Program Associate, Elections and Government Program

Brennan Center for Justice; New York (NY); On-site; USD 56,000 - 69,500; Full time

Job summary

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute focused on democracy and justice in the United States. It seeks to improve elections, campaign finance, and civil rights through rigorous research and policy reform.

We are hiring a full-time Program Associate who will perform administrative, research, and operational duties critical to the Elections & Government Program. Location: NYC or DC headquarters with occasional travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required and at least one year of work experience.
• Careful attention to detail, accuracy, timeliness, and organization.
• Ability to work productively under different management styles, and to seek and apply constructive feedback.
• Willingness to contribute to the mission of the Elections & Government Program.
• Drive and initiative to anticipate needs and solve problems with independence.
• Strong time management and ability to multi-task in a deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent writing, fact-checking, and proofreading skills.
• Experience and interest in politics, government, research, nonprofit administration, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Manage scheduling, expense reports and invoices, travel arrangements, and team events and logistics.
• Support timely execution of deliverables by planning, tracking, prioritizing, and providing progress reports.
• Provide administrative and other support for research publications, advocacy, litigation, and related projects.
• Organize internal and external meetings, including calendaring and note‑taking; follow up on next steps.
• Draft memos, talking points, presentations, and board reports from research and information gathered.
• Communicate with external stakeholders, including government officials, allies, donors, and journalists.
• Coordinate inter‑department initiatives with Communications and Development teams and other programs.
• Research and summarize legal, academic, and news sources; conduct citation and fact‑checking; assist in writing and proofreading.
• Work collaboratively and respectfully with colleagues at all levels; engage in special projects as assigned.

Skills

Attention to detail

Time management

Organization

Initiative

Multi-tasking

Strong writing skills

Proofreading

Research

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve the systems of democracy and justice in the United States. It works to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. The Brennan Center’s work ranges from voting rights to campaign finance reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving constitutional protections in national security policies. 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, in the courts, and in the court of public opinion.

Position Overview

The Brennan Center’s Elections and Government Program works to improve the administration of our elections so that they are free, fair, and secure for all voters; reform campaign finance to combat corruption and amplify the voices of everyday people in politics; combat election disinformation and political violence; and put forward solutions to ensure that government institutions have the capacity to meet contemporary challenges, among other goals. This work aims to bring the ideal of representative self‑government closer to reality by eliminating barriers to full and equal political participation, reforming campaign finance to combat corruption and amplify the voices of everyday people in politics, and striving to ensure that public policy and institutions are effective and reflect the diverse voices and interests that make for a rich democracy.

We seek a full‑time Program Associate who will be responsible for performing administrative, research, and operational duties that are central to the program’s ability to achieve key goals. The candidate will report to the Directors of the Elections and Government Program and will work under the supervision of and in collaboration with other senior and mid‑level program staff.

Location: Headquarters in New York City or Washington, D.C. office. This position will require occasional travel.

Responsibilities

• Manage scheduling, expense reports and invoices, travel arrangements, and team events and logistics, and provide other logistical support for day‑to‑day program operations, with accuracy and timeliness.
• Support smooth and timely execution of deliverables by planning, tracking, prioritizing, and providing progress reports on tasks and projects.
• Provide administrative and other support for research publications, federal and state advocacy, litigation, and other projects.
• Organize internal and external meetings, including calendaring, distributing reference materials, timekeeping, note‑taking, and following up with next steps.
• Collect and synthesize information to draft memos, talking points and presentations, board reports, correspondence, and other communications.
• Communicate with external stakeholders, including government officials, allies, donors, and journalists.
• Help to coordinate inter‑department initiatives with the Communications and Development teams, in addition to other programs within the organization.
• Research and summarize legal, academic, and news sources; citation and fact‑checking; writing and proofreading to support preparation of articles, speeches, reports, and organizational materials, with opportunities for named authorship.
• Work collaboratively, respectfully, and productively with colleagues at all levels of the organization.
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned.

Experience and Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree and at least one year of work experience are required.
• Careful attention to detail, accuracy, timeliness, and organization.
• Ability to work productively under different management styles, and to seek and apply constructive feedback.
• Willingness and flexibility to contribute as needed to advance the mission of the Elections & Government Program.
• Drive and ability to take initiative, anticipate needs and solve problems, and complete tasks and projects with a high degree of focus and independence.
• Strong ability to manage time and successfully multi‑task in a deadline‑driven environment.
• Excellent writing, fact‑checking, and proofreading skills.
• Strong ability to conduct and accurately summarize legal, academic, and news‑based research.
• Experience and interest in politics, government, research, nonprofit administration, or a related field.
• Enthusiasm to learn and support the work of the Elections and Government Program.
• A high degree of professionalism, integrity, discretion, and tact.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the desire and ability to build positive working relationships with colleagues within and external to the organization.

We are committed to considering a wide range of candidates, including those with diverse experiences and backgrounds. Whether you are new to the nonprofit law and policy sector, returning to work after a gap in employment, looking to make a career transition, or seeking to advance your professional path, we welcome your application.

Compensation and Benefits

The Brennan Center offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package that is regularly assessed based on workplace trends and employee feedback. This is a scaled position. The salary 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 generous time‑off program, 401(k) plan, comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), and wellness and office perks.

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

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. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity, socioeconomic identity, sexual orientation, national origin, previous incarceration, disability, military veteran/status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. To this end, we welcome all qualified applicants to apply.