Associate Director

The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the country’s first and foremost civil and human rights law organization. Founded in 1940 under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall, who subsequently became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice, LDF was launched at a time when the nation’s aspirations for equality and due process of law were stifled by widespread state-sponsored racial inequality. From that era to the present, LDF’s mission has been transformative — to achieve racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society. 

LDF’s litigation, public policy advocacy and public education programs in the substantive areas of criminal justice, economic justice, education, and political participation seek to ensure the fundamental and basic human rights of all people to quality education, economic opportunity, the right to vote and fully participate in democracy, and the right to a fair and just judicial system. LDF continues to make an impact in the area of public service and was recognized by Fast Company as one of its 2023 Brands That Matter under its public service category.

In 2021, LDF took its effort to expand educational opportunities to the next level with the launch of the Marshall-Motley Scholars Program (MMSP). MMSP is an innovative scholarship and legal training program designed to produce a highly skilled cadre of racial justice attorneys committed to working in the Southern region of the United States alongside Black communities. Unparalleled in its scope, MMSP will significantly increase the number of students LDF assists, expand the ways these students are supported and prepared, create a path for MMSP Scholars to realize an exceptional, equal educational opportunity, and support and launch their careers as civil rights attorneys.

MMSP will seed the South with a cohort of well-trained and highly dedicated civil rights attorneys to provide superior legal representation to African American communities. It is LDF’s intent that the Program will provide pathways to leadership, self-sufficiency, and socioeconomic progress. Moreover, LDF aims to develop individuals to become ambassadors and
eventually advocates for transformational change in African American communities, bringing increased and much-needed resources to the South. By providing a broad range of support— financial, educational, and mentoring—the Program will offer a new generation of law students the opportunity to succeed and transcend barriers. The Program is a critical and
ambitious investment toward building the pipeline for tomorrow’s civil rights leaders.

LDF operates in a hybrid work environment where employees are expected to be in the office a minimum of two days per week, unless otherwise indicated.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Planning & Leadership:
• • Assist the Director in developing and executing long-term strategic goals for the
• scholarship program.
• • Analyze program data and outcomes to inform decisions and recommend
• enhancements.
• • Collaborate with Director and other members of the MMSP team to develop and shape
• program policy.
• Program Administration:
• • Coordinate program evaluation and assessment efforts tailored to improve and
• enhance program impact and the overall Scholar experience.
• • Assist Director with managing day-to-day operations of the scholarship program,
• including Scholar engagement, application, selection, award distribution, and
• reporting requirements.
• • Contribute to the creation of the program annual report and assist with donor reporting
• requirements
• • Lead strategic outreach, marketing, and promotion of the Program.
• • Represent MMSP at events, conferences, and community forums.
• Scholar Engagement & Support:
• • Lead and design the planning and execution of Scholar and alumni/ae engagement
• programming (annual retreat, academic excellence, bar exam preparation, professional
• development, financial education, wellness, etc.)
• • Develop outreach strategies and establish strategic partnerships with law schools
• where Marshall-Motley Scholars attend to provide support to Scholars during their law
• school matriculation.
• • Provide guidance and support to Scholars throughout their commitment to MMSP;
• during law school matriculation and entrance into the legal profession students
• regarding scholarship eligibility, applications, and award terms.
• Recruitment and Selection:
• • Serve as primary recruiting officer for MMSP, leading all aspects of Scholar
• recruitment, application, and selection
• • Develop recruitment plan and strategy to attract applicants with a demonstrated
• commitment to racial justice for, and on behalf of, Black communities in the South.
• • Plan, organize and deliver recruiting events and presentations at target undergraduate
• schools and law school career fairs.
• • Develop data-driven reports regarding recruiting activity and opportunities for
• improvement.
• • Other responsibilities as assigned.
• Qualifications:
• • Minimum of six years of experience in undergraduate, graduate/professional,
• scholarship programming, marketing/communications, or related specialized program
• admissions and/or recruiting is required.
• • Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s/JD preferred.
• • Prior experience practicing law is a bonus.
• • Ability to gather data, compile information, and prepare reports.
• • Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy,
• and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.
• • Ability to develop, plan, and implement short- and long-range goals.
• • Knowledge of student recruitment and retention issues.
• • Ability to plan, assess, and evaluate programs.
• • Dynamic, positive, high energy individual able to relate well with diverse populations.
• • Strong presentation, problem solving and critical thinking skills.
• • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• • Ability to multi-task and perform well under pressure.
• • Capacity to meet aggressive deadlines efficiently.
• • Proficiency in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• • Flexibility to adjust schedule to meet operating needs.
• • Familiarity and affinity with the history, goals and mission of LDF.

This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts or requirements or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This description does not constitute a contract of employment and LDF may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.

The salary range for this position is $72,800 - $100,000

LDF offers all eligible employees a generous benefits package. To learn more click the following link 2025 Benefits Overview.

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The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to you without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, medical condition or disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law.