Legal Program and Networks Manager

Americans United for Separation of Church and State; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 84,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Dental

Vision

Life insurance

Short-term disability

Long-term disability

401(k) with match

Commuter subsidy

Job summary

Americans United for Separation of Church and State seeks a Legal Programs and Networks Manager to help grow its LPN Project and The Legal Academy. You will coordinate in-person and virtual events, liaise with law students and partner organizations, and support advocacy and educational initiatives related to church-state separation.

The role emphasizes project management, cross-functional collaboration, and outreach to professional legal networks, with a hybrid DC-based work arrangement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; JD or paralegal certificate or similar coursework, or other previous experience in or knowledge of the legal field, a plus.
• 4 years of related work experience (including internships and part-time work), preferably in law office or legal setting, educational programming, event management, and/or volunteer/student management.
• Interest in and willingness to learn about church-state separation, religious freedom, and issues relating to these constitutional principles.
• Strong project management skills, including comfort with working on several projects at once and with shifting deadlines.
• Experience building relationships and working collaboratively with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Writing, editing, and proofreading experience, and keen attention to detail.
• Proficient in Google Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slides) and Microsoft Office applications. Experience with project management software (e.g. ClickUp) a plus.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute The Legal Academy’s in-person and virtual programming and networking events, including curriculum planning and speaker outreach.
• Collaborate with law students and student groups to drive interest and scholarship about church-state separation.
• Coordinate with AU’s legal and policy teams to develop programming and resources supporting their work.
• Outreach to local, state, and professional bar associations and legal networks to educate members about church-state separation.
• Support non-litigation advocacy by researching potential church-state violations and assisting the intake attorney with correspondence.
• Compile materials for internal/external reports and assist in budgeting; contribute to marketing materials and web content for The Legal Academy.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder collaboration

Writing & editing

Google Drive

Microsoft Office

ClickUp

Education

Bachelor's degree

JD or paralegal certificate

Tools

ClickUp

Google Drive

MS Office

Job description

About Americans United

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a nonpartisan educational and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure freedom of religion, including the right to believe or not believe, for all of us. Founded in 1947, Americans United is a diverse and dynamic organization composed of people from all walks of life: lawyers and lobbyists, students and activists, religious leaders and impassioned Americans. AU includes people of faith and people who don’t profess any particular faith. It is a community that welcomes people of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions or beliefs, sexual orientations, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and abilities. Because we work on a wide variety of issues with many different communities, we value what diversity and diverse perspectives bring to our work.

Position Summary

The Legal Programs and Networks Manager is an exciting opportunity for an innovative team player to support the development and growth of Americans United for Separation of Church and State’s Legal Programs and Networks (LPN) Project. The LPN Project plays a critical role in strengthening the understanding of church-state separation, facilitating academic outreach and scholarship, connecting legal professionals with pro bono opportunities, and managing the Legal Academy.

Reporting to the Senior Director, the Legal Programs and Networks Manager will have excellent project management skills, strong interpersonal skills, and be ready to think creatively and critically about how to support the LPN Project’s goals.

This position will manage The Legal Academy. The Legal Academy is an exciting initiative led by Americans United, in collaboration with other leading impact litigation organizations, that brings together summer legal interns from partner organizations and cultivates a community for public-interest-focused law students and lawyers. It kicks off with a multi-day in-person education program and is followed by virtual and in-person educational and networking events.

This position will also regularly work with the Legal team and legal community to identify where church-state separation intersects with their work and scholarship and support the development of resources to strengthen the understanding of church-state separation. The Legal Programs and Networks Manager will also collaborate with various internal and external stakeholders to identify and develop programming and resources highlighting recent developments in church-state separation.

This is a full-time, exempt position. This position is a union role; it is included in the bargaining unit represented by AU Collective in connection with SEIU Local 500.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage the planning and execution of The Legal Academy’s in-person and virtual programming and networking events, including curriculum planning and speaker outreach, partner organization and attendee coordination, and alumni network outreach.
• Collaborate with law students and student groups to drive interest and scholarship about church-state separation and related doctrines, including planning educational programs and supporting student-authored legal scholarship.
• Collaborate with AU’s legal and policy teams and other internal stakeholders to develop programming and resources to support their work and enhance awareness of church-state separation in the community.
• Assist in the outreach to local, state, and professional bar associations, legal networks, and other professional organizations to educate their members about where church-state separation intersects with their work.
• Support AU’s non-litigation advocacy efforts by researching potential church-state violations, assisting the intake attorney with correspondence management, and collaborating on resources to educate the public about their rights.
• Other responsibilities include collecting and reporting on surveys and other Legal Academy feedback; preparing marketing materials and web content to support The Legal Academy and other AU resources; assisting in the budgeting process; and compiling materials for internal and external reports. As the LPN Project grows, there may be opportunities to take on additional responsibilities.

Skills and Experience

• Research shows candidates from marginalized groups are less likely to apply for positions when they don't meet 100% of listed requirements; please consider applying even if you don’t match 100% of these criteria.
• Bachelor’s degree required; JD or paralegal certificate or similar coursework, or other previous experience in or knowledge of the legal field, a plus.
• 4 years of related work experience (including internships and part-time work), preferably in law office or legal setting, educational programming, event management, and/or volunteer/student management.
• Interest in and willingness to learn about church-state separation, religious freedom, and issues relating to these constitutional principles.
• Strong project management skills, including comfort with working on several projects at once and with shifting deadlines.
• Experience building relationships and working collaboratively with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Writing, editing, and proofreading experience, and keen attention to detail.
• Proficient in Google Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slides) and Microsoft Office applications. Experience with project management software (e.g. ClickUp) a plus.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

This is a DC-based, hybrid position that primarily involves working from a home office and a professional office environment. The role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and video conferencing tools. It requires the ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods, communicate effectively, and occasionally move about within the workspace.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $84,394 - $103,530. This stated range includes a 5% locality pay adjustment for the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The successful candidate’s placement within that range will be consistent with AU’s compensation framework, which is based on years of related experience.

• health care
• dental
• vision
• life insurance
• short-term disability
• long-term disability
• 401(k) with match
• commuter subsidy

Equal Opportunity Employer

AU is an equal opportunity employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. If you need an accommodation for a disability to apply to this position, please let us know by emailing [e-mail].

Application Information

We will only be accepting applications from candidates who currently live in or would be willing to relocate to the Washington, DC metro area.