Job Title:

Senior Legal Adviser, Global Advocacy

Department:

Global Legal Program, Global Advocacy

Center Background:

The Center for Reproductive Rights (the Center) is the global leader in using the power of law to advance reproductive rights as fundamental human rights. Headquartered in New York City, the non-profit, non-partisan organization has regional offices in Bogota, Geneva, Nairobi, and Washington, DC, and a staff of approximately 200 diverse professionals. The Center’s compelling human rights mission and reputation for excellence and cutting-edge legal work has powered its exceptional growth trajectory to an operating budget of over $40 million and won the respect of the world’s leading law firms, as reflected in the additional $29 million annually in donated legal services, representing the work last year of 820 lawyers in 46 countries.

The overarching goal of the Center’s new 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 do today. The Center has a track record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since its founding in 1992, the Center’s game-changing litigation and advocacy, combined with its unparalleled expertise in constitutional, comparative, and international human rights law, have transformed how reproductive rights are understood by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, contraception, abortion, and assisted reproduction. It has won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies, led the development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights, and has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 60 countries and counting.

To learn more about the Center for Reproductive Rights, go to www.reproductiverights.org. To learn more about our DEI Organizational Commitments, go here.

The Role:

The Senior Legal Adviser of Global Advocacy will play a key role within the Global Advocacy Dept in developing legal positions, spearheading and developing substantive legal resources, and positioning the Center as a leading expert on SRHR and human rights law in humanitarian settings. The Senior Legal Adviser, Global Advocacy will oversee the development of legal arguments, development of publications, submissions to UN or other global processes in support of integrating human rights obligations into humanitarian policy and commitments. The Senior Legal Adviser, Global Advocacy will serve as the team’s liaison to the Pro Bono dept and oversee requests. The Senior Legal Adviser, Global Advocacy will also support substantive legal review of Global Advocacy submissions and publications. The Senior Legal Adviser, Global Advocacy will report directly to the Senior Director of Global Advocacy and will work closely with other Global Advocacy staff in NY and Geneva, the global program teams, and as needed with MEL, Communications and Development.

Location:

Geneva preferred, working remotely optional with required travel to NY and Geneva as needed.

Primary Responsibilities: 

The Senior Legal Adviser, Global Advocacy’s primary job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Support the Senior Director of Global Advocacy with the implementation of the Strategic Plan;
• Conduct legal and policy analysis on reproductive rights issues arising at the global level;
• Position the Center as a go-to technical partner for the ICRC, humanitarian actors, networks, NGOs, Governments and UN agencies;
• Conceptualize and lead drafting of position papers, statements and other advocacy material, including liaising with Communications staff and the GA Legal Assistant on design and production;
• Support program strategy related to the development of reproductive rights law, serving as an internal thought partner and technical legal expert; and building and maintaining strategic external relationships and partnerships as relevant to this work;
• Work with Senior Director to implement –in collaboration with other departments—institutional and global advocacy priorities;
• Lead Center’s Program Team on SRHR in Humanitarian Settings;
• Collaborate with regional teams to provide substantive guidance and technical support on human rights law, including in humanitarian settings.
• Establish relationships with relevant legal/professional bodies or academics, to cultivate opportunities to engage in and influence processes and publications on the scope, applicability and operationalization of human rights law, including in humanitarian settings;
• Provide legal technical support on human rights to Governments in the development of humanitarian policy;
• Provide substantive guidance and technical support to the Manager of Researcher, Global Advocacy in the implementation of human rights-based practices for service provision and legal accountability in humanitarian settings;
• Among the GLP institutional responsibilities for this role is overseeing all GA pro bono projects, as needed;
• Provide review, as needed, of GA submissions to UN bodies, publications and other advocacy material to ensure coherence and alignment, including, as requested, providing final sign off on submissions and other work product;
• Support Senior Director and Global Advocacy Program to respond to requests for information and input to internal and external processes, as needed;
• Support the development of communications, materials, and updates of GA activities for press releases, e-mail listservs, or other outlets when needed;
• Liaise with other departments in the Center as needed, including Programs and Communications;
• Represent the Center at meetings and events as requested;
• Assist with the recruitment and supervision of fellows, interns, volunteers and pro bono lawyers and any other institutional responsibilities as required;
• International travel is required.

