Please submit all applications to centerforreproductiverights@heidrick.com - applications sent through this website will not be considered.

Job Title: Senior Litigation Director, U.S. Program

Department: Programs, U.S. Litigation

Center Background: The Center for Reproductive Rights (the Center) is a global human rights organization working to ensure that reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights around the world. With offices in New York City, New York; Nairobi, Kenya; Bogota, Colombia; Geneva, Switzerland; and Washington, D.C., the Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization changing law and policy throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. Our 230+ diverse professionals are committed to advancing the Center's human rights mission through game-changing litigation, legal policy, and advocacy work. This has powered the Center's exceptional growth to an operating budget of over $50 million and won the respect of law firms in countries around the world, with an additional $29 million annually of donated legal services, representing the work of countless lawyers from more than 46 countries.

The Center's 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 are today. The Center has a track record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since our founding in 1992, the Center has transformed how reproductive rights are understood and applied by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, abortion, assisted reproduction, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). We have won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies. Additionally, the Center has 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 65 countries and counting.

The Role: At this pivotal moment in the fight for reproductive rights, the Center for Reproductive Rights is seeking an exceptional legal strategist and seasoned litigator to lead the Center's litigation in U.S. federal and state courts, including in the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Senior Litigation Director, U.S. Program ("Sr. Litigation Director") will lead a team of talented and experienced attorneys to meet the legal challenges of post-Roe America. The Sr. Litigation Director is responsible for the strategic direction and impact of the Center's litigation docket, with the goal of establishing greater legal protections in the U.S. for reproductive rights, particularly as to abortion, maternal health, assisted reproduction, and contraception. This includes the right to bodily autonomy, to make decisions about one's reproductive health and whether and when to bear children, and to access quality and affordable reproductive health services.

The Sr. Litigation Director will oversee a robust legal team, including courtroom litigators and attorneys focused on long-term jurisprudential development. They will also be responsible for marshalling an extensive network of pro bono attorneys to litigate cases, conduct legal research, and meet the needs of the diverse array of clients we serve. The position reports to the Vice President, U.S. Programs.

This role is an unmatched opportunity to defend people's rights at this critical time while havinga legacy impact on the state and federal jurisprudence of the future.

Primary Responsibilities: This role will be accountable for innovating and executing an ambitious litigation strategy in state and federal courts; developing cutting-edge legal arguments and compelling evidence to advance reproductive rights both in and outside the courtroom; inspiring and developing a results-oriented team; and collaborating across Center programs and departments, as well as with outside partners and stakeholders

Lead Development and Implementation of the Center's U.S. Litigation Strategy

• Lead the development, planning, and implementation of breakthrough litigation strategies to:
• Build reproductive rights jurisprudence in state and federal courts with short-, medium, and long-term objectives.
• Hold governments accountable for reproductive rights violations.
• Defend against regression.
• Urgently respond to crises and opportunities.
• Anticipate the needs and zealously defend the rights of Center clients.
• Remain at the forefront of state and federal jurisprudential developments and keep Center leadership and stakeholders abreast.
• Maximize pro bono engagement.

Develop and Lead an Effective Team

• Structure, recruit, develop, retain, and lead a diverse, goal-oriented, and successful legal team.

Represent the Center with Key Stakeholders

• Develop and steward relationships with clients, pro bono attorneys, legal academics, and senior litigators in government and across social justice movements.

Model the Center's values and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within and outside the organization.

Prepare and Manage Litigation Unit Budget and Support Fundraising.

Pivotal Experience & Expertise: In addition to a JD from an ABA-accredited law school and active New York state bar license, the successful candidate must possess:

• Seasoned Litigation Experience: Superb legal research, analysis, writing and oral advocacy skills at the appellate level, including on U.S. federal and/or state constitutional issues. Experience litigating before trial and appellate courts. Experience with U.S. Supreme Court practice, which can include merit briefs, petitions for certiorari, amicus briefs, or clerkship. Ideally worked in a law firm or similarly structured organization. Impact litigation experience / a track record of developing a litigation strategy to create legal precedent and advance jurisprudence is strongly preferred.
• Social Justice Background & Non-Profit Understanding: Experience at a non-profit, in government, or through pro bono, has worked to advance social justice and/or human rights, such experience could be on reproductive rights or on other social justice issues including racial justice, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, disability rights, democracy, economic justice, criminal justice, and environmental justice. Experience working in, providing pro-bono services to, or serving in a Board capacity at a non-profit organization.
• Management Experience: 10+ years track record of leading teams and managing attorneys. Proven ability to structure, attract, develop, and retrain a diverse, cohesive, goal-oriented, and successful team.

Culture & Leadership Capabilities:

• Mission & Values Alignment: Demonstrated fit with Center's core values: globally inclusive, integrity, excellence, and impact. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Center's statement and commitments on DEI are here.
• Relationship Building and Collaboration: Ability to listen deeply, cultivate connections, break down silos, and foster collaboration. Ability to establish credibility and trust with diverse constituencies.
• Resilient: Courageous, results-oriented, and agile, projects confidence and steadiness, learns from experience, self-aware.

Compensation & Benefits: The Center offers medical, dental, and vision insurance; a retirement plan including employer match; and generous paid vacation, personal, and sick leave, along with paid parental leave. The pay range for the Sr. Litigation Director is $250,000 to $275,000.

How to Apply: Please submit your resume to centerforreproductiverights@heidrick.com to be considered for the position. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

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. #LI-Hybrid #LI-JC1