State Legislative Fellow
State Legislative Fellow
at Center for Reproductive Rights
New York Headquarters
Job Title: State Legislative Fellow
Department: U.S. Programs, State Policy and Advocacy Team
Center Background: The Center for Reproductive Rights (the Center) is the premier global litigation and legal policy organization using the power of law to advance reproductive rights as fundamental human rights around the world. Headquartered in New York City, the non-profit, non-partisan organization has regional offices in Bogota, Geneva, Kathmandu, Nairobi, and Washington, DC; a staff of approximately 200 diverse professionals; an annual budget of approximately $40 million with an additional $22 million in donated services from leading law firms around the globe.
The Center's game-changing litigation and advocacy work, combined with its unparalleled expertise in constitutional, comparative, and international human rights law, have transformed how reproductive rights are understood by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide. It has played a key role in securing landmark legal victories in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the United States on issues including access to life-saving obstetrics care, contraception, safe abortion services, and comprehensive sexuality information, as well as the prevention of forced sterilization and child marriage. It has brought groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies, led the development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights, and has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 60 countries.
To learn more about the Center for Reproductive Rights, go to www.reproductiverights.org.
The Role: The State Legislative Fellow will report directly to the Senior State Legislative Counsel and will work closely with the rest of the State Policy and Advocacy Team. They will be an integral part of the state work, which uses legislative and advocacy strategies to strengthen protections for reproductive rights and defeat attempts to restrict reproductive rights.
This position is based in New York City.
Responsibilities:
The State Legislative Fellow’s primary job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Tracking and analyzing reproductive rights legislation in all fifty states and Washington, D.C;
- Providing technical assistance to state advocates and national partners;
- Preparing analyses of state legislation;
- Conducting legal research;
- Drafting public education materials on state legislative trends and other advocacy materials;
- Speaking publicly about reproductive rights;
- Drafting legislation and developing proactive legislative strategies; and
- Working with the Senior State Legislative Counsel and other State Policy and Advocacy staff on additional legislative and advocacy projects.
Qualifications:
- Strong commitment to the Center’s mission, purpose, and values along with knowledge of reproductive rights, reproductive justice, racial justice, or other civil rights and justice issues;
- J.D. degree;
- 1 to 2 years relevant work experience; judicial clerkship, and/or fellowship desirable, but not required;
- Proven capacity to analyze complex legal issues and ability to communicate clearly and effectively;
- Strong legal research and writing skills;
- Ability to manage high volume of daily bill analysis and cohesively manage information;
- Some state legislative, coalition, and/or political experience preferred;
- Willingness to travel when work travel resumes; and
- Bar admission desirable, but not required.
Critical Competencies:
- Strategic thinking: Applies big-picture thinking while also focusing on the details of implementation.
- Decisiveness: Consistently makes sound decisions in a timely manner supportive of the Center's mission, core values, and strategic objectives. Blends vision and judgment.
- Collaboration: Brings a track record of working effectively with various and diverse individuals and groups, and a willingness to actively listen and invite different views and opinions across all levels of the institution to build alignment in support of a common goal.
- Receives and Provides Direct Feedback: Actively gives and requests feedback to and from peers, supervisors and direct reports (if applicable) about work products, behaviors, values, style and approaches with a view on how this impacts self, other individuals and teams.
- Transparency: Consistently applies openness and honesty in communicating decisions and plans to team members.
- Commitment to learn: Applies a growth mentality to their own and their team’s development (if applicable). Promotes a culture of learning by modeling inquisitiveness and an openness to viewing mistakes as an opportunity to learn and improve.
- Passion for Coaching, and Mentoring Staff: Empowers and motivates employees and creates opportunities for learning, development, and leadership, with a focus on harnessing skills for the future development of team members. (if applicable)
- Accountability: Follows through on each commitment made to individual contributors, teams and partners and proactively informs others of any delays that occur along the way. Holds team members accountable.
- Integrity: Possesses impeccable integrity and personal and professional values that are consistent with the Center’s high standards and mission.
- Empathy: Serves as an empathetic, approachable leader who engenders trust and confidence. (if applicable)
- Adaptability/Flexibility: Demonstrates comfort with ambiguity and calculated risk.
Compensation: The salary for this role is $70,000 per year. The Center also offers a comprehensive benefits program and generous PTO offering.
Duration of Position: This is a full-time, two-year fellowship beginning in Fall 2020.
How to Apply: Please complete the application below to apply. A cover letter, resume, and writing sample of 5 to 10 pages must be included in your application. Please include these application materials as attachments.
Deadline for applications: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
The Center for Reproductive Rights is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates from all groups and communities to apply.
Please note that all genuine Center openings must be applied through the Center website. The Center does not charge a fee at any stage in the recruitment process (application, interviews, or selection). Nor does it request any medical examinations or bank account inform as part of this process. If someone contacts you on behalf of the Center requesting payment for your application please notify careers@reprorights.org before taking any further action.