Qualifications:

• Strong commitment to the Center’s mission, purpose, and values;
• 10+ years relevant experience, required;
• JD or LLM in International Human Rights or International Humanitarian Law, required;
• Expert knowledge and significant direct working experience with the international human rights framework and experience using the UN human rights and humanitarian systems, required;
• Experience on sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender equality, preferred;
• Capable of complex legal analysis, and experience with legal submissions to UN bodies;
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, networking and inter-cultural skills;
• Excellent writing, editing, research, and oral advocacy skills in English required; Spanish, French or another UN language desirable;
• Excellent public speaking skills required; including an ability to translate dense legal material into accessible presentations for various audiences;
• Initiative: Effectively responds to pressure or crisis situations and acts professionally.  Uses resources well. Pro-actively puts new ideas on the table at all points during the development and implementation of projects. Follows through on ideas, assignments and open issues.
• Flexibility/Adaptability: Ability to adapt to and work effectively within a variety of situations and with various individuals and groups. Willingness to be flexible on projects depending on the needs of the team and the Center. Understanding and appreciating different and opposing perspectives, adapting one’s approach as the requirements of a situation change.  Innovative thinking is a plus.
• Independent Worker/Thinker: Must have the ability to work independently and in a team setting.
• Confidence:  Must possess and exhibit a level of confidence in themselves and his/her work, and be able to work collaboratively, take direction and constructive criticism professionally.
• Accountability Ability to achieve results and complete assignments in a timely manner.
• Adaptable: Able to tailor discourse and arguments depending on audience, understands differences of contexts and able to rely sensitive issues and concerns in an appropriate way.

Critical Competencies:

• Strategic thinking: Applies big-picture thinking while also focusing on the details of implementation.
• Decisiveness: Consistently makes sound decisions in a timely manner supportive of the Center's mission, core values, and strategic objectives. Blends vision and judgment.
• Collaboration: Brings a track record of working effectively with various and diverse individuals and groups, and a willingness to actively listen and invite different views and opinions across all levels of the institution to build alignment in support of a common goal.
• Receives and Provides Direct Feedback: Actively gives and requests feedback to and from peers, supervisors and direct reports (if applicable) about work products, behaviors, values, style and approaches with a view on how this impacts self, other individuals and teams.
• Transparency: Consistently applies openness and honesty in communicating decisions and plans to team members.
• Commitment to learn: Applies a growth mentality to their own and their team’s (if applicable) development. Promotes a culture of learning by modeling inquisitiveness and an openness to viewing mistakes as an opportunity to learn and improve.
• Passion for Coaching, and Mentoring Staff: Empowers and motivates employees and creates opportunities for learning, development, and leadership, with a focus on harnessing skills for the future development of team members. (if applicable)
• Accountability: Follows through on each commitment made to individual contributors, teams and partners and proactively informs others of any delays that occur along the way. Holds team members accountable.
• Integrity: Possesses impeccable integrity and personal and professional values that are consistent with the Center’s high standards and mission.
• Empathy: Serves as an empathetic, approachable leader who engenders trust and confidence. (if applicable)
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Demonstrates comfort with ambiguity and calculated risk.

Compensation:

The Center offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience, as well as a generous benefits and PTO package.

How to Apply:

Please complete the application below to apply. A cover letter and resume must be included in your application. Please include these application materials as attachments.

Deadline for applications: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

To learn more about our DEI Organizational Commitments, go here. The Center for Reproductive Rights is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring, and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage people from all groups and communities to apply.

Please note that all genuine Center openings must be applied through the Center website. The Center does not charge a fee at any stage in the recruitment process (application, interviews, or selection). Nor does it request any medical examinations or bank account inform as part of this process. If someone contacts you on behalf of the Center requesting payment for your application please notify talent@reprorights.org before taking any further action.