Policy Director, Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice (7399U), Berkeley Law - #74074

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Departmental Overview

The UC Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice, housed at Berkeley Law, works to establish equity and fairness in the marketplace. Through research, advocacy, policy, and teaching, the Center strives to apply robust consumer protection laws in places, and among people, where those laws haven't been used before, and to create a society in which economic, racial and social justice are available to all. The Center believes that building economic justice means developing and enforcing laws that fight fraud and deception, that protect low-income communities and communities of color, and that promote financial security and empowerment. Our activities always highlight the interests and experiences of vulnerable consumers, including immigrants, survivors of domestic violence & elder abuse, people impacted by the criminal legal system, and others.

Contributing to policy making by federal and state legislatures and regulatory agencies has long been a priority for the Center's work. In recent years the Center and our affiliates have supported a range legislation in California and elsewhere promoting economic justice, including:

• Expanding the rights of student loan borrowers, survivors of domestic violence and elder financial abuse, low-income homeowners seeking clean energy improvements, tenants, and consumers in debt collection;
• Protecting consumers in debt collection and foreclosure proceedings by curbing the ability of creditors to garnish wages, issue bank levies, or seek foreclosure;
• Removing the effect of eviction proceedings and medical debt on credit reports;
• Safeguarding personal data and consumer privacy from third-party data brokers and credit reporting agencies;
• Eliminating opaque and hidden "junk fees" in most consumer products and services, including residential rentals and state-chartered banks;
• Creating California's mini-Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation - and
• Expanding access to the court system for low-income consumers, among so much else.

Position Summary

To accelerate the policy development and advancement aspect of the Center's work, the Policy Director will manage and carry out critical projects, as follows:

• Communicate and coordinate with academics to solicit and transform articles, papers, and op-eds into policy ideas that can be implemented by state and federal (and local) legislatures and regulatory agencies.
• Gather, solicit and develop policy ideas to be considered by advocates and potentially enacted by the California legislature and/or other legislative bodies willing to "go first" in considering new, cutting-edge policies.
• Elicit, organize, and provide a database of consumer rights & economic justice policy ideas from and for state-level advocates. Coordinate with nonprofit expert partners to gather and support the development of model state and local laws. Represent the Center in regular clearinghouse gatherings, including monthly national meetings of debt collection and credit reporting advocates and quarterly regional meetings of government, legal services, and nonprofit consumer protection organizations. Join as appropriate in (or initiate) regular gatherings of consumer privacy advocates, tenants advocates, domestic violence/consumer protection advocates, environmental justice/consumer justice advocates, student loan advocates, vocational school regulatory advocates, AI regulatory advocates, and others.
• Establish support and communication channels with government officials and employees at all (federal, state, local) levels.
• Partner with consumer protection advocacy organizations in California and around the nation to pilot cutting-edge consumer protection measures.
• Help lead the Center's communication and education efforts.
• Help coordinate and implement the Center's suite of conferences and events.
• Help draft, to extent commensurate with background and skills, amicus briefs and letters on behalf of the Center with the Executive Director, Legal Director, and law students
• Provide guidance on law students research projects with an emphasis on policy development and analysis.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 11/29/2024.

Responsibilities

• Leads efforts to conduct complex analyses across a broad spectrum of programs, policies and initiatives in the area of consumer law and economic justice.
• Communicates and coordinates with academics to solicit and transform articles, papers, and op-eds into policy ideas related to consumer law and economic justice that can be implemented by state and federal (and local) legislatures and regulatory agencies.
• Gathers, solicits and develops policy ideas to be considered by advocates and potentially enacted by the California legislature and/or other legislative bodies willing to "go first" in considering new, cutting-edge policies.
• Establishes support and communication channels with government officials and employees at all (federal, state, local) levels.
• Elicits, organizes, and provides a database of consumer rights & economic justice policy ideas from and for state-level advocates.
• Coordinates with nonprofit expert partners to gather and support the development of model state and local laws.
• Represents the Center in regular clearinghouse gatherings, including monthly national meetings of debt collection and credit reporting advocates and quarterly regional meetings of government, legal services, and nonprofit consumer protection organizations.
• Attends, as appropriate, (or initiates) regular gatherings of consumer privacy advocates, tenant advocates, domestic violence/consumer protection advocates, environmental justice/consumer justice advocates, student loan advocates, vocational school regulatory advocates, AI regulatory advocates, and others.
• Partners with consumer protection advocacy organizations in California and around the nation to pilot cutting-edge consumer protection measures.
• In coordination with the Executive Director, may assist with the Center's communication and education efforts.
• Provides guidance on law student research projects with an emphasis on policy development and analysis.
• Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to organize and implement the Center's suite of conferences and events.
• Drafts amicus briefs in significant cases in courts around the nation and comments in important rulemaking proceedings by federal and state regulatory agencies, in conjunction with Center's legal team.
• Supports the Center's other programmatic efforts in convening conferences, building consumer law & economic justice programs at law schools around the nation, and piloting national and international efforts to develop the field.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge and experience with the legislative process and/or regulatory process.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with all levels of staff, students, and external partners, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain all confidentiality.
• Advanced project management skills.
• Thorough knowledge of and/or can quickly organizational or initiative processes, protocols and procedures.
• Ability to multi-task with demanding timeframes.
• Advanced knowledge of applicable policy analysis techniques.
• Advanced analytical/problem-solving skills.
• Ability to form and maintain strong working relationships across a broad spectrum of people and organizations.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), and ability to apply and integrate core concepts of DEIB into everyday practice.
• Must be committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included.
• Must demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Preferred Qualifications

• MPA, MPP, or JD and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Legal and/or policy experience in economic justice, privacy, or related fields (e.g., housing, employment, civil rights, criminal justice, etc.)
• Interest in working with law students on policy research and publications, etc.

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual salary that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $107,000.00 - $123,000.00.

• This is a 2yr, full-time (40 hours/week), contract appointment.
• This position is eligible for UC benefits with the possibility of extension with continued funding.
• This is a monthly paid, exempt position.
• This position is eligible for full UC benefits.

How to Apply

• To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity.
• This position is eligible for up to 20% remote work. Exact arrangements are determined in partnership with your supervisor to meet role responsibilities and department needs, and are subject to change.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission poster.

The University of California's Affirmative action policy.

The University of California's Anti-Discrimination policy.