Senior Fellow: Worker-First Enforcement and Protections

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.