Special Assistant to the Executive Director

The Innocence Project (the “Project”) is seeking a Special Assistant to the Executive Director.  The Project is a non-profit pro bono legal clinic, founded in 1992 by Professor Barry Scheck and civil rights lawyer Peter Neufeld, affiliated with the Cardozo School of Law/Yeshiva University.  The Project represents prisoners nationwide for whom post-conviction DNA testing can prove innocence, and seeks to redress the underlying causes of wrongful convictions through systemic criminal justice reform.

We are seeking a highly organized, articulate person to act as the primary point of contact and administrative assistant to the Executive Director. This is a crucial position, providing primary administrative and clerical support, as well as acting as the administrative liaison to IP department directors, the IP Board of Directors, and the member organizations of the Innocence Network, which is an international affiliation of innocence organizations.

Responsibilities:

•  Manage an executive calendar, maintain and frequently update contact lists, prioritize appointments and internal meetings
•  Manage key administrative documents, including periodic reports to the Board of Directors and the Minutes and Resolutions from the annual Board meetings
•  Plan and execute logistics for Board meetings and prepare Board meeting materials
•  Act as administrative liaison to the Innocence Network Directors, oversee annual Network membership renewal and reporting, monitor and track Network membership applications
•  Review and track “Innocence Project” trademark license agreements and usage
•  Draft correspondence, prioritize phone calls, and respond proactively
•  Act as primary back-up for answering the general IP phone line and greeting visitors
•  Other duties and projects as needed.

Qualifications:

•  At least 2 years of relevant experience
•  Strong writing, editorial, and critical thinking skills are essential
•  Outstanding organizational skills
•  Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
•  Proactive approach to creating and continually improving systems
•  Sound judgment, high level of integrity and professionalism, with an ability to handle confidential information, and to maintain a high level of discretion, diplomacy and courtesy in all contacts with staff, board, clients, and external contacts
•  Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
•  Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs, including Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, and Excel (Readiness to learn Microsoft Access, Outlook, and Power Point and other programs as needed)
•  Commitment to social justice

Salary and Benefits: We offer a competitive public interest salary and excellent paid health benefits, including health/dental/vision, 401k, Flex Spending Account, fully paid transitchecks, and generous allocation of vacation and personal days.

Application Deadline: Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.  The start date for this position is Monday, July 28, 2008.

Applications should include a thoughtful cover letter, a resume, and 3 professional references. Documents in MS Word, Word Perfect or Adobe Acrobat should be emailed to hr3@innocenceproject.org.  Please include “Special Assistant” in the subject line.

Zip files will be deleted and unread.

The Innocence Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to workplace diversity.