Head of US Death Penalty Projects

About Reprieve US

Reprieve US is a registered 501(c)(3) assisting victims of extreme human rights abuses carried out by governments. We are made up of lawyers and investigators helping people facing detention without trial, execution and extrajudicial execution. We are a small team, but we are fearless in our fight for justice. We work closely with our sibling organization, Reprieve, a UK charity founded in 1999. Reprieve US uses strategic interventions to end the use of the death penalty globally and to end extreme human rights abuses carried out in the name of “counterterrorism” or “national security”.

About the Role

The Head of US Death Penalty Projects is responsible for overseeing Reprieve US’ work against the death penalty in the United States of America.

Background to Reprieve US’ work against the death penalty

Reprieve US has worked against the death penalty since our founding. In recent years we have built a particular specialization in issues relating to lethal injection, the most popular execution method in the US. Lethal injection has been touted as a more humane than other methods – a modern, clean, clinical way to execute. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Lethal injection executions go wrong more often than any other execution method, often resulting in prolonged and torturous executions, commonly known as “botched” executions. Through our work we aim to dispel the myth of the humane execution, working with allies across medicine, business and other sectors to end the misuse of medicines and medical technology in executions.

Job Description and Person Specification

The existing portfolio of work includes litigation, investigation and analysis, corporate engagement, a wide range of public and private advocacy, and developing and maintaining world-leading expertise on execution methods, particularly the jurisprudence and science relevant to lethal injection.

About You

You will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies in which each of Reprieve’s methodologies—investigation, litigation, casework political and public engagement, support for and (where possible and appropriate) advocacy with affected communities—connect with one another to achieve positive outcomes in the death penalty landscape and address structural rights violations.

You will be enthusiastic about working for an organization with Reprieve's mission and vision. You will have a minimum of five years’ experience supervising busy and diverse teams. You have significant legal and casework experience and experience managing a complex portfolio of projects. You will also have substantial advocacy experience, an understanding of campaigning, strong writing skills, and excellent attention to detail.

You will have sensitivity to the risks faced by those with whom we work and a demonstrated commitment to acting in the best interest of clients. You will have professional maturity, flexibility, and a willingness to put clients and Reprieve’s mission above all else.

In addition to being conversant in relevant legal systems, you are ideally abreast of the domestic, regional, and geopolitical developments that impact on death penalty issues in the USA and have the ability to develop targeted strategies to influence the policies and public conversations in these jurisdictions, working in collaboration with allies in the medicine and business communities.

Responsibilities

Project Management and Strategy

Oversee and drive forward Reprieve US’ work against the death penalty in the US, including by:

• Developing the strategy and operational plan for the US death penalty work, including setting clear goals, targets, and systems for evaluation in close collaboration with the wider team and the Senior Advisor to the US Death Penalty Team;

• Monitoring and evaluating project effectiveness and shift the team’s activities and operational plan as necessary to ensure that the work remains impactful;

• Maintaining project budgets and contributing to reporting to funders;

• Taking responsibility for all aspects of the team’s casework and ensure the best interests of our clients is the primary guide for our work;

• Planning domestic travel in service of Reprieve’s casework;

• Ensuring all actions undertaken by the team are in compliance with Reprieve’s legal obligations, working with the Deputy Director; and,

• Maintaining and developing relationships with key stakeholders – both individuals and organizations – across our US death penalty work, in close liaison with the Joint Executive Directors, Deputy Director (RUS) and other key staff.

Team management

Manage a busy, happy team to work collaboratively, productively, and ethically to meet our strategic goals, including by:

• Working closely with the Senior Advisor to the US Death Penalty Team. Managing the US Death Penalty Team, and supervising key members of the team as appropriate, including the Reprieve US Senior Staff Attorney, the US Death Penalty team’s project manager, caseworkers, fellows, and consultants;

• Ensuring the team’s work products are of a quality and standard which do justice to our mission;

• Ensuring that team members are effectively supported and trained to work professionally and sensitively with a range of stakeholders, including allies in the medicine and business communities, as well as US legal teams and law firms assisting pro bono; and,

• Coordinating closely and collaborating with other Reprieve teams in the advancement of the team’s goals (including the media, campaigns, policy, development and outreach, finance, operations and senior management teams).

