct experience.
• Flexible paid time off, most Federal holidays, Fridays in August, and winter holiday season off.
24 office closure days (almost 5 work weeks)
o 16 days of Paid Time Off initially; 25 days after 3 years
• 100% payment of health insurance (including partner and dependent insurance)
• Health and Dependent Care FSA
• 5% 401k match after 6 months of employment
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Union representation: The National Organization of Legal Services Workers (NOLSW)
represents eligible employees at PJI. This role is a bargaining unit position.
How to Apply
Submit an application package containing the following:
1. Cover letter. The cover letter should be no more than 3 pages, and should include (but is not be limited to):
How your personal and professional experience intersects with people impacted by the carceral system and racism (both);
The skills or expertise you are most excited to bring to this position.
2. Resume or CV
3. Email address for 3 References:
2 people who can speak to your professional skills.
1 person who can speak to how you think about or engage in racial justice issues. (this can be family, friend, colleague,
mentor etc.)
Deadline: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Please send applications to AThorpe@defendla.org and LSapp@defendla.org
PJI is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, which welcomes qualified applicants of all races, ethnicities, genders, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities, nationalities, military status, as well as those who have been system-involved