Employment
The Brennan Center for Justice is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, which welcomes qualified applicants of all races, ethnicities, physical and mental abilities, genders, and sexual orientations, including people who have been previously incarcerated.
The Center offers competitive salaries and excellent benefits. We hope you will review the current job openings and encourage you to check this page regularly, as new positions are posted here first.
Current Openings
Director, Liberty and National Security Project
Counsel or Fellow, Democracy Program - VRE
Press and Communications Manager
George A. Katz Fellowship
Director, Liberty and National Security Project
Background: The Brennan Center is seeking a Director for its Liberty and National Security (“LNS”) Project, an initiative of its Justice Program. The Project strives to ensure that our government’s response to the challenge of terrorism conforms to the nation’s deepest values, particularly our Constitution’s system of checks and balances. We work to develop affirmative solutions to preempt and reduce civil liberties violations arising from national security policies. Focusing on detention, extraordinary rendition, coercive interrogation, unfair trials, electronic spying, discriminatory counter-terrorism policing, and excessive executive secrecy, the Brennan Center works not only to stop harmful practices, but to promote enduring institutional responses to security problems that do not trench on core rights. To accomplish this goal, we deploy as needed a unique mix of policy analysis, research, scholarship, public education, convenings, counseling of officials and activists, legislative drafting and advocacy, and litigation.
The Position: The Director develops and implements the Project’s overall vision and strategy, is deeply involved in substantive initiatives, and manages a team which includes attorneys, policy associates, research associates and consultants. In addition, the Director works closely with the Development Department to raise funds and with the Communications Department to coordinate public education and media strategies.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have an extensive background in issues involving the intersection of national security and civil liberties. We seek exceptional leadership and vision, and a variety of skills including: excellent research, analytic, and writing ability; outstanding communications and public speaking ability; a strong work ethic and capacity for juggling multiple responsibilities; ability to work with diverse clients, coalition members and govern-mental officials; skill as a litigator; fundraising experience; and demonstrated ability to manage a budget and supervise staff. Lawyers in public interest, private practice, government, journalism, academia or the military are encouraged to apply. Although the position is located in New York, the Center would consider locating the position in its Washington, D.C. office.
Salary: Commensurate with experience.
Applications: Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with a preference for those submitted by September 30, 2008. Applications must include: cover letter, resume, two writing samples, and the names and telephone numbers of three references. Please e-mail applications to: , with “LNS Director” in the subject line.
The Center: The Center is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy and law institute that focuses on the fundamental issues of democracy and justice. The Center has approximately 55 staff, including attorneys, researchers, and public affairs professionals. The Center operates offices in New York and in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit: http://www.brennancenter.org .
The Brennan Center for Justice is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and welcomes qualified applicants of all races, ethnicities, physical and mental abilities, genders, and sexual orientations, including people who have been previously incarcerated.
Counsel or Fellow, Democracy Program - VRE
Position: The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is seeking an attorney for a position with the Voting Rights & Elections project of the Democracy Program. The Program seeks to bring the ideal of representative self-government closer to reality, by eliminating barriers to full and equal political participation and by striving to ensure that public policy and institutions reflect the diverse voices and interests that make for a rich and energetic democracy. This position involves work principally on voting rights and reform of election administration (including voter registration restrictions and other practices likely to suppress the vote and have a disproportionate impact on communities of color). Activities include legal and policy analysis and counseling; legislative drafting at federal, state, and local levels; administrative and legislative advocacy; public education and scholarship; and litigation in trial and appellate courts.
Ideally, the position will commence in September 2008 or very soon afterward. We have not yet determined whether the position will be ongoing or for one-year only, and so applicants should specify in their cover letters whether they would like to be considered for a permanent position, a one-year position, or both.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a J.D., legal or policy experience (including clerkships, if any), and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Excellent legal research, analysis, and writing skills; initiative, imagination, and versatility; organizational skills; ability to deal with diverse clients and to coordinate work effectively with other organizations. Legal or other advocacy experience, especially on voting rights and elections at the state level, organizing experience, and demonstrated commitment to public interest law are real pluses.
Salary: Commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits package.
Applications: Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and a decision will be made as soon as an appropriate candidate is identified. Please send cover letter, resume, two writing samples, and the names, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of three references to , with “VRE Counsel/Fellow” in the subject line. Please specify in cover letter whether interested in being considered for a permanent or one-year commitment.
The Center: The Brennan Center is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy and law institute that focuses on the fundamental issues of democracy and justice. The Center now has approximately 55 staff members, including attorneys, researchers, and public affairs professionals. For more information, visit: http://www.brennancenter.org.
The Brennan Center for Justice is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, which welcomes qualified applicants of all races, ethnicities, physical and mental abilities, genders, and sexual orientations, including people who have been previously incarcerated.
Press and Communications Manager
The Brennan Center for Justice is a dynamic force for ideas – and action. Combining the rigor and research of a think tank with the energy of a public interest law firm, we work to protect core American values including the rights to vote, access to the courts and to participate in democratic process that is untainted by special interests and their monies.
We seek a Communications Manager to help with media work and public advocacy; the manager’s primary task will be to act as a liaison between the Center and reporters, editors, television and radio producers and bookers.
The Manager works with the Director of Communications and Brennan Center staff to maintain an energetic communications department that can speak strategically, as well as quickly and effectively, to mass audiences and members of the press.
Core responsibilities include:
- Cultivating press contacts, responding to media requests, drafting press releases, pitching stories, and placing op-eds.
- Serving as the Brennan’s Center’s communications person in formal and informal coalitions.
- Promoting Brennan Center publications.
- Helping Center lawyers craft – and execute – communications strategies.
- Assisting with administrative activities, including press list maintenance and organization and planning of public advocacy events.
The ideal candidate will have:
- A bachelors or advanced degree and substantial work experience crafting and pitching stories and working with reporters and editors; experience with non-profit or private sector communications, politics or government is desirable.
- General knowledge of and fluency in legal issues are a plus.
- Strong writing skills, media savvy and enthusiasm about social justice is essential.
- Excellent inter-personal skills and tested ability to negotiate between people with different training and different approaches to problems and communication.
- An openness to evolving responsibilities.
Applications: Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and a decision will be made as soon as an appropriate candidate is identified. Please send cover letter and resume to , with “Communications Manager” in the subject line.
The Brennan Center for Justice is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, which welcomes qualified applicants of all races, ethnicities, physical and mental abilities, genders, and sexual orientations, including people who have been previously incarcerated.