Positions - Asian American Scholar Forum

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Senior Policy Advisor (Contractor)

About AASF

The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) is a nonprofit organization that provides a national voice and a seat at the table for the Asian American scholar community with the White House, Congress, federal agencies, media, the civil rights space, and the broader general public. Our members are prominent leaders from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, as well as past and current university presidents, provosts, vice provosts, deans, associate deans, department chairs, and recipients of prestigious awards and honors. AASF is a member of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, and a Founding Sponsor & Task Force member with the responsibility of helping the Congressionally mandated Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture gather the unique and diverse history, stories, and chronicles of the AANHPIs.

The Opportunity

AASF is seeking an experienced Senior Policy Advisor to provide ongoing federal policy advisory and education support, including to plan and prepare a Congressional briefing on artificial intelligence in Washington, DC. This is a contractor role for a seasoned policy professional who thrives in fast-moving environments, partners well with executive leadership, and can move fluidly between strategic counsel and hands-on execution.

The Senior Policy Advisor will work directly with the Executive Director, serving as a thought partner and trusted advisor on AASF’s federal policy and education priorities — including research security, academic freedom, civil rights, immigration, higher education, and U.S. scientific leadership.

Title: Senior Policy Advisor (Contractor)

Reports to: Executive Director

Engagement Type: Independent Contractor

Term: Six (6) months, with possibility of renewal in 2027

Time Commitment: Approximately 40 hours per month

Location: Remote (U.S.), with travel for Congressional briefing and meetings in Washington, DC

Compensation: Commensurate with experience

Position Responsibilities:

Policy Advisory Support

Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director on AASF’s federal policy priorities.
Monitor legislative, regulatory, and executive branch developments relevant to AASF’s mission.
Build a directory for Congressional contacts and build relationships.
Develop briefing memos, talking points, position statements, and other policy materials.
Draft comment letters, congressional outreach materials, and coalition communications.
Support AASF’s congressional and executive branch engagement, including meeting preparation, follow-up, and relationship development.
Advise on coalition strategy and assist with partner engagement.
Provide rapid-response analysis on emerging policy issues.
Support for speaker recruitment and outreach for Congressional and federal government contacts.
Organize Congressional briefings, hearings, roundtables, etc. as needed.

AI Congressional Briefing

Plan, prepare for, and support the execution of a Congressional briefing in Washington, DC designed to educate members of Congress and their staff on artificial intelligence and help provide a seat at the table for AASF expert scientists.
Develop the briefing concept, agenda, and learning objectives in consultation with the Executive Director.
Identify, recruit, and coordinate expert speakers.
Draft briefing materials, including invitations, talking points, leave-behind materials, and follow-up communications.
Coordinate logistics including venue, scheduling, attendee management, and Capitol Hill protocol.
Conduct Hill outreach to ensure strong attendance from relevant offices and committees.
Support on-site execution and prepare post-briefing follow-up materials.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree required, JD or advanced degree in a related field strongly preferred.
7+ years of professional experience in federal policy advocacy, congressional or executive branch work, or nonprofit policy and government affairs.
Ability to operate as a strategic thought partner to an Executive Director, exercising sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.
Demonstrated experience planning and executing Congressional briefings, advocacy campaigns, or similar policy education events.
Substantive expertise in one or more of AASF’s priority policy areas, including AI policy, research security, civil rights, higher education, immigration, or science and technology policy.
Strong writing skills, with the ability to produce policy memos, briefing materials, and strategic communications under tight timelines.
Comfort working in a start-up nonprofit environment, including hands-on execution, ambiguity, and flexibility.

Preferred Qualifications

Hill experience as a congressional staffer, committee staff, or in a leadership office.
Federal agency or executive branch experience.
Existing relationships with relevant Hill offices, federal agencies, or coalition partners.
Experience advising small or mid-sized nonprofits.
Familiarity with the Asian American community and AAPI-serving organizations.
Experience with rapid-response advocacy in civil rights or scientific integrity contexts.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit the following materials to **hiring@aasforum.org** with the subject line **”SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR APPLICATION – [FIRST & LAST NAME]”**:

1. **Resume or CV**
2. **Cover letter** describing your interest in the role, your relevant experience, and your proposed rate or compensation expectations (hourly, monthly retainer, or other structure)
3. **Writing sample** (a policy memo, briefing material, comment letter, or similar work product, redacted as needed)
4. **One reference** familiar with your policy advisory work

Additional references may be requested if you advance in the process.

**Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis** until the position is filled. We encourage interested candidates to apply early.

*No phone calls, please.*

Director of Litigation & General Counsel

Organizational Profile:

The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) is a nonprofit organization providing a national voice and a seat at the table for the Asian American scholar community with the White House, Congress, federal agencies, media, the civil rights space, and the broader general public. Our members are prominent leaders from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, as well as past and current university presidents, provosts, vice provosts, deans, associate deans, department chairs, and recipients of prestigious awards and honors. AASF is a member of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, and a Founding Sponsor & Task Force member with the responsibility of helping the Congressionally mandated Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture gather the unique and diverse history, stories, and chronicles of the AANHPIs.

The Opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to build something that doesn’t yet exist: AASF’s first in-house litigation department. Working directly with the Executive Director, you will shape the litigation strategy, structure, and culture of a high-profile civil rights nonprofit at a defining moment for Asian American scholars, scientists, and researchers in the United States. If you are an experienced litigator who is ready to move beyond a traditional law firm or established department and into a builder’s role with national impact, this position offers exceptional latitude — and exceptional purpose.

The Director of Litigation & General Counsel is an experienced litigator responsible for identifying, developing, and litigating impact cases. As a start-up, in this role, they will work with the Executive Director to found a litigation department. The Director of Litigation & General Counsel will also work to advance programmatic and policy priorities, and serve as a sounding board for and provide advice and counsel to the Executive Director.

Position Details

Title: Director of Litigation & General Counsel

Reports to: Executive Director

Term: Immediately

Status: Full-time

Location: Remote (U.S.)

Salary: $150,000-190,000; Commensurate with experience

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package (details provided to finalist candidates)

Position Responsibilities:

Litigation Leadership

Identify, develop, and lead litigation in federal and state courts, including the preparation of pleadings, motions, and briefs; conduct discovery; the presentation of oral arguments; and the handling of appeals.
Strategically, creatively, and boldly use client-driven, community-grounded impact litigation to support AASF’s policy priorities.
Facilitate coordination with pro bono counsel, coalition partners, and affiliate partners.
Contribute to the development and implementation of strategic communications plans related to litigation, including providing content support, responding to press inquiries, and making public speaking appearances as necessary and appropriate.

General Counsel

Provide general legal counseling and advice on all matters relating to the operation of the nonprofit.
Review documents and contracts for legal implications and identify legal policy questions for the organization.
Stay current on new and emerging legal and regulatory issues affecting nonprofits, including taxation, gifts, donations, governance or other relevant issues that face nonprofits.
Represent the nonprofit externally as needed.

Strategy & Team Leadership

Act as a thought partner to assist the Executive Director on issues related to the organization to ensure implementation of AASF’s mission, strategic plan, and program goals.
Keep the Executive Director informed of organizational culture, project status, strategic priorities, and challenges. This includes ensuring Executive Director’s awareness of and involvement in a project or decision-making process at the relevant moment, as informed by day-to-day events and performance.
Supervise law fellows and student interns, providing mentorship, oversight, and regular communication with the Executive Director.
Support AASF’s administrative and legislative advocacy by providing legal analysis and technical assistance.
Develop community education tools, including webinars, training, and legal resource materials.
Serve as a legal/ policy expert in coalitions with external partners.
Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

JD from an accredited law school and a valid bar license in good standing is required.
7+ years of litigation experience, with substantial experience in federal court.
Management experience, with proven ability to mentor and supervise legal staff, fellows, or interns.
Ability to operationalize vision, think strategically, creatively problem-solve, lead change, and exercise exceptional confidentiality, discretion, and judgment.
Collaborative leadership style and strong interpersonal skills, with a track record of working collegially across teams and stakeholders.
Comfort working in a start-up environment, including hands-on work, ambiguity, and flexibility in the department as it is built from the ground up.
Commitment to AASF’s mission and to advancing civil rights for the Asian American community.

