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Civil Rights Director Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Civil Rights Attorney

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$80K - $95K/yr

Civil Rights Attorney Work Location: San Diego, CA Term: Full-time, occasional evening and weekends ... Executive Director Generous Benefits : 100% employer-paid medical and dental insurance for ...

Civil Rights Attorney

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$80K - $95K/yr

Civil Rights Attorney Work Location: San Diego, CA Term: Full-time, occasional evening and weekends ... Executive Director Generous Benefits : 100% employer-paid medical and dental insurance for ...

Civil Rights Senior Staff Attorney

Anaheim, CA ยท On-site

$100K - $107K/yr

The Senior Staff Attorney will play a vital role in protecting the civil rights of American Muslims and other marginalized communities through direct legal services, advocacy, and litigation. The ...

Civil Rights Senior Staff Attorney

Anaheim, CA ยท On-site

$100K - $107K/yr

The Senior Staff Attorney will play a vital role in protecting the civil rights of American Muslims and other marginalized communities through direct legal services, advocacy, and litigation. The ...

Senior Civil Rights Attorney

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$90K - $115K/yr

Title: Senior Civil Rights Attorney Work Location: San Diego, CA Term: Full-time, Occasional ... Executive Director Requirements: Access to reliable transportation Generous Benefits: 100% employer ...

Senior Civil Rights Attorney

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$90K - $115K/yr

Title: Senior Civil Rights Attorney Work Location: San Diego, CA Term: Full-time, Occasional ... Executive Director Requirements: Access to reliable transportation Generous Benefits: 100% employer ...

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Civil Rights Director information

What does a Civil Rights Director do?

A Civil Rights Director oversees and manages programs, policies, and investigations related to civil rights compliance within an organization or government agency. They ensure that anti-discrimination laws and regulations are followed, address complaints of civil rights violations, and promote equal opportunity. This role often involves training staff, developing policies, and collaborating with community groups to foster an inclusive environment. Civil Rights Directors also conduct outreach and provide guidance on best practices for preventing discrimination in areas like employment, housing, and education.

What is the difference between Civil Rights Director vs Civil Rights Coordinator?

AspectCivil Rights DirectorCivil Rights Coordinator
CredentialsBachelor's degree, experience in civil rights law or advocacyAssociate's or Bachelor's degree, relevant internship or volunteer experience
Work EnvironmentLeadership role in organizations, overseeing programs and staffSupport role, assisting with program implementation and outreach
Employer & Industry UsageNonprofits, government agencies, educational institutionsSimilar settings, often reporting to Civil Rights Directors
Search & Comparison IntentHigher-level responsibilities, strategic planningOperational support, program coordination

The Civil Rights Director typically holds a leadership position with strategic responsibilities, overseeing programs and staff, while the Civil Rights Coordinator focuses on supporting program implementation and outreach. Both roles are vital in civil rights organizations, but the Director has broader oversight and decision-making authority.

What are some common challenges faced by a Civil Rights Director in ensuring organizational compliance with civil rights laws?

A Civil Rights Director often faces challenges such as navigating complex and evolving legal requirements, managing sensitive investigations, and fostering organizational buy-in for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. They must balance the need for thorough compliance with practical constraints like limited resources and varying levels of staff awareness. Collaborating across departments to implement training and policy updates, while also responding to complaints or incidents, requires strong communication and leadership skills. Additionally, staying current with changing regulations and best practices is essential to proactively address potential risks.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Civil Rights Director, and why are they important?

To excel as a Civil Rights Director, you need deep knowledge of civil rights laws and regulations, a relevant degree (often in law, public policy, or social justice), and significant experience in compliance and advocacy. Familiarity with legal research databases, case management systems, and data analysis tools is typically required. Exceptional leadership, negotiation, and communication skills help foster inclusive policies and resolve complex discrimination issues. These capabilities are crucial to effectively protect civil rights, drive organizational change, and ensure legal compliance.
What cities in California are hiring for Civil Rights Director jobs? Cities in California with the most Civil Rights Director job openings:

