Senior Fellow, Religious Freedom & Policy Innovation

Alliance Defending Freedom; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 141,000 - 233,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

Dependent care reimbursement

Paid disability

Long-term care

Life insurance

401(k) with 4% company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Alliance Defending Freedom seeks a Senior Fellow to join the Research & Innovation team. You will oversee a dedicated research portfolio across strategic focus areas, producing original work and disseminating ideas through writing, testimony, and media.

You will report to the Senior Counsel and VP for Strategic Research & Policy Innovation, collaborating with legal, legislative, and communications teams to advance ADF’s mission and influence policy discourse.

Qualifications

• Terminal degree (J.D., Ph.D., M.D., D.Min., or equivalent) is strongly preferred.
• At least 10 years of ascending experience in law, policy, academia, journalism, theology, ministry, or closely related field.
• Experience across multiple fields with a proven record of advancing solutions, not just problems.

Responsibilities

• Identify and analyze emerging threats to religious liberty and related freedoms using AI-assisted horizon-scanning tools and traditional research methods.
• Produce original written work for popular and academic formats with placement in leading journals and publications.
• Build a public voice and external relationships as an indispensable source on strategic focus areas.
• Develop litigation strategy proposals, model legislation, regulatory comments, and executive policy.
• Collaborate with Legal, Legislative, Policy, and Communications teams on case strategy, amicus briefs, and testimony.
• Represent ADF before policymakers and allied organizations.
• Organize colloquia, symposia, and events to generate high-quality intelligence and thought leadership.

Skills

10+ years experience

Education

Terminal degree (J.D./Ph.D./M.D./D.Min.)

Job description

Alliance Defending Freedom seeks a Senior Fellow to join the Research & Innovation team. You will oversee a dedicated research portfolio across strategic focus areas, producing original work and disseminating ideas through writing, testimony, and media.

You will report to the Senior Counsel and VP for Strategic Research & Policy Innovation, collaborating with legal, legislative, and communications teams to advance ADF’s mission and influence policy discourse.