Associate, General Counsel

Title: Associate, General Counsel

Department: Office of the General Counsel

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 2,000 lawyers across 6 continents, 64 countries, and 130 law firms. Last year, law firms contributed over $30 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 the Office of the General Counsel will support the work of the newly expanded General Counsel function, including the General Counsel and three senior level attorneys who handle a wide range of risk and compliance matters for the organization. This is a non-attorney role. 

The individual in this role will report directly to the Program Manager, Office of General Counsel and will be responsible for providing a high level of administrative and organizational support to the team.  Day-to-day responsibilities will also include detailed calendar management, support for law firm communications, and contact management.  The Associate will also serve as a thought-partner and collaborator with members of the General Counsel team on developing and improving systems for knowledge management, project tracking, contract review, and other critical initiatives.  

The Associate will be based in New York City in a hybrid work model. 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide administrative support to the General Counsel, two Associate General Counsels and an Assistant General Counsel. Day-to-day tasks will include calendar support, meeting logistics and agendas, booking and managing travel arrangements, and credit card statement processing 
• Provide general administrative support to the unit, including but not limited to expense reporting (Concur reports) and reimbursements, taking meeting minutes, monitoring action items and follow-up, and providing support for Board committee meetings and Board meetings when applicable 
• 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 Office of the General Counsel’s knowledge management systems, including 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 $31.87 an hour, 35 hours a week, for an estimated annual salary is $58,000. 

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

Career Level: 2a Associate

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

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 
• Commitment of a minimum of 2 years to the role 
• 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