Program Associate, Democracy Program

New York, NY
Full Time
Entry Level

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, 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: The Democracy Program seeks full-time Program Associates (PA) to join one of our cutting-edge, inter-disciplinary teams working to protect fundamental rights and democratic values. Our teams address a broad range of democracy-related issues, including: voting rights and elections; redistricting, representation, and the census; judicial independence and state constitutional development; and the U.S. Supreme Court and court reform. Each PA will provide broad logistical support for the day-to-day operations of their assigned program team. These are entry-level positions reporting to a designated program manager, although each PA may be assigned to work with a variety of team members as needed.   

Note: These positions are based at our headquarters in New York City and staff are currently working from home 2 days a week.  

Responsibilities:  

  • Research and track bills, laws, and cases for inclusion in publications like the Voting Laws Roundup and State Court Report. 

  • Analyze developments in the democracy field for a wide array of applications. 

  • Provide administrative support for publications, convenings, and other projects. 

  • Organize internal and external meetings, including calendaring, distributing reference materials, timekeeping, note-taking, and following up with next steps. 

  • Manage scheduling, expense reports and invoices, travel arrangements, and team events and logistics. 

  • Collect and synthesizing information to draft outlines, memos, talking points and presentations, board reports, correspondence, and other communications. 

  • Provide research, writing, fact-checking, and proofreading assistance to support preparation of articles, speeches, reports, op-eds, blog posts, and other organizational materials, with opportunities for named authorship. 

  • Work with key internal stakeholders including attorneys, researchers, communications and development professionals, and other program associates.  

  • Take on special projects and other duties as assigned.  

Qualifications:  

Required. A bachelor’s degree (Because this is an entry-level position, we will not consider lawyers.) 

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. 

  • Preference for 1-2 years’ work experience  

  • A passion for improving our democracy  

  • Exceptional research, analytical, and writing skills 

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

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

  • Openness to receiving and implementing feedback, and to accepting strategic direction from organizational management 

  • Comfort with taking initiative 

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 in and contribute to DEI initiatives, including those related to recruitment, retention, and workplace culture.  

Position Start Date:  The earliest this position will start is June 2023 

Salary: This is a scaled position. The salary range assigned for the scale is $52,005 - $65,663 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. 

Applications: Applicants will be interviewed on a rolling basis and decisions will be made as soon as appropriate candidates are identified. To apply, https://brennancenter.applytojob.com/apply/NOLuOxibXJ/Program-Associate-Democracy-Program 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 references.  If applicable, 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: brennancenterjobs@nyu.edu with “Program Associate, Democracy Program” in the subject line, after registering in the online system. 

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, including having a booster, 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.
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