Investigations

Guide the team to investigate the misuse of medicines in lethal injection executions, relevant contextual background, and priority thematic issues to create an evidentiary base for corporate engagement, litigation and advocacy, including by:

• Overseeing desk research;

• Building the evidentiary base for relevant thematic areas, including by maintaining a wide network of relationships with lawyers and others; and,

• Overseeing the analysis of relevant information.

Corporate engagement

Guide the team to identify and implement corporate engagement strategies to support businesses to end the misuse of their products, including by:

• Maintaining regular communication with corporate allies;

• Alerting corporate allies to relevant developments; and,

• Supporting corporate allies to undertake actions to stop the misuse of their medicines.

Political engagement

Identify and implement political engagement strategies to dispel the myth of the humane executions:

• Engaging directly with politicians and decision-makers in the US to educate them on our work and issues and highlight opportunities for change; and,

• Drafting and reviewing persuasive briefings in support of political engagement.

Litigation

Monitor and contribute to litigation in the US and internationally seeking dispel the mythof the humane execution:

• Managing the Reprieve US Staff Attorney to identify and develop strategic litigation opportunities

• Supporting legal teams to challenge the misuse of medicines in lethal injection executions;

• Drafting and reviewing submissions for domestic and foreign courts, and international and UN legal mechanisms; and,

• Maintaining relationships with key allies in the US and international legal community.

Media and public engagement

Identify and implement strategies to challenge the media narrative regarding the use of the death penalty in the US, particularly lethal injection execution:

• Coordinating with Reprieve’s media team to dispel the myth of the humane execution and industry opposition to misuse of medicines in executions; and,

• Scoping potential advocacy opportunities, including through reports, briefings, documentaries, fictionalization, and other creative projects.

Other

• Undertaking other tasks and projects related to the role as needed;

• Developing and taking on new areas of work led by the best interests of our clients and organizational strategy;

• Contributing to fundraising activities or other development needs; and,

• Being an ambassador by representing Reprieve US at functions. This may include speaking engagements.

Key Contacts

Reporting to the RUS Deputy Director, the Head of US Death Penalty Projects will manage the Reprieve US Senior Staff Attorney and co-ordinate Reprieve’s US Death Penalty team in the UK, working closely with the Senior Advisor to the US Death Penalty Team. The Head of US Death Penalty Projects will work closely with the Heads and Project Leads of: Media, Campaigns, Policy, Development and Outreach, Finance, and Operations; staff, Fellows and others engaged by Reprieve US and Reprieve; partner organizations and third-party service providers.

CRITERIA

Essential:

• Detail-oriented, excellent attention to detail, rigorous approach to record keeping, and strong organizational skills
• Proven ability to juggle multiple and competing tasks in a high-pressured environment
• Experience of forming and maintaining effective working relationships with business people, lawyers, experts and / or other professionals, agencies, and organizations, including how to work constructively and sensitively with individuals from different cultures and backgrounds
• Ability to give clear and appropriate instructions and guidance to those under your supervision
• Experience of managing own workload, including file management
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• A genuine interest in human rights and a commitment to Reprieve’s goals
• Current right to live and work in the US
• Confident using MS Word, MS Excel, email, and the internet for research purposes
• Familiarity with legal and policy matters relating the death penalty
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and at least 5 years’ experience leading litigation or other legal work
• Ability to think strategically and consider both legal and non-legal avenues to benefit those we assist and affect change on a wider level
• Familiarity with legal and procedural principles of criminal and civil litigation at state and federal level in the USA
• An interest in and aptitude for political engagement
• At least 5 years’ experience line managing staff including remote management

Desirable:

• Knowledge of international human rights law
• Relevant investigative experience including using public record requests and other investigative tools
• Experience of working with individuals who have become vulnerable
• Knowledge of the relevant areas of science and medicine related to lethal injection