About this role
Role Overview
The Senior Fellow for Enforcement-Worker-First Protections will lead specialized research and policy innovation focused on workplace safety, worker classification, and emerging technological challenges.
Core Responsibilities
• Workplace Rights, Health, & Safety: Develop innovative models for enforcing misclassification, wage theft, workplace safety, hazard pay, anti-retaliation protections, and more, with a focus on developing replicable, place-specific strategic enforcement models.
• Policy Leadership & Innovation: Design durable policy solutions, such as indexing minimum wages to median wages and/or monthly rent, to lead state-level policy shifts.
• Analytical Impact: Ensure all policy decisions are analytically informed, focusing on the projected scale of impact and the number of workers assisted, in partnership with the VP of Narrative and Impact.
• Legal Strategy Integration: Collaborate with a potential new Senior Director of Legal Strategy to support amicus briefs and federal rule-making responses.
• Strategic Partnership: Work closely with the VP of Policy Solutions and the VP of Partnerships and Advocacy to align policy research with high-impact advocacy campaigns.
Key Deliverables:
• Conduct outreach and map policy trends and campaigns in their focus area.
• Convene and lead strategy sessions, including with NELP staff and the Board Program Committee.
• Author a final policy report/proposal with actionable recommendations, co-authoring with NELP staff where appropriate.
• Present findings publicly, including through public speaking and media engagement.
Qualifications
• Advanced expertise in labor law, specifically regarding worker protections and their enforcement.
• Knowledge of creative and strategic enforcement initiatives and models.
• Demonstrated ability to develop models that provide durable and adaptable blueprints across different jurisdictions.
Program Logistics
• Duration: 6 months (June – November/December)
• Contract: Consultancy
• Availability: Fellow must be available to attend internal meetings (estimated 2 hours per week.) Additionally, Fellow must be able to participate in-person at a NELP convening in September in either Washington DC or New York.
• Location: Any location within the US
• Reporting: Reports to the VP of Policy and Strategy.
• Compensation: NELP offers competitive compensation.
Application Deadline and Instructions
Deadline: Please apply no later than May 25, 2026
Instructions: Submit a resume and expression of interest highlighting your experience and availability.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.