Preferred Qualifications:

Civil rights litigation experience, particularly in areas relevant to AASF’s mission (e.g., racial profiling, academic freedom, research security, immigration, First Amendment, or equal protection).
Appellate court experience.
Experience with impact litigation, class actions, or amicus brief strategy.
Nonprofit legal experience, including familiarity with 501(c)(3) compliance, governance, and lobbying limits.
Existing relationships within the civil rights legal community, pro bono networks, or affinity bar associations.
Bilingual or multilingual capacity, particularly in languages relevant to AASF’s communities.

AASF is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we maintain a strong interest in our employees’ career development and strive to provide opportunities for growth and education for dedicated members of our team.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit the following materials to **hiring@aasforum.org** with the subject line **”DIRECTOR OF LITIGATION & GENERAL COUNSEL APPLICATION – [FIRST & LAST NAME]”**:

1. **Resume**
2. **Cover letter** describing your interest in the role and how your experience aligns with AASF’s mission
3. **Writing sample** (a brief, motion, or other litigation document, redacted as needed)

References will be requested from finalist candidates and need not be submitted with the initial application.

**Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis** until the position is filled. We encourage interested candidates to apply early.

*No phone calls, please.*

Development Consultant (Contractor)

Organizational Profile:

The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide a national voice and a seat at the table for the Asian American scholar community with the White House, Congress, federal agencies, media, the civil rights space, and the broader general public. Our members are prominent leaders from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, as well as past and current university presidents, provosts, vice provosts, deans, associate deans, department chairs, and recipients of prestigious awards and honors. AASF is a member of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, and a Task Force member with the responsibility of helping the Congressionally mandated Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture gather the unique and diverse history, stories, and chronicles of the AANHPIs.

Title: Development Consultant (Contractor)

Reports to: Executive Director

Salary: Commiserate on experience

Location: Remote

Contractor Position:

AASF is searching for a development consultant (contractor) to work closely with the Executive Director and Board, to develop new funding streams for the organization. The ideal candidate is result-oriented with extensive success in fundraising and has led campaigns to achieve significant growth. This individual has a deep knowledge of core fundraising campaigns and their primary revenue streams, including, but not limited to, foundations, grant applications, sponsorship, Peer-to-Peer, individual giving/major gifts, business partner engagement, and matching gifts. The candidate should be highly adaptable, eager to learn and teach, value investing in the growth and development of others, and seek to advance the mission of the AASF in meaningful ways.

Main Position Responsibilities

Lead in developing new fundraising streams and new leads for donor engagement. Drive new development through events, direct outreach, networking, and in-person engagement across the country. Identify, qualify, and convert leads into donors across corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors. Build and maintain relationships with funding partners and key stakeholders.
Draft and develop content for donor engagement, partners, and foundations.
Other duties as assigned and as expected of development consultants.

General Responsibilities

Develops and implements strategic solutions to overcome challenges and drive fundraising campaigns.
Research and identify relevant grant and funding opportunities aligned with organizational goals. Develop, write, and submit compelling grant proposals, concept notes, and funding applications. Manage the full grant lifecycle– from prospecting and application to reporting and compliance.
Deliver presentations and pitches to prospective donors and partners. Prepare AASF representatives for industry events, community engagements, networking forums, and other public engagements.
Maintain accurate records of leads, partnerships, and grant pipelines.
Keep the Executive Director informed of organizational culture, including project statuses, strategic priorities, opportunities, and challenges.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree required; Advanced degree in related field highly preferred.
Experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, proposal development, stakeholder engagement, and grant writing.
Proven track record of successful grant applications and/or donation acquisition.
Strong understanding of the terrain in the United States for nonprofit and for-profit funding ecosystems.
Excellent writing, editing, and proposal development skills.
Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and presentation skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
Self-starter with a strong results-driven mindset.
Demonstrated independent driven work and ability to work on multiple tasks, including openness to working on hands on work items for a start-up non-profit.
Ability to work with volunteers and operate with flexibility in a start-up environment.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, list of three references, and any relevant portfolio materials demonstrating your experience, as well as your contact information, to hiring@aasforum.org with the subject line DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT (CONTRACTOR) APPLICATION – [FIRST & LAST NAME]. No phone calls please.