Associate, Strategy Planning & Systems

Title:  Associate (Strategy, Planning & Systems)

Department:  Strategy, Planning & Systems 

Center Background: The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global human rights organization working to ensure that reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights worldwide. With offices in New York City, and Washington, D.C.; Nairobi, Kenya; Bogota, Colombia; and Geneva, Switzerland, the Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization changing law and policy throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. Our 270+ diverse professionals are committed to advancing the Center’s human rights mission through game-changing litigation, legal policy, and advocacy work. This has powered the Center’s exceptional growth to an operating budget of over $60 million and won the respect of law firms in countries around the world. Our global pro bono network includes over 3,000 lawyers across 6 continents, 88 countries, and 140+ law firms. Last year, law firms contributed over $35 million USD in pro bono legal services. The Center’s Strategic Plan sets a high mark for impact: By 2030, half of the world’s population will be living under stronger protections for reproductive rights than they were in 2020. The Center has a record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since our founding in 1992, the Center has transformed how reproductive rights are understood and applied by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, abortion, assisted reproduction, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. We have won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies. The Center has also led development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights. It has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 65 countries and counting. To learn more about the Center, please go to www.reproductiverights.org .

The Job: The Associate for Strategy, Planning and Systems will provide administrative support to the Strategy, Planning and Systems (SP&S) function, along with dedicated support to the Chief Strategy & Operations Officer who is responsible for overseeing the Strategy & Operations Division and managing several other senior leaders.  This is a non-attorney role.

The individual in this role will report directly to the Sr. Director, Strategy & Operations.  They are responsible for providing a high level of administrative and operational support to the S&O Division and the execution of the Strategy, Planning, & System functions across the organization. Day-to-day responsibilities will include detailed calendar management, coordinating meetings and logistics, and ensuring Center policies and processes are followed. The Associate will also serve as a thought-partner and collaborator with the Chief Strategy & Operation Officer and members of the Strategy Planning & Systems team on developing and improving systems for knowledge management, project tracking, and other critical initiatives.

 The position will be based in the Center’s New York City office in a hybrid model of 3 days in-office, 2 days working from home.   

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Provide ongoing support to the Chief Strategy & Operations Officer (CSOO) to ensure effective management of the Strategy & Operations Division. Support includes administering processes for the effective management of Strategy & Operation leaders who report to the Chief Strategy & Operations Officer, such as weekly CSOO updates, check-in meetings, CSOO decisions and approvals.
• Provide administrative support to the CSOO, Sr. Director Strategy & Operations, and two Associate Directors within the Strategy Planning and Systems team.  Day-to-day tasks will include calendar support, meeting logistics and agendas, booking and managing travel arrangements, credit card statement processing, and adherence to internal Center processes and procedures.
• Provide general administrative support to the Department, including but not limited to expense reporting and reimbursements, taking meeting minutes, monitoring action items and follow-up, and providing support for Board committee meetings and Board meetings.
• Build team cohesion and engagement by developing team meeting agendas; maintaining team-wide calendar of events, activities, and meetings; soliciting and disseminating key updates from team members; organizing team-building activities.
• Coordinate internal and external meetings at the Center and off-site; provide technical support for virtual meetings; collect and manage RSVPs; coordination of guest lists with building security and onsite host(s), prepare meeting materials, including PowerPoint presentations, and facilitate event follow-up logistics as appropriate.
• Assist with collaborating and improving systems for knowledge management, project tracking, contract review, and other critical initiatives.
• Maintain, organize and regularly update the knowledge management systems used by the Chief Strategy and Operations Officer and leaders within the Division of Strategy and Operations, including Monday.com, SharePoint and iManage, ensuring high quality and accurate data. Respond to internal team information requests.
• Develop an understanding of the Center’s programmatic work; attend departmental and inter-departmental meetings to become versed in the Center’s work across regions.
• Other tasks and special projects as assigned.

Compensation:  This position's salary is $34.58 hourly equating to an annual salary of $62,930. This salary reflects a position based in New York City or Washington, D.C. This salary will be subject to a downward locality adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside the location listed in this posting. Note that most of the salaries listed on our job postings reflect New York, NY salaries, where our National offices are headquartered.

Union Status:  This position is not covered by the Center’s bargaining unit.

FLSA Exempt Status: This is a non-exempt position.

Career Level: 2a Associate 

Benefits: 

• Health: The Center provides a comprehensive health insurance plan with no in-network deductible and best-in-class reproductive healthcare coverage, including infertility. The Center also offers Dental and Vision coverage.  
• Well-being: The Center offers resources to help prevent and recover from burnout through different programs that enable mental, physical, and community well-being. The Center provides generous leave, including paid parental leave, personal days, vacation, and sick leave. We are closed the last week of December to allow staff to spend winter holiday time with their loved ones. 
• Investment: After the first year of employment, the Center will contribute 7.5%* of your annual salary to a 401(k) (*applicable only in US and Kenya). 

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

The Center is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage people from all communities to apply. If you are excited about this role but unsure about whether your experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles. To learn more about the Center’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please visit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Center for Reproductive Rights. 

Center policy on visa sponsorship for U.S.-based positions: Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by The Center for Reproductive Rights. 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
• 2 years of experience as an administrative or legal assistant in a not-for profit organization or law firm
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint; proficiency in Monday.com or iManage a plus
• Familiarity with basic legal terminology and U.S. legal system a plus
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to shifting duties while maintaining focus and follow-through and the ability to work professionally in a fast-paced environment; ability to prioritize in response to urgent requests
• Ability to handle confidential information and matters with the highest level of discretion
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with attention to detail, accuracy and pacing 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including research and proofreading skills
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, with capacity to receive and accept constructive feedback, take initiative and be pro-active, and demonstrate solid problem-solving skills