Deputy Director for Litigation and Advocacy

Sandler Search; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

A Better Childhood (ABC) in New York, NY seeks a Deputy Director for Litigation & Advocacy to lead complex class action litigation challenging systemic failures in foster care and to drive lasting reform for children and families.

Reporting to the Founder and Executive Director, the Deputy Director will build a talented legal team, foster external partnerships, influence strategy, and represent ABC in high-stakes litigation and advocacy efforts.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years of progressively responsible legal experience.
• Substantial federal court practice.
• Class action or impact litigation experience valued.
• Strong leadership and mentoring abilities.
• Ability to translate complex issues into compelling narratives.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-impact federal litigation advancing ABC's mission.
• Develop strategies that drive systemic reform in foster care.
• Translate complex facts into compelling stories for litigation.
• Guide cases from investigation to monitoring with pro bono partners.
• Mentor and develop diverse team of lawyers.
• Build external partnerships with law firms and funders.
• Collaborate with Executive Director on organizational priorities.

Skills

Litigation

Federal court

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Advocacy storytelling

Team development

Relationship building

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICATION

A Better Childhood

Deputy Director for Litigation & Advocacy

New York, NY (Hybrid)

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

A Better Childhood (“ABC”) is a national nonprofit advocacy organization that uses the courts to reform dysfunctional child welfare systems across the country. ABC is a watchdog organization that compels change through the power of the courts, ensuring that states meet their legal responsibilities to protect children through both existing law and innovative legal approaches.

Founded in 2014 to fight for children experiencing foster care, ABC uses class action litigation to expose systemic failures and compel reforms that provide children with the protection, stability, and care the law requires. ABC has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of children, families, and communities in 13 states. Its 11-person legal staff investigates failing systems, leads litigation, secures system-wide reforms, and remains engaged to help ensure lasting change takes root.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

ABC seeks a talented lawyer and experienced leader to serve as Deputy Director for Litigation & Advocacy. Reporting to Founder and Executive Director Marcia Lowry, the Deputy Director will play a critical role in developing and leading complex class action litigation that challenges systemic failures in foster care and drives meaningful, lasting change for children and families.

This is a unique opportunity for a creative and accomplished lawyer to combine exceptional litigation skills with bold thinking, compelling storytelling, and a deep commitment to ABC’s mission. The Deputy Director will lead high-stakes cases, develop a talented legal team, build strong external relationships, and contribute to ABC’s broader organizational leadership.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Litigation & Advocacy

• Lead high-impact federal litigation that advances ABC’s mission and drives systemic reform in foster care.
• Develop and execute creative legal strategies that challenge conventional approaches and identify opportunities for meaningful, lasting change.
• Build compelling legal narratives that translate complex facts and children’s experiences into powerful stories that strengthen litigation and advocacy.
• Guide cases from investigation through litigation, settlement, and long‑term monitoring, building strong relationships with pro bono counsel, experts, advocates, and government leaders.

Team Leadership & Management

• Lead, supervise, and develop a diverse team lawyers, strengthening litigation skills, strategic judgment, and professional growth.
• Foster a collaborative and supportive culture, bringing the emotional intelligence, perspective, and sense of humor needed to navigate challenging work.
• Build leadership capacity through mentorship, thoughtful feedback, recruitment, and development of talented attorneys.
• Cultivate and manage strong working partnerships with leading law firms, leveraging pro bono attorneys and resources to expand staffing, capacity, and expertise across cases.

Organizational Leadership & Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic partner to the Executive Director, contributing to ABC’s organizational priorities and long‑term impact.
• Contribute broadly to organizational priorities with a collaborative, pragmatic approach and a willingness to engage wherever needed.
• Participate in fundraising and external relationship building, compellingly communicating ABC’s work and impact to partners, supporters, and prospective funders.

ABOUT THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

The successful candidate will be an exceptional litigator and accomplished leader with 8‑10 years of progressively responsible legal experience, including substantial federal court practice and demonstrated leadership and management responsibility. They will bring a deep commitment to ABC’s mission, the judgment and confidence to lead complex litigation, the ability to develop and inspire accomplished lawyers, and the intellectual curiosity to pursue innovative approaches to systems change.

Key qualifications include:

• Litigation & Legal Excellence: An exceptional litigator with significant federal court experience and the ability to lead complex, high‑stakes matters from investigation through resolution and monitoring. Class action or impact litigation experience is strongly valued.
• Strategic Thinking & Legal Judgment: A sophisticated legal thinker who brings bold thinking, intellectual curiosity, and sound judgment to complex challenges and is willing to pursue innovative legal approaches to achieve meaningful, lasting systems change.
• Leadership & Team Development: A strong and supportive leader who can manage, mentor, and develop accomplished lawyers; make decisions; build trust; and foster a collaborative, accountable team.
• Advocacy, Communication & Relationship Building: An exceptional writer, advocate, and storyteller who can translate complex issues into compelling narratives, build productive external relationships, and communicate ABC’s work effectively.
• Mission, Judgment & Character: Deeply committed to public interest work and ABC’s mission; brings emotional intelligence, resilience, perspective, collegiality, and a sense of humor to challenging work.

BAR ADMISSION

Current admission to a state bar and eligibility to practice in federal court are required.

LOCATION

Hybrid, three days at the ABC office, 420 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY.

TRAVEL

Ability and willingness to travel as required for litigation, monitoring, and partner engagement.

COMPENSATION

Salary range is $160,000 to $190,000, commensurate with experience.

ABC values diversity in our workforce and encourages candidates of diverse backgrounds to apply.

ABC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or status with regard to public assistance.