Labor Rights Advocate

The University of Maryland Support, Advocacy, Freedom, and Empowerment Center for Human Trafficking Survivors (“SAFE Center”) is seeking to hire aLabor Rights Advocate. This position will play a lead role in developing and implementing the SAFE Center’s strategic plan to address labor trafficking and labor exploitation in Maryland. The ideal candidate will either have a Masters Degree or a Law Degree (JD). In addition to the responsibilities outlined below, candidates who are licensed attorneys will also perform direct legal services and will be compensated at the high end of the salary range.

This is a full-time position located in College Park, Maryland, offering the flexibility of a hybrid work environment. Candidates will be required to complete a background check.

The SAFE Center is part of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Graduate School and is committed to creating a work and educational environment that is rich in diversity, inclusive, and supportive of all students, faculty, and staff.

Benefits Information
UMB offers a comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes wellness, work/life balance, and professional development. This position participates in a retirement program that must be selected and is effective on your date of hire. Exempt regular staff receive a generous leave package that includes over 4 weeks of vacation accrued each year, paid holidays, unlimited accrual of sick time, and comprehensive health insurance; professional learning and development programs; tuition remission for employees and their dependents at any University System of Maryland school; and flexible work schedules and teleworking options.

Responsibilities

Training, Outreach, Investigation

Conduct outreach to and advance relationships with workers, worker rights organizations, labor unions, immigrant rights groups, and other organizations representing vulnerable populations to determine prevention and training priorities.

Engage in investigation and analysis based on outreach, research, and lessons learned from the SAFE Center’s direct experience working with survivors of labor trafficking.

Design and conduct Know Your Rights and labor trafficking prevention trainings for low-wage workers, populations vulnerable to labor exploitation, organizations representing these populations, and government and other stakeholders.

Program Development

Based on outreach, investigation, and SAFE Center labor trafficking cases, develop and implement our strategic response to labor trafficking in Maryland, and plan state and local human trafficking task force labor trafficking committee meetings.

Help develop and advance the SAFE Center’s next stage direction in broader labor trafficking prevention and policy.

Policy Advocacy

Identify strategic opportunities for SAFE Center engagement in advocacy efforts.

Prepare policy analyses and propose policy responses and interventions.

Contribute to legislative policy development on labor trafficking.

Only for Candidates who are Attorneys Licensed in the US: Direct Legal Services

Assess SAFE Center clients’ legal claims related to wage and hour and other potential labor and employment violations and worker rights.

Participate in civil litigation strategy and cases against labor traffickers

Minimum requirements

At least three years of experience in grassroots organizing, working with low-wage or immigrant communities, or in worker rights or labor trafficking fields.

Experience in the labor field and knowledge of US labor laws, Labor Rights, worker exploitation, and/or labor trafficking.

Non-JD candidates must have a Masters degree in a relevant field.

Candidates who will provide direct legal services must have a JD from an accredited law school and must be licensed by a Bar of a US state or District of Columbia.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Familiarity with Maryland’s labor landscape—laws, low wage populations or sectors vulnerable to labor exploitation, worker rights groups, immigrants’ rights groups, and/or unions—is desirable but not required.

Excellent investigative research and analytical skills, including experience using documents, data, public records and other investigative tools and techniques.

Strong understanding of the historical, political, and social forces that create vulnerability to labor trafficking and exploitation.

Demonstrated policy advocacy experience.

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Ability to work well with a team and motivate others to take action.

Self-starter and innovative thinker with excellent communication, presentation, and organizational skills.

This is a full-time grant funded faculty, non-teaching, non-tenure track position

Hiring Range: $85,000-$95,000

Salary is commensurate with experience.

UMB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law or policy. For assistance related to employment, please contact the Staffing department at HRJobs@umaryland.edu .

If you anticipate needing a reasonable accommodation for a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), during any part of the employment process, please submit a UMB Job Applicant Accommodation Request. You may also contact HRDiversity@umaryland.edu Please note that only inquiries concerning an ADA request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.