The Organization

The Commonwealth Foundation (“CF”) is among the most effective and influential state-based think tanks in the country. Our work is driven by our core values of integrity, stewardship, mission driven and results focused, stewardship, people matter, and we engage to improve.

With a top-notch team of policy analysts and legislative and communication experts, CF transforms free-market ideas into public policies, empowering all Pennsylvanians to thrive. We are a catalyst for prosperity and accountability, and we focus on a free-market portfolio. We are lighting the way toward: excellent education for every child, a thriving economy for every Pennsylvanian, and personal empowerment for every person.

We start with ideas, then leverage our Policy, Government Affairs, and Public Affairs teams to transform those ideas into real policy solutions that become the law of the land in Pennsylvania. Our vision is to make Pennsylvania the leading state for opportunity and prosperity through our impact as the most effective policy think tank in America.

As such, we are creating the Commonwealth Justice Center as a Public Interest Law Center within the Commonwealth Foundation with the mission to defend the rule of law and expand individual liberty by challenging government overreach, reinforcing constitutional limits on state power, and protecting the free-market principles that allow Pennsylvanians to thrive.  Our vision is a Commonwealth where liberty is protected, government is limited, and Pennsylvanians enjoy the freedom and opportunity that come from a government bound by the rule of law.  We are seeking a founding Vice President of Litigation to play a central role in launching and expanding the organization’s strategic litigation efforts in partnership with the COO/General Counsel.

Leadership Philosophy and Standards

The Commonwealth Foundation is guided by a leadership philosophy and standards that require all members of the executive team – including the Vice President of Litigation– to lead their teams by providing purpose, direction, and motivation to accomplish the mission and improve the organization.

The CF leadership mindset that guides the executive team is based upon humility, ownership, and servant leadership.

The executive team members must demonstrate specific, impactful behaviors; they must:

  • Model the Way
  • Inspire a Shared Vision
  • Challenge the Process
  • Enable Others to Act
  • Encourage the Heart

The executive team members must also act to cultivate several core abilities to drive organizational success; they must:

  • Simplify
  • Delegate
  • Predict
  • Systemize
  • Structure

The Role

The Vice President of Litigation for the Commonwealth Justice Center will be an accomplished, tenacious, and innovative litigator with exceptional legal judgment, intellectual curiosity, and an entrepreneurial mindset. The Vice President must reside in or be willing to relocate to Pennsylvania.

This is a rare opportunity to build, not simply inherit, a public-interest litigation center. Working in close partnership with the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, the Vice President will serve as a co-architect of the Commonwealth Justice Center, helping build its litigation strategy, operations, systems, culture, and team from the ground up.

This role requires a leader who is equally comfortable doing the work and leading the work. The Vice President will initially serve as the Center’s sole litigator, personally developing and leading significant litigation matters while building the foundation for the Center’s growth. As the Center expands, the Vice President will recruit, develop, and supervise a high-performing litigation team while remaining closely engaged in litigation strategy and significant matters.

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, the Vice President will work in close partnership with the COO/General Counsel to identify, evaluate, develop, and pursue strategic litigation opportunities aligned with the Center’s mission and strategic objectives. This reporting structure will provide clear accountability and ensure that the Center’s legal, programmatic, and operational activities remain aligned with its mission, compliance framework, and strategic direction.

The Vice President will also partner closely with the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs to coordinate external communications related to the Commonwealth Justice Center and will collaborate with the organization’s Policy and Government Affairs teams as appropriate to maximize the impact of the Center’s work.

The Vice President will serve as a member of the Commonwealth Foundation Executive Leadership Team. As the Center grows, the Vice President will build and lead a team that may include additional litigators, paralegals, and other legal professionals.

