Program Associate

IBA Program Associate (Washington, D.C.)

The International Bar Association (IBA), established in 1947, is the world’s leading organization of international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. It serves as the global voice of the legal profession, influencing the development of international law reform and shaping the future of the legal profession throughout the world. It has a membership of more than 80,000 legal professionals and nearly 200 bar associations and law societies spanning all continents.  Further, many of the largest, most prestigious law firms in the U.S. and around the world are very active in the IBA, with many of them joining as IBA Group Members.  

The IBA is a non-profit organization that also maintains offices in London (headquarters), Seoul, South Korea, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and The Hague, Netherlands. The IBA’s North America Office in Washington, D.C. opened in August 2013. The Program Associate will work closely with the Director of the IBA’s North America Office to serve the IBA’s members and the legal community in North America, and to advance the IBA’s efforts to promote human rights and the rule of law around the world. The Candidate must be prepared to work full days in the IBA’s office in downtown Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and remotely on Monday and Friday.

Responsibilities:

• Work hand in hand with the Director of the North America Office to ensure the smooth running of the IBA’s operations in North America.
• Oversee basic bookkeeping, including monthly expense reporting to London/HQ; generate financial and business development reports and assist with annual budgeting.
• Maintain internal and institutional member databases.
• Assist with event planning, ranging from global IBA conferences held overseas to locally held events.
• Assist with promoting IBA events and collaborate with any co-organizers of such events.
• Liaise with the IBA’s London office on a regular basis regarding compliance, administrative, financial and programmatic matters.
• Communicate and meet in person with existing and potential IBA members; respond to regular telephone and email inquiries about the IBA from existing and prospective members, with many inquiries relating to the conferences the IBA conducts each year (most of them outside North America).
• Represent the IBA at meetings on a variety of issues.
• Produce high caliber written work product that requires minimal editing (i.e., letters, memos, meeting summaries, press releases, and routine communications with IBA members and law firms).
• Conduct substantive research on human rights and other issues; summarize findings and make recommendations in well-organized, well-written memos.
• Manage and recruit for the office internship program, which typically has separate Fall, Winter and Summer classes with roughly 2-3 interns per period.   
• Travel occasionally for short periods, mostly on the East Coast.
• Skills, Knowledge, and Experience:

The North America office is comprised of a Director and Program Associate, as well as interns and/or fellows; as such, the position requires a team-focused and flexible approach and a strong commitment to the continued growth and impact of the IBA’s North America Office.

• The Candidate must be self-directed, disciplined and discreet.
• The Candidate must possess excellent judgment and a high degree of emotional intelligence.
• The Candidate must possess the ability to multi-task and to address the most important and/or pressing priorities first. The Candidate must be able to meet deadlines and follow through on commitments.
• The Candidate should possess past experience working in an office setting, and possess a command of best practices with respect to office administration matters.
• The Candidate should possess project management experience, ideally in a non-profit/association setting.
• Ideally, the Candidate will possess experience working with law firms, member associations, international development organizations or a variety of entities with which the IBA collaborates, including human rights NGOs, the State Department and academic institutions.
• Strong oral presentation and writing skills are a must.
• Additionally, candidates are expected to have a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree, a high level of competence using Microsoft Office and ideally the ability to use Microsoft Publisher.
• Time spent studying, living or traveling abroad will be viewed favorably.

How to apply:

Please send a resume, cover letter and writing sample of original, unedited work to Ms. Olasimbo Akinfeleye at olasimbo.akinfeleye@int-bar.org.

Please note in the subject heading of your email that you are applying for the Program Associate Position – IBA North America.  The cover letter should describe how your past experience, skills and interests match the requirements of the job, and should not exceed 1½ pages.  The IBA regrets that only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Thank you very much for your interest in the IBA.