Special Assistant, Judiciary & Voting Rights & Elections Programs

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve our systems of democracy and justice. The Center’s work ranges from voting rights to court reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving Constitutional protections in the fight against terrorism. Part think tank, part advocacy group, part cutting edge communications hub, we start with rigorous research. We craft innovative policies. And we fight for them — in Congress and the states, the courts, and in the court of public opinion.   

Position Overview: 
Our Voting Rights and Elections Program advocates for free, fair, and accessible elections, with special focus on the ways systemic barriers impede electoral participation by communities of color. The past ten years have seen a brazen and widespread assault on the right to vote. Elected officials at the highest levels have deployed disinformation and misinformation to scapegoat communities trying to assert their rightful place in the electorate. And the Capitol attack made plain that some are even prepared to reject the use of elections as the arena to contest political differences. We meet these challenges, and others, head on. We do so with partners ranging from community-based organizations to election administrators to pro bono counsel.   

Our Judiciary Program works to realize a fair and inclusive judicial system that protects fundamental rights and democratic values. The Judiciary Program’s initiatives include advancing Supreme Court reform, building infrastructure to support state constitutional development, and publishing research to expose systemic inequities in the legal  

The Voting Rights and Elections and the Judiciary Programs seek an energetic, motivated, and well-organized individual who will provide administrative support and research and drafting assistance to the Program Directors and for program staff. The Special Assistant (SA) will report to the Program Directors and will work closely with the Directors in all aspects of their roles. The SA will play a central role in the daily responsibilities of the Directors and the programs.   
 

Note: This position is based at our headquarters in New York City. 

Responsibilities:   

• Support and work closely with the Directors, providing substantive and administrative support on all aspects of program management.   

• Manage the Directors’ schedule and travel arrangements.   

• Provide general administrative support, including drafting correspondence, answering and screening telephone calls and email, and ensuring requests to the Directors are appropriately handled in a timely and professional manner.  

• Provide research, drafting, editing, and proofreading for internal and external work-products, including public presentations, op-eds, articles, reports, and other writings.   

• Complete time-sensitive research, fact-checking, drafting, or editing to support program work.   

• Assist with managing significant program coordination such as organizing program meetings, events, and monitoring all departmental expenditures, in addition to working with staff from other departments.   

Qualifications:   
Required. A bachelor’s degree.   

Ideal. The ideal candidate will have some combination of the following experiences and qualifications. We recognize that many excellent candidates may not have all these experiences and qualifications, and we will provide support for the successful candidate to acquire additional skills.  

• A preference for 1-2 years’ work experience (administrative professionals with substantial experience will also receive full consideration)  

• A passion for improving our democracy and judicial system  

• A high-level of professionalism, integrity, discretion, and judgment 

• Superb writing, communication, and research skills  

• Excellent organizational skills, ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment, keen attention to detail, and ability to meet deadlines  

• Openness to evolving responsibilities, self-reliance, ability to take initiative, and excellent inter-personal skills  

• Proficiency in MS Office (including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). Proficiency in Salesforce is a plus   

The Brennan Center is committed to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace. We continuously work with our staff to find new ways to increase diversity and to build and cultivate an inclusive and equitable work environment, where everyone can be their true-self and feel a strong sense of belonging. As such, we seek to hire employees who have a commitment to and/or experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, we expect employees to participate/contribute with DEI initiatives or activities with recruitment, retention, and workplace culture.  

Applications:  
Applicants will be interviewed on a rolling basis, and decisions will be made as soon as appropriate candidates are identified. We hope to expeditiously move through the recruitment process, therefore; we strongly encourage interested applicants to apply early. To apply, visit <<this link>> and upload the following documents: (1) a cover letter, (2) resume, (3) two writing samples (up to 10 pages each), and (4) contact information for three supervisor references. If applicable, please include Internet hyperlinks to authored writing samples.  

Please, no phone calls or faxes and identify where you saw this ad - it is strongly preferred that you apply on our website.

If you have difficulty with the online system, you may send your application by e-mail to: [email protected] with “Special Assistant to the Directors, Voting Rights and Elections and Judiciary Programs” in the subject line, after registering in the online system.  

Compensation and Benefits:  
This is a scaled position. The salary range assigned for the scale is $56,000 - $69,500 and has been determined based on market competitiveness. Each salary in the scale is determined by the number of years of professional experience after the selected candidate graduated from undergraduate school. Additionally, we offer a very robust and competitive array of benefits such as a generous time off program, 401k plan, comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), and wellness and office perks.  

In addition, this position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW local 2320.  

Note: The Brennan Center is committed to public health and to the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and visitors. As such, we have adopted a policy requiring all employees working in the New York and Washington, DC offices to be vaccinated against COVID-19, or to meet the legal guidelines for an exemption.  

The Brennan Center for Justice is committed to a workplace based on equal opportunity and a strong belief in the increased effectiveness that comes from a diverse workforce. To this end, Brennan Center

• Welcomes applicants with disabilities and applicants of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, socioeconomic identities, sexual orientations, and national origin or citizenship, including people who have been previously incarcerated;
• Hires diverse candidates and works to improve our recruitment practices to allow for such
• Creates a workplace where true diversity is fostered and different perspectives are valued and freely exchanged;
• Ensures that all members of the Brennan Center community feel welcome and respected, and have equal opportunities to thrive and advance within the institution; and
• Is committed to supporting low-income communities and communities of color particularly affected by social inequities.