Job Board
State Policy and Advocacy Director
Date Posted: 9/12/2012
Organization: Center for Reproductive Rights
Location: Washington, DC
Description of Organization:
Founded in 1992, the Center for Reproductive Rights is a non-profit organization that promotes women’s
equality worldwide by securing reproductive rights in constitutional and international human rights law. Its
mission is straightforward and ambitious: to advance reproductive freedom as a fundamental right that all
governments are legally obligated to protect, respect and fulfill. The Center is unmatched as a
reproductive rights organization in its expertise on U.S. constitutional law, comparative law and
international human rights law.
The Center works across the globe on issues including access to life-saving obstetrics care,
contraception, abortion services and comprehensive sexuality information, as well as the prevention of
forced sterilization and female genital mutilation (FGM). It has brought groundbreaking cases before
national courts, U.N. committees and regional human rights bodies. It has built the legal capacity of
women's rights advocates in over 50 countries. In the U.S. Legal Program, the Center’s preeminent
litigation team has helped millions of women and their families by securing government funding for
abortions, striking down absolute abortion bans and other access restrictions, and protecting teens’
access to emergency contraception and confidential reproductive healthcare services and information.
The Center’s state program tracks over 500 anti-choice laws each year and advocates vigorously to block
harmful laws. The Center works toward the long-term goal of promoting reproductive rights and health as
a fundamental human rights issue. By incorporating a human rights framework in its U.S. work in communications, legal arguments (e.g., in amicus briefs) and tactics (e.g., fact-finding reports, U.S.
obligations to U.N. human rights treaties), it seeks to bring developments in international and comparative
constitutional law and litigation to bear on U.S. law and policy. Its Law School Initiative promotes legal
scholarship and teachings on reproductive health and human rights, to shape the thinking of the next
generation of lawyers, judges and policymakers.
The Center is governed by a 22-person board of directors and employs more than 100 professionals from
Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Kenya, Korea, Nepal, Nigeria, the Philippines, Sweden, Slovakia, the U.K. and
the U.S.
Position Responsibilities:
The State Policy and Advocacy Director will be directly responsible for the Center’s state and local
advocacy efforts in the U.S. and those regarding U.S.-focused human rights. This includes developing,
implementing and managing multi-faceted reproductive rights policy initiatives at the state and local levels
in the United States and managing the Center’s U.S.-based work promoting reproductive rights as a
fundamental human rights issue.
The State Policy and Advocacy Director will report directly to the Director of the U.S. Legal Program and
will manage a team of six professionals – four of them direct reports – consisting of: two State Advocacy
Counsels, Human Rights Counsel, Researcher, Legislative Fellow and Legislative Associate. The new
Director will work closely with the Center’s Director of Government Relations in Washington, D.C. and her
staff to develop unified policy initiatives. Together they will coordinate and align federal, state and locallevel
policy and advocacy work, including human rights advocacy.
Qualifications:
- Strong commitment to the Center’s mission, purpose, and values.
- J.D. (a strong plus) or significant advocacy experience with a legal organization and an
advanced degree.
- At least eight years of relevant experience in human rights, civil rights and liberties, and/or social
justice (experience in reproductive rights specifically is not required, but is a plus).
- Successful experience in developing and implementing policy initiatives in the U.S., preferably at
the state level.
- Exceptional communication and advocacy skills, both orally and in writing; ability to communicate
complex issues to a lay audience clearly, concisely, and powerfully.
- Experience with human rights advocacy, especially in the United States (a strong plus).
- Political, legislative, and/or administrative advocacy experience (a strong plus).
- Significant experience leading or working in advocacy-based coalitions.
- The ability to work effectively as part of a team and in partnership with peer organizations, but to
be proactive and ready to take leadership when needed.
- Creative and strategic thinking with good judgment and excellent analytical capabilities.
- Capacity to take initiative, prioritize and pay close attention to detail while juggling multiple tasks.
- Experience supervising, training and mentoring junior staff.
- Experience working with Latina and/or immigrant communities (a strong plus).
- Spanish language fluency (a strong plus).
The position also calls for:
- A high level of energy, self-confidence, initiative, and follow-through; ability to recognize and act
on opportunities in a fast-paced environment.
- A professional who is principled, ethical and committed to exceptional work quality and standards.
- Grace and a sense of humor.
- Ability to travel at least 20%.
Apply To:
The Center for Reproductive Rights is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to inclusive hiring and
dedicated to diversity in its work and staff. The Center encourages candidates of all groups and
communities to apply for this position. All inquiries, nominations and applications are to be directed to The
Dubrof Group at CRRPOL@dubrof.com. Applications should include a letter of interest and resume in
MSWORD. Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of the opportunity. NO PHONE CALLS
PLEASE.
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