Civil Rights Attorney

CAIR San Diego

San Diego, CA โ€ข On-site

$80K - $95K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago


Job description

Title: Civil Rights Attorney
Work Location: San Diego, CA
Term: Full-time, occasional evening and weekends required.
Position Status: Exempt
Pay Range: $80,000 - $95,000/year commensurate with skills and experience
Reports to: Executive Director
Generous Benefits: 100% employer-paid medical and dental insurance for employees & dependents, 401(k) plan with an employer match, 12 vacation days, 10 sick days and 12 holidays. Budget for legal association membership fee, bar license renewal fee, CLE funding support, and malpractice insurance. Temporary hybrid work schedule, with three days in-person and two days remote.
About Us: Join the largest American Muslim civil rights organization at the frontlines in protecting the rights of free speech, freely practicing one's faith, pursuing employment opportunities without harassment, and living as an active and engaged American without reprisal. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, California (CAIR-CA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) grassroots civil rights and advocacy group. We recognize that our employees are passionate and talented and are our most valuable resource. With an important vision to be a leading advocate for justice and mutual understanding, our diverse workforce stands together to demonstrate our values for everyone who joins the efforts.
About the Role: CAIR-CA is seeking a dedicated attorney to advance and defend the civil and human rights of the American Muslim community at a time when those rights are increasingly under threat. This role offers a powerful opportunity to engage in impactful civil rights advocacy-working directly with community members, challenging systemic discrimination, and helping shape legal strategies that promote justice, safety, and dignity.
The attorney in this role will support individuals and families navigating discrimination, harassment, and civil liberties violations, while also contributing to broader legal and grassroots efforts that address patterns of misconduct and inequity. Success in this position requires sound legal judgment and a strong commitment to public interest law in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
This role is ideal for an attorney who is motivated by impact, values collaboration, and is seeking meaningful work that extends beyond individual cases to create lasting change.
Practice Areas: Civil Rights/Civil Liberties (Religious Freedom), Employment, National Security & Law Enforcement Practices, Public Accommodations, Prisoners' Rights, School Issues, Hate Crimes/Incidents, etc.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Review and investigate an array of legal claims brought by an incredibly diverse community.
  • Conduct intakes of legal claims as necessary through effective communication with members of the community.
  • Manage a considerable caseload (our attorneys currently manage approximately 200+ intakes each per year)
  • Provide assistance on assigned litigation efforts, including preparing pleadings, motions, and briefs.
  • Depending on experience, identify, develop, lead, and manage assigned litigation efforts, including preparing pleadings, motions, and briefs.
  • Perform in-depth legal research.
  • Legal writing including, but not limited to, drafting complaints, discovery, briefs, letters, and memos; and non-legal writing, including drafting community advisories, issuing briefings, and reports
  • Communicate with outside parties such as attorneys, employers, law enforcement agents, administrative agencies, media contacts, etc.
  • Work to educate and empower community members on their rights through community presentations and material distributions.
  • Prepare and assist in CAIR-California reports.
  • Travel for outreach, including participating in community events and coalition meetings
  • All CAIR staff are required to assist in general duties such as answering phones, weekly outreach, fundraising, and other office tasks as required

QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Law degree from an American Bar Association-accredited school
  • California State Bar admission
  • 1-3+ years of experience advocating for, representing, and/or litigating on behalf of clients in areas such as employment law, religious discrimination, public accommodation, denial of benefits by governmental and private actors in courts and administrative agencies
  • Strong time management skills with a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines
  • Demonstrated problem-solving skills with outstanding attention to detail
  • Comfort working productively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, including public speaking experience
  • Experience working with people from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds
  • Access to a working vehicle and the ability to drive throughout the Greater Los Angeles Area
  • High degree of self-motivation and creativity
  • A strong commitment to civil rights and CAIR's mission
  • Basic computer proficiency including knowledge of MS Office, and MS Outlook
  • Knowledge of cloud applications such as SharePoint, Office365, WestLaw Next, Lexis Nexis and social media applications (preferred)
  • Conversational proficiency in Arabic, Farsi, or Urdu (preferred but not required)

TO APPLY: Submit a cover letter, resume with writing sample and 3 professional references.
Equal Employment Opportunity: CAIR-CA is an equal-opportunity employer and adheres to all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination.