Voting Rights Analyst: Enforce NY’s Voting Rights Act (6446)

Voting Rights Analyst

The Office of the New York State Attorney General (OAG) is seeking a candidate with experience or interest in voting rights for a Voting Rights Analyst (VRA) position in the Voting Rights Section (VRS) of the Civil Rights Bureau. The VRS is a recently established section within OAG. The VRS is charged with, among other things, enforcing the newly-enacted New York Voting Rights Act, one of the strongest state voting rights laws in the country, including implementing its state "preclearance" program.

More generally, the Civil Rights Bureau enforces federal, state, and local laws that protect New Yorkers from discrimination on the basis of a protected class, including race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, source of income, or disability. The bureau investigates and civilly prosecutes alleged patterns of unlawful discrimination in a variety of arenas, including employment, housing, education, criminal justice, voting, lending, places of public accommodation, and hate crimes. In addition to litigation, the bureau engages in significant community outreach, public education, and other advocacy efforts.

The VRA will work under the leadership of the Senior Voting Rights Analysts and in partnership with VRS attorneys, data scientists, analysts, and other team members to support preclearance reviews, affirmative investigations, and litigation, and policy analysis. The VRA will report to the Voting Rights Section Chief and Special Counsel.

Duties

Investigative and Legal Support Functions

• Collecting and analyzing complex facts and data on an expedited timeline to assess impacts to voters and communities;
• Assisting with the intake of information from various channels including complaints, tips, referrals, independent research, and news and social media;
• Completing field work, including canvassing for witnesses, scheduling and conducting witness interviews, and traveling to where misconduct may have occurred to obtain evidence;
• Working collaboratively with VRS attorneys, data scientists, analysts, third-party experts, and other partners;
• Managing a caseload of active investigations, both independently and in coordination with VRS attorneys;
• Creating and maintaining databases and constructing complex database queries;
• Developing, reviewing, and editing investigative plans and reports;
• Discussing findings and recommendations with the Voting Rights Section Chief and VRS attorneys; and
• Processing documents to be turned over during discovery or in response to Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests and preparing demonstrative exhibits.

Policy Analysis, Stakeholder Support, and Public Education Functions

• Independently preparing responses to inquiries from a variety of stakeholders, including state and local government officials and community organizations, regarding the New York Voting Rights Act and OAG's voting rights work generally;
• Fostering productive relationships with community organizations, public officials, state and local agencies, and other stakeholders;
• Attending and coordinating meetings, visits, and other outreach events;
• Preparing fact sheets, talking points, educational resources, presentations, and other materials;
• Remaining current on local and national news and state and federal legislation relating to voting rights and racial justice, including flagging emerging trends and issues for VRS staff; and
• Coordinating, as needed, with OAG's Communications, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Policy & Legislative teams to provide information and support for related priorities, initiatives, and outreach strategies.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree is required;

• Familiarity with public policy, racial justice, or voting rights through either work experience or course study;

• Knowledge of database concepts and proficiency at maintaining and querying databases;

• Excellent research, analytic, organization, communication (verbal and written), and presentation skills;

• Entrepreneurial, proactive, and self-directed with effective time management skills;

• Adept at learning and assimilating new and complex information; and

• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with all levels of OAG staff and external partners/stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications/Skills

• Strong technology skills, including proficiency with Westlaw, Lexis/Nexis, or similar research databases, conducting strategic internet searches, preserving webpages, and using presentation software such as PowerPoint;

• Prior work experience with New York government or state or federal courts;

• A connection to the organizations and coalitions currently working on voting rights and civil rights-related issues;

• Data visualization and data analytic skills;

• Prior experience using e-discovery platforms; and

• Proficiency in languages other than English.

The annual salary for this position is $68,315 plus $4,000 in location pay. As an employee of OAG, you will join a team of dedicated individuals who work to serve the people of our state through a wide variety of occupations. We offer a comprehensive New York state benefits package, including paid leave, health, dental, vision, and retirement benefits, and family-friendly policies. Additionally, OAG offers a robust Workplace Flexibilities Program with multiple options for employees, including telecommuting (up to two days per week) and alternative work schedules.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.