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At Mass Law Reform Institute, we work hard to advocate for justice — and we need a diverse and committed team to fulfill that mission.

CURRENT OPEN POSITIONS

Chief Equity Strategist 
Chief Equity Strategist

The Opportunity:

The Chief Equity Strategist is a committed, visionary leader responsible for shaping and implementing systemic equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) as core drivers of the organization’s long-term growth and sustainability. This role champions equitable practices and positions DEIB as foundational to the organization’s strategy, policies, and culture, ensuring it is positioned for success. The Chief Equity Strategist serves as a trusted advisor to leadership, driving organizational change, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. They will provide strategic guidance on succession planning, organizational structure, workplace initiatives, professional development, talent acquisition and future readiness, all through the lens of equity and inclusion.

About MLRI: MLRI is a nationally recognized nonprofit poverty law and policy center that provides statewide advocacy and leadership in advancing laws, policies, and practices that secure economic, racial, and social justice for low-income people and communities. We pursue systems change through litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy, coalition building, community lawyering, and other strategies that address systemic harm to low-income people. MLRI is also the statewide multi-issue poverty law support center for the Massachusetts civil legal aid delivery system; our advocates provide substantive expertise and technical assistance to frontline legal aid field program advocates and to many other advocates and providers who serve low-income people and communities in Massachusetts.

Key Responsibilities:

 
  1. Strategic Leadership in DEIB:
  • Lead the design and execution of DEIB strategies that align with the organization’s long-term vision, ensuring equity is deeply integrated into all operations, policies, and decision-making.
  • Review, assess, amend, and apply the DEIB recommendations proposed in the third-party consultant report.
  • Act as an advocate for and practices systemic equity, working to create an inclusive and equitable organizational environment.

2. Organizational Culture and Structure:

  • Assess and refine organizational structures to ensure they support inclusivity, innovation, and continuous improvement.
  • Cultivate an environment where all employees feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute to the organization’s success.

3. Advisor to Leadership on Organizational Change:

  • Serve as a key advisor to the leadership team, providing insights on systemic change, organizational behavior, and human dynamics to foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
  • Leadership guide on succession planning and organizational restructuring, ensuring future-ready leadership pipelines and equitable opportunities for growth and advancement.

4. Succession Planning & Future Positioning:

  • Develop and implement succession planning strategies that prioritize equity, ensuring diverse and representative leadership at every level of the organization.
  • Position the organization for long-term success by identifying emerging trends in workforce development and preparing the organization to thrive in a rapidly changing environment.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration:

  • Partner with Human Resources to embed DEIB in talent management, recruitment, retention, and professional development strategies, ensuring equitable access to opportunities.
  • Collaborate with operational leaders to ensure equity considerations are integrated into business processes, policies, and systems.

6. Change Management & Continuous Improvement:

  • Design and implement change management frameworks that promote resilience, adaptability, and innovation across the organization, while prioritizing equity and inclusion.
  • Lead efforts to continuously assess and enhance organizational effectiveness, fostering a workplace that is agile, future-ready, and aligned with DEIB principles.

Qualifications:

  • Proven experience in organizational development, leadership, or human resources, with a focus on DEIB.
  • Expertise in change management, succession planning, and leadership development.
  • Deep understanding of systemic equity, antiracist practices, and their application in complex organizations.
  • Demonstrated ability to influence senior leadership and lead cross-functional teams.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships at all levels of the organization.
  • Strong strategic planning and analytical skills.
  • Ability to lead and influence without formal authority, fostering collaboration across all levels of the organization.
  • Excellent facilitation, coaching, and conflict resolution skills.
  • Adept at working with complex organizational structures and navigating political landscapes.
  • Commitment to personal and professional growth in the areas of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Preferred Education/Experience:

  • Master’s degree in organizational development, Human Resources, or a related field.
  • Certifications or at least 8-10 years’ experience in DEIB, change management, or related areas.

Compensation and Location:

  • Competitive compensation based on the skills and the experience of the person hired. This is a part-time position with a term of 2 years and will report to the Executive Director and COO/CFO. This role is hybrid, with 2 days a week required onsite in Boston, MA.

How to Apply:

Please email a cover letter and resume to humanresources@mlri.org.

Deadline for Submission:

Application materials will be reviewed, and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis; interested and qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to submit application materials promptly.

This role is a pivotal leadership position that will help shape the future of the organization through a deep commitment to systemic equity and organizational excellence. The Chief Equity Strategist will ensure the organization is poised for long-term success, embedding DEIB into its core as it adapts and thrives for decades to come.

MLRI brings its core values of community, race equity, and justice into all aspects of its work, and we seek an individual for this role who aligns with these values.

RFP Training Program Consultant

SUMMARY

The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (“MLRI”) is requesting proposals for a consultant who has experience developing training programs for legal and non-legal advocates. The consultant will support MLRI in developing, and implementing, a skills-based training program for legal and non-legal advocates.

At this time, MLRI is working with Program Directors and Litigation/Advocacy Directors across the state’s legal aid community to develop and conduct a Needs Assessment regarding advocate training. The consultant will assist with building the framework for MLRI’s Advocate Training Program, including:

  • Instructional Technology: Assistance identifying instructional tools/methods available
  • Website/Mobile Platform(s): Assistance identifying online and mobile platforms 
  • Funding Models: Assistance developing a sustainable funding model
  • Staffing Models: Assistance identifying staff and resources necessary for the program
  • Data Collection: Assistance developing a data collection system
  • Program Evaluation: Assistance developing a program evaluation system

ABOUT MLRI

MLRI provides statewide advocacy and leadership in advancing laws, policies, and practices that secure economic, racial, and social justice for low-income people and communities. MLRI’s goals are to (1) address public and institutional policies and procedures that either contribute to, or perpetuate, the cycle of poverty; (2) ensure that low-income and underserved populations across the state are provided the same legal protections, rights and liberties enjoyed by all members of society; and (3) provide local legal services providers and community-based advocacy organizations that serve low-income people with the substantive expertise, technical assistance, and support they need to best serve their clients. MLRI furthers its mission through impact litigation, policy advocacy, coalition building, community lawyering, and public information.

