Associate Director of Political Education and Research (ADPER)

April 1, 2025

Apply by 

April 10, 2025

Description 

location: Remote eligible with travel as needed

The Associate Director of Political Education and Research (ADPER) will identify, develop, manage, and implement educational and human rights research strategies to advance the Center for Constitutional Rights’ key priorities in challenging white supremacy,  economic oppression, gender oppression, and abusive state practices. This new position will formalize our institutional commitment to political education and generate innovative, in-depth human rights research rooted in the Center for Constitutional Rights’ political analysis. The ADPER will help build a team that produces educational public programming with movement partners and supports internal continuing education across the organization.

As the Director of the forthcoming political education and research hub at the Center for Constitutional Rights, the ADPER will sustain and advance our commitment as a political institution working together with social movements to disrupt, build, and shift power. The ADPER will design and test movement-based pedagogical strategies together with other Advocacy and Legal Team members, movement partners, clients, and impacted communities. The ADPER will build, manage, and oversee key relationships with allies in social justice education spaces; coordinate the creation of curriculums and popular education materials; spearhead human rights research and documentation efforts;  and work with Advocacy staff in developing other Advocacy outputs that advance the vision of impacted communities. As a senior member of the Advocacy team, the ADPER will further develop the Center for Constitutional Rights’ movement-advocacy approach and grow the team’s capacity to effectively shift discourse and policy and improve the material conditions of our people.

Reporting directly to the Advocacy Director and working closely with Legal and Advocacy department colleagues, the ADPER will pursue and manage educational and research interventions that build political momentum toward necessary social transformation. The ideal candidate brings proactive thinking, justice-oriented political analysis, strong research and written communication skills, a deep commitment to collective liberation, and experience advancing popular education strategies with a demonstrated commitment to achieving the vision of impacted communities and social movements in the U.S. and internationally.

Responsibilities 

  • Conceive, develop, and manage vision-forward, people-centered political education and research strategies consistent with the Center for Constitutional Rights’ programmatic priorities
  • Manage the research and development of relevant political education materials including white papers, reports, primers, policy backgrounders, and advocacy letters
  • Develop political education curricula, and supervise the facilitation of shared learning opportunities for both movement partners as well as internal staff gatherings and retreats
  • Conduct, develop, and manage participatory human rights field research and analysis on the Center for Constitutional Rights’ priority issues to support the development of potential legal claims and advocacy efforts, including for submissions to international bodies
  • Provide support to movement partners via the co-creation of political education workshops, research materials, and other advocacy outputs (partners include community organizations and activists, cooperating attorneys, co-counsel, progressive lawyers,  students, and NGOs)
  • Deepen and expand upon the Center for Constitutional Rights’ long-standing public outreach and educational efforts, relationships, and joint advocacy with movement partners, including facilitation of movement gatherings, panels, and events, along with public speaking on key political priorities  and principles
  • Work with programmatic teams (Legal, Advocacy, and Communications), to develop institutional messaging and political analysis to support our political commitments
  • Serve as lead Center for Constitutional Rights representative in relevant human rights research and political education circles/spaces
  • Monitor and track continued learning opportunities on key social justice principles and human rights concerns of impacted communities
  • Work with Advocacy team members to develop major advocacy interventions, including campaigns
  • Work with the Advocacy Director to shape the strategic direction of the political education and research hub within an evolving Advocacy team structure

Qualifications 

  • 7+ years of experience in facilitation, training, workshop/curriculum development, human  rights research, and popular education approaches to movement-building in any of the Center for Constitutional Rights’  core priority areas: racial justice, gender justice, economic justice, and protecting human rights from abusive state practices
  • Political alignment and belief in the mission of the Center for Constitutional Rights and its approach to following the leadership of impacted people and working in partnership with social movements
  • Demonstrated experience working with grassroots and/or movement organizations to develop popular education programming, and experience leveraging pedagogical interventions to build the power of grassroots movements
  • Expertise in developing grounded, accessible political analysis around a variety of social justice issues, drawing connections between a range of contexts, and contributing to sophisticated advocacy strategies and approaches
  • Deep commitment to working with, and taking direction from, impacted communities, clients, and grassroots organizations to advance their goals
  • Demonstrated management and supervisory experience
  • Excellent problem-solving skills, including the ability to anticipate problems and use judgment appropriately to plan solutions
  • Excellent research skills using various methods including archival, field research, digital/internet, participatory action research, etc.
  • Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills as well as editing skills
  • Outstanding organizational and time management skills, including proven ability to efficiently manage multiple tasks and priorities under tight deadlines and in a fast-paced environment
  • Expertise in international human rights mechanisms required
  • Ability and willingness to travel as necessary
  • Integrity, emotional intelligence, and a willingness to practice vulnerability, self-reflection, and accountability

Preferred Skills or Qualifications:

    • An advanced (graduate) degree strongly preferred
    • Demonstrated ability to conduct rigorous human rights/participatory action research via publications or report writing
    • CRM experience preferred

Compensation 

Salary is commensurate with experience and subject to union collective bargaining agreement. The salary range for the position is $130,242 to $156,026. 

Benefits include employer contribution to 401K plan and flexible spending account, vacation,  sick leave, and holidays, and 100-percent organization-paid health benefits, including medical,  dental, life, and short- and long-term disability insurance.

Contact 

Qualified candidates should visit https://ccrjustice.wufoo.com/forms/z5671wf1vgf1ht/ to submit an online application. Applicants will be asked to submit a resume, cover letter, and one long-form writing sample, preferably a report on a key human rights concern or a submission to an international body. No phone calls please.

The Center for Constitutional Rights is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and actively recruits women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ and gender non-conforming people.

Updated: April 1, 2025