Program Associate

**To apply, please submit a cover letter and a résumé combined as a single PDF via Breezy.**

About the ABF 

The American Bar Foundation (ABF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research institute that expands knowledge and advances justice through rigorous empirical research on law, legal processes, and legal institutions. The ABF's primary sources of funding are an annual grant from the American Bar Endowment (ABE) and contributions by the Fellows of the ABF—a global honorary society of attorneys, judges, faculty, and scholars whose careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession. The ABF offices are located on Northwestern University’s Chicago campus in Streeterville. 

Position Overview 

The Program Associate will coordinate fellowship programs and academic events at the ABF. This position reports to the Director of People and Culture and works in close cooperation with members of the Operations, Communications, and Research staff. This is an exciting opportunity to join the ABF as the organization embarks on a new five-year strategic plan.  

Key Responsibilities 

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program Management – 40% 

• Oversee recruitment and lead the screening, interviewing, and final selection of fellows   
• Schedule, arrange, and coordinate the SURF calendar, including external site visits with law firms, government agencies, and other organizations  
• Supervise 4-6 SURF students on-site during the 8-week summer program  
• Assign ABF faculty mentors for the fellows and prepare fellows for an end-of-summer research presentation by assigning research, writing, and public speaking tasks  
• Conduct post-program evaluation and maintain database of program alumni 

Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships and Visiting Scholar Program Support – 30% 

• Support ABF faculty committees to facilitate recruitment and selection of fellows and scholars 
• Serve as primary administrative support for fellows and scholars and coordinate internal working group meetings 
• Maintain fellowship alumni contact lists and plan logistics for the annual one-day alumni conference 
• Track data on key metrics to evaluate programs and coordinate third-party program evaluations 
• Assist with monitoring program compliance with contractual award terms, budgets, and internal policies 

Academic Event Support – 30% 

• Work with ABF faculty and Operations staff to coordinate the ABF’s weekly Speaker Series and other occasional academic events. Duties may include: scheduling, securing lodging and event space, coordinating with the ABF Communications team to publicize events, collecting RSVPs, ordering catering and AV if needed, managing Zoom meetings, processing expense reimbursements, monitoring the budget, and day-of staffing of the event.  

Other duties may be assigned to this role. 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree 
• 1–2 years of program or project management experience, including experience tracking and staying within budget and experience “managing up” 
• A self-starter who thinks critically and solves problems creatively 
• Ability to manage competing priorities and to meet deadlines  
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate with vendors, management, academics and legal professionals, and co-workers in a friendly and professional manner   
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Zoom and web-based applications  
• Must reside in Illinois and maintain U.S. work authorization throughout employment  

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience studying and/or working in an academic research environment 

The ABF strives to foster a community that represents many backgrounds and experiences. If you are passionate about sociolegal research that advances justice, we encourage you to apply for this position, even if you do not meet every single requirement listed. Please also note that experience need not be professional in nature. Unpaid or informal experience may be equally relevant. We value diversity of thought and experience, and we are committed to providing support and training to help our team members grow and succeed in their roles. 

Work Structure and Environment 

This is a full-time (35 hours per week), non-exempt position. ABF employees are expected to work at the ABF offices at least two days per week and to work within the state of Illinois on the other days. Standard work hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with a one-hour lunch period. Occasional work outside of these hours is expected in connection with ABF events (e.g., conferences, Board meetings). Occasional out-of-state travel may be required for this position.  



The American Bar Foundation (ABF) is firmly committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons, including providing reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants. All decisions regarding employment will be made without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age; ancestry; certain arrest or criminal history records; citizenship; color; disability; gender; gender identity; genetic information; housing status; marital status; military status; national origin; order of protection status; parental status; pregnancy; protected activity (e.g., reporting of prohibited discrimination or harassment); race (including traits associated with race such as hair texture or hair styles); religion; reproductive health decisions; sex; sexual orientation; source of income; status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other crime of violence or who have family or household members who are victims of such violence; unfavorable discharge from the military; or any other status or classification protected by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws.  

Full-time administrative staff benefits include: 

• 35-hour work week, plus early-dismissal Summer Fridays 
• Flexible scheduling 
• 403(b) retirement plan with 5% automatic employer contribution and 5% employer match 
• Generous PTO: 17+ holidays, including a weeklong winter recess; 30 vacation/sick/personal days; paid family/medical leave; other leave as needed (e.g., short-term disability) 
• Medical and dental insurance – BCBS-IL PPO or HMO 
• Vision insurance – UnitedHealthCare 
• FSA, or HSA with employer contribution 
• Transit and parking benefits, including discounted parking 
• Life insurance 
• Professional development funds 
• Employee assistance program 
• Legal assistance plan 
• Corporate discounts 
• Other perks offered by the ABF and Northwestern University 

This position is expected to begin in early to mid-June 2024. Our interview process begins with a 30-minute Zoom interview; if invited to the final round, it will be a 60-minute, in-person interview at our offices. To apply, please submit a cover letter and a résumé combined as a single PDF via Breezy. Applications submitted through other channels will not be considered.