Program Associate, Strategic Initiatives

About the role

The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the country’s first and foremost civil and human rights law organization. Founded in 1940 under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall, who subsequently became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice, LDF was launched at a time when the nation’s aspirations for equality and due process of law were stifled by widespread state-sponsored racial inequality. From that era to the present, LDF’s mission has been transformative—to achieve racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society. LDF’s litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education programs in the substantive areas of criminal justice, economic justice, education, and political participation seek to ensure the fundamental and basic human rights of all people to quality education, economic opportunity, the right to vote and fully participate in democracy, and the right to a fair and just judicial system. LDF continues to make an impact in the area of public service and was recognized by Fast Company as one of its 2023 Brands That Matter under its public service category. Reporting directly to a senior attorney within the Strategic Initiatives Department (SID), the Program Associate will support the administrative and programming functions within SID.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to SID attorneys to advance their work within the organization.
• Assist planning of Strategic Initiatives Department events and activities, including retreats, town halls, community meetings, internal LDF meetings, convenings, and conferences.
• Conduct factual research and development on specific advocacy issues, as directed under the supervision of Strategic Initiatives Department staff.
• Provide project management assistance, utilizing project management systems and software to update activities, track progress against goals, and coordinate with staff.
• Maintain files, contacts, databases, other documents, and other information for regular use and retrieval.
• Process financial expenses and invoices, as directed by SID attorneys.
• Maintain communications with clients, community partners, and other stakeholders under the supervision of SID staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience is required.
• Recent graduates and candidates with transferable experience are encouraged to apply.
• Bachelor’s degree, required.
• Preferred field of Study: Government, Ethnic Studies, African American Studies, Political Science, History, Humanities.

Skills

• Excellent writing, communication, and interpersonal skills with attention to details.
• Capacity to multi-task as a team player in a fast-paced and constantly evolving work environment.
• Ability to work extra hours and travel, as needed.
• Comfort working and communicating with colleagues and stakeholders from different backgrounds.
• Commitment to the racial justice mission of LDF.

Pay

The Salary Range For This Position Is New York: $60,800 - $83,600; Washington, D.C.: $58,400 - $80,300

Benefits

LDF offers all eligible employees a generous benefits package. To learn more, click the following link 2026 Benefits Overview.

Schedule

LDF operates in a hybrid work environment where employees are expected to be in the office a minimum of two days per week, unless otherwise indicated.