This position is based in our Radnor, Pennsylvania office and follows a hybrid work schedule, requiring in-office presence or business travel three days per week, with remote work available two days per week. Core office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The position could be relocated to the Harrisburg area in two to three years.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to the Commonwealth Foundation’s core values:

  • Integrity
  • Stewardship
  • Mission Driven. Results Focused
  • People Matter
  • Engage to Improve

Responsibilities & Key Accountabilities

  • Build and Operationalize the Center: Serve as a key strategic partner to the COO/General Counsel in building and launching the Commonwealth Justice Center, including establishing case management, conflicts and intake processes, workflows, reporting, legal technology, and other core systems and processes necessary to support a sophisticated litigation practice.
  • Develop Strategic Litigation Opportunities: Partner with the COO/General Counsel to identify, evaluate, develop, and pursue strategic litigation opportunities aligned with the Center’s mission and organizational objectives.
  • Lead Litigation and Build the Team: Serve initially as a hands-on litigator, personally developing and managing the Center’s litigation portfolio. As the Center grows, recruit, develop, and supervise a high-performing litigation team while maintaining strategic oversight of the Center’s cases and legal strategy.
  • Build the Litigation Pipeline: Proactively identify emerging legal issues, cultivate relationships with potential plaintiffs and referral sources, and develop a robust and sustainable pipeline of mission-aligned, high-impact litigation opportunities through outreach to affected individuals and communities, stakeholders, businesses, advocacy organizations, and other strategic partners.
  • Lead High-Impact Litigation: Direct the management and execution of litigation matters, including case development and strategy, legal research and analysis, pleadings, discovery, motion practice, trial preparation, oral advocacy, appeals, and other aspects of litigation as appropriate.
  • Develop Litigation Strategy: Exercise sophisticated legal and strategic judgment in evaluating potential matters, assessing legal theories, risks, opportunities, and potential impact, and working with the COO/General Counsel to establish litigation priorities.
  • Build and Lead a High-Performing Team: Recruit, mentor, supervise, and develop attorneys, paralegals, and other legal professionals, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, collaboration, entrepreneurial thinking, and professional development.
  • Advance External Impact: Collaborate with the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs on litigation-related communications and media strategies that effectively communicate the Center’s work and advance legal and organizational objectives.
  • Identify Emerging Legal Opportunities: Monitor and analyze legislation, regulations, government actions, judicial developments, and public policy trends to identify potential litigation opportunities and assess legal risks and implications.
  • Collaborate Across the Organization: Work closely with Public Affairs, Policy, and Government Affairs to leverage the organization’s expertise and develop legal analyses, white papers, op-eds, and other thought leadership and advocacy materials where appropriate.
  • Support Development and External Relationships: Support fundraising and development initiatives through donor engagement, grant opportunities, strategic partnerships, and communication regarding the Center’s litigation strategy, work, and impact, as appropriate.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

  • J.D. from an accredited law school and membership in good standing of a state bar, with eligibility for immediate admission to the Pennsylvania Bar.
  • 10+ years of progressively responsible litigation experience, including personally managing sophisticated or high-stakes matters and developing litigation strategy.
  • Exceptional legal research, analysis, persuasive writing, and oral advocacy skills, with experience across multiple phases of litigation
  • Experience supervising, mentoring, and developing attorneys or other legal professionals.
  • Strong legal judgment and strategic thinking, including the ability to evaluate complex legal issues, risks, opportunities, and potential impact.
  • Excellent organizational, project management, communication, and relationship-building skills.
  • Entrepreneurial mindset and willingness to initially serve as the Center’s sole litigator while building its litigation operations and future team.
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate across organizational functions, build strategic relationships, and take ownership of complex initiatives.
  • Strong commitment to the mission, values, and strategic objectives of the Commonwealth Foundation and Commonwealth Justice Center.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience identifying and developing affirmative litigation opportunities or working in public-interest, impact, constitutional, administrative, regulatory, appellate, or complex commercial litigation.
  • Experience with case management, litigation support, or legal technology platforms.
  • Federal judicial clerkship (strongly preferred).

Benefits

  • Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
  • Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance.
  • Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
  • Life insurance.
  • Monthly stipend for needed mobile technology.
  • Paid Parking.
  • 4% company contribution towards a retirement plan.
  • Professional development opportunities.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Commonwealth Foundation provides equal employment opportunity to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

  • Resume
  • Cover letter detailing your interest in the position and Commonwealth Foundation’s mission.
  • Your best legal brief
  • 2-3 professional references

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.

Questions can be directed to Savannah Murphy, Project Manager, who is managing the search process: [email protected].

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

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