In addition, MLRI serves as the poverty law support center for the Massachusetts civil legal aid delivery system and advocacy community. Our advocates provide expertise and support to local legal aid programs, social services, health care and human service providers, and community organizations that serve low-income people throughout the state. MLRI is considered one of the nation’s premier statewide poverty law and policy centers. For fifty years, it has been responsible for groundbreaking policies and innovative strategies that have advanced the rights of low-income people in Massachusetts. 

In our capacity as the Massachusetts legal aid delivery system’s poverty law support center, MLRI provides trainings, substantive legal expertise, and technical assistance to local legal services programs, as well as many providers and community-based organizations that serve low-income people throughout Massachusetts. We build the capacity of our legal aid partners to respond to client needs, and empower our community partners with knowledge about legal rights and remedies so that they may build power to effectuate change.

As the number and needs of low-income individuals in Massachusetts continues to grow, legal aid services and support are needed more than ever. It is critical that legal aid and community partners have the legal skills expertise, substantive issue-based knowledge, support and technical assistance to be responsive to the evolving needs of low-income people throughout the Commonwealth.

PROGRAM’S PURPOSE & OBJECTIVES

The purpose of MLRI’s Advocate Training Program is to provide local legal services providers and community-based advocacy organizations with the tools and support they need to best serve their clients. At this time, MLRI anticipates that the training program will initially focus on advocacy skills, and later expand to substantive law and supervision skills. The selected consultant will assist MLRI in developing an Advocacy Training Program that…

  1. Provides trainings for legal and non-legal advocates in advocacy skills, substantive law, and supervision skills.
  2. Conducts trainings in a variety of formats to best meet advocates’ needs, including synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities. 
  3. Identifies (and retains) a diverse, interdisciplinary training faculty with varied social identities that reflect the state’s advocate, stakeholder, and client communities.
  4. Creates space for, and encourages, community and networking opportunities for legal and non-legal advocates.
  5. Ensures that the program is flexible (can easily adapt to changes in the law), accessible (limits barriers to access), and sustainable.

PROPOSAL CONTENT

Responder Description

Please provide the following information:

  1. Responder’s full legal name
  2. Responder’s head office mailing address (for billing)
  3. Responder’s website address
  4. Name, telephone number, email address of Responder’s designate contact person
  5. Responder’s expertise
  6. Responder’s key staff members

Project Understanding

Please provide a description of your understanding of the project.

Proposed Services

Please provide a description of your capabilities and how you will meet the project’s objectives, including your experience and capabilities developing an advocacy training program. Please provide examples of work products, if available.

Specific Requirements

Please ensure that your proposal addresses each of the following requirements:

  1. Launch: Training Program launch (estimated Fall 2025) is efficient and on time.
  2. Instructional Technology: Assistance identifying instructional tools/methods available to conduct trainings in a variety of settings (remote, including synchronous and asynchronous learning; hybrid; and in-person).
  3. Website/Mobile Platform(s): Assistance identifying online and mobile platforms that ensure trainings/resources are easy to locate and navigate, minimizes paths necessary to access material, and can be used across a variety of devices.
  4. Funding Models: Assistance developing a funding model that both reduces barriers to training access and ensures that the training program is sustainable.
  5. Staffing Models: Assistance identifying the staff and resources necessary to implement and sustain training program.
  6. Data Collection: Assistance developing a system to continuously gather data and track program outcomes.
  7. Program Evaluation: Assistance developing a system to evaluate whether the program is meeting program goals (including why goals are or are not being met).

PROPOSAL ASSESSMENT AND TIMELINE

Proposal Assessment Process and Criteria

All proposals will be evaluated by MLRI. Notwithstanding any other provision in the RFP, MLRI reserves the right to accept the proposal that it deems in its sole discretion most advantageous and the right to reject any or all proposals without giving any notice or reasons. 

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

MLRI may consider any criteria it desires, including, without limitation, those listed below (not necessarily in order of importance):

  • Demonstrated understanding of the project objectives and requirements
  • Professional qualifications, reputation, and experience
  • Ability to address technical, functional, and business requirements
  • Cost of project
  • Quality of proposal

Timelines and Milestone Dates

RFP Issue Date: November 6, 2024

Questions Due: November 14, 2024

Responses Emailed: November 18, 2024

RFP Due Date: November 27, 2024

Notice of Decision: December 16, 2024

Potential Contract Amount: $20,000 – $25,000

Contract Start Date: January 2025

Contract Duration: Four to six months as of start date

Contacts

Please send completed proposals and all inquiries/questions regarding this RFP via email to:

Ashley Nyce, Director of Training
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
40 Court Street, Suite 700
Boston, MA 02108
anyce@mlri.org 

Please provide all submissions as PDF attachments.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

MLRI is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We believe that having a staff, board, and volunteers with diverse personal and professional backgrounds and lived experience enhances our ability to meet our mission and creates an environment where all members of our community can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, immigrants, women, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people with lived experience of poverty and/or racism, and people from underrepresented and historically marginalized groups.