Lambda Legal, Chief Legal Advocacy Officer
Hybrid – located in New York, NY (Headquarters); Atlanta, GA (Southern); Dallas, TX (South Central); Chicago, IL (Midwest); Los Angeles, CA (Western); or Washington, D.C.
Who We Are
Lambda Legal is a national advocacy organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Since 1973, Lambda Legal has used impact litigation and other advocacy tools to decriminalize same-sex relationships; challenge discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV in the workplace, in the home, in schools, in health care, and in the military; and protect LGBTQ+ families, including by winning and defending marriage equality. Our clients are not charged for legal representation or advocacy and Lambda Legal receives no government funding. Headquartered in New York City, Lambda Legal also has regional offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington, DC. We believe that serving the full breadth of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities requires cultural humility and enthusiasm for diversity of all kinds. To be successful, we must approach our work with an understanding that discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status is not the only obstacle to achieving full formal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV; rather, we recognize the intersectional nature of discrimination, specifically including biases based on race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, education, and class. Considering this reality, we prioritize a proactive commitment to counteracting these biases and their compounding effects in the work we do, but also in how we work together as an organization.
Learn more about Lambda Legal at https://lambdalegal.org.
About the Role
Lambda Legal is seeking a dynamic, visionary, and strategic leader to serve as Chief Legal Advocacy Officer (CLAO). This is a pivotal executive leadership role, responsible for shaping and advancing the organization’s litigation, policy, and public education strategies in service of LGBTQ+ communities and everyone living with HIV, while also strengthening organizational systems, infrastructure, and alignment with broader movement goals.
As the senior-most leader of the Legal Department, the CLAO will guide a talented, mission-driven team of civil rights attorneys, policy advocates, and program staff across multiple practice areas in service to our mission, values, and DEIB philosophy. The CLAO serves on the Executive Team and reports directly to the CEO, with ultimate accountability for departmental vision, performance, and long-term impact.
The successful candidate will combine executive leadership and organizational acumen with credible legal and movement expertise, strong systems design, and a collaborative leadership style rooted in emotional intelligence.
Contact
DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Trisha Sutrisno, Shelby Woods and Amber Gomes. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
About DSG | Koya
DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
DSG Global is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.
Learn more about DSG | Koya via the firm's website.