Special Assistant, Development

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. We work 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.

The Development team is responsible for raising revenues needed for the Brennan Center to operate and remain sustainable into the future. The Brennan Center entirely relies on donations; it receives no funding from NYU or the government.

The team has raised $50-60 million in the last several fiscal years. It is organized around three principal revenue sources: major donors (individuals and family foundations); small and midlevel donors, and institutional foundations. The team also organizes an annual fundraising gala.

The Development team is highly collaborative, including with organizational leadership and program staff. It has recently grown to 18 staffers to keep pace with steep revenues growth and a diversifying donor base – we are supported by 40,000+ donors.

Position Overview:

We seek an energetic, motivated, and well-organized Special Assistant (“SA”) to support the high-performing Development team – primarily with administrative support and with some project coordination. The SA’s central role is to ensure the smooth and efficient day-to-day functioning of the department so the team can reach ambitious fundraising goals. We seek an individual who is not only talented at minding administrative tasks – but eager to oversee them for a growing, ambitious team.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director for Development and working closely with the Vice President for Development, the SA will oversee responsibilities relevant to the entire Development team as well as its partnership with the Center’s President & CEO and his office.

Note: This position is based at our headquarters in New York City.

Responsibilities:

Administrative support duties

• Manage the team’s voluminous meetings calendar – schedule team meetings and check-ins with program directors and organizational leaders
• Manage the VP’s calendar and expense reports, as well as expense reports for leaders across the Development department
• Implement and utilize optimal use of systems related to duties – including CRM database (Salesforce), Outlook, Zoom, Asana, Excel
• Serve as point of contact for materials and resources needed by the team, including keeping and filing documents in shared drives
• Provide general administrative support, including but not limited to coordination of mailings, maintenance of office supplies, making travel arrangements, and maintenance of donor data and lists
• Support the planning and production of the annual Brennan Legacy Awards Dinner gala and other donor events as needed

Project coordination and research

• Primary project is to manage and organize twice weekly working meetings with the Development team and the Brennan Center’s President & CEO – this involves coordinating and finalizing voluminous outreach and communications to donors and other external constituencies; editing and proofreading material; and shepherding content through numerous rounds of edits that incorporate feedback from multiple stakeholders
• Organize team events and special occasions – including budgeting and monitoring expenditures
• Manage internal meeting agendas and provide notes of key takeaways as needed
• Conduct donor and prospect research as needed; present written and verbal reports on findings

Experience and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
• Minimum 1-2 years of work experience after college
• Excellent organizational skills, with ability to prioritize and execute multiple tasks, follow institutional procedures, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Self-starting and comfortable with “managing up”
• Scrupulous attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A high degree of professionalism, integrity, discretion, and judgment
• Proficiency with key software programs, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook), Zoom, Concur, Salesforce, and project management software such as Asana.
• Willingness and flexibility to work paid overtime when needed to meet important deadlines or complete urgent projects
• Strict adherence to confidentiality requirements and discretion with sensitive information
• Strong sense of teamwork, work ethic, and humility
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Passion for fundraising and building external partnerships
• Alignment with the Brennan Center’s mission and work

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.

If you're uncertain about meeting 100% of our qualifications, we encourage you to apply anyway. Therefore, please consider submitting your application. In your cover letter, please share your interest in the position and what you hope to contribute to the role.

Application Instructions

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage interested applicants to apply early, as the position will be filled once a qualified candidate is found.

To apply, visit >>LINK HERE<<. Please upload the following documents: (1) a cover letter, (2) resume, and (3) contact information for three supervisor references. Please feel welcome to include on your resume any work experience you believe helps demonstrate your fit for the role, even if it does not seem directly relevant (e.g., cashier, restaurant host, etc.).

Please, no phone calls or faxes; it is strongly preferred that you apply on our website. If you have difficulty with the online system, you may send your application by e-mail to: brennancenterjobs@nyu.edu with “Special Assistant, Development” in the subject line, after registering in the online system.

Compensation and Benefits:

This is a scaled position. The salary range 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 a very robust and competitive array of benefits such as a generous time off program, 401k plan, comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), and wellness and office perks.

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

Note: The Brennan Center is committed to public health and to the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and visitors. As such, we have adopted a policy requiring all employees working in the New York and Washington, DC offices to be vaccinated against COVID-19, or to meet the legal guidelines for an exemption.