Unchained At Last, the survivor-led nonprofit at the helm of the national movement to end forced and child marriage in the United States, seeks a Senior Writer & Researcher to help steer that movement.
WARNING: Apply for this position only if you want a deeply meaningful, adventure-filled job that makes all your friends jealous.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Senior Writer & Researcher, reporting directly to the Executive Director, uses the power of the pen to convince federal and state lawmakers, funders, potential allies and other key stakeholders to join Unchained in its quest to eliminate forced marriage and child marriage in the U.S. Specifically, the Senior Writer & Researcher gets the opportunity to:
- Research and write memos, fact sheets and other materials about the harms of child marriage and forced marriage (with pro bono legal-research support from some of the world’s largest law firms);
- Compose web posts, eblasts and other communications;
- Draft grant proposals (after receiving extensive training); and
- Identify new funding opportunities (also after receiving training).
QUALIFICATIONS
You might be a good fit for this position if you:
- Have at least five years of professional writing experience, including at least three years of grant proposal writing and/or advocacy communications;
- Can make people sob or laugh out loud with the power of your prose;
- Would not be caught dead using a dangling modifier or comma splice;
- Are detail oriented and highly organized;
- Hold a college degree; and
- Feel passionately about Unchained’s mission.
Unchained encourages survivors of forced marriage to apply.
NOTE: An internal study at HP found women applied for a promotion only if they met 100 percent of the qualifications, while men applied if they met 60 percent. Regardless of your gender, if you are excited about this job, GO FOR IT — even if you do not meet 100 percent of the qualifications.
SALARY/BENEFITS
The compensation package for this position includes:
- Salary of $82,000;
- 401(k) retirement plan with employer match;
- High-quality health insurance;
- Dental insurance;
- Vision insurance;
- Life insurance;
- Flexible Spending Account so you can pay certain health and commuter costs pre-tax;
- Mostly remote work (in the office once or twice each month);
- Generous paid time off, including parental leave;
- Solid work-life balance (the workday ends at 5:00 p.m. — and earlier on Fridays — except in emergencies);
- Monthly art therapy sessions with the Unchained team; and
- United Nations grounds pass.
LOCATION
Hybrid: Mostly remote. In the office once or twice each month.
Please do not apply unless you live within commuting distance of Unchained’s office in Northern New Jersey (less than a 40-minute train ride from New York City).
ABOUT UNCHAINED
A lifetime of rape, forced parenthood, financial dependence and domestic servitude. This is the reality for individuals in the United States whose lives are ripped apart by forced marriage.
Unchained is the only organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, often life-saving legal and social services and emotional support — always for free — to women, girls and others in the U.S. who are resisting or escaping forced marriage. Unchained also is the only organization dedicated to promoting social, policy and legal change to end forced and child marriage in the U.S. The organization started and now leads a growing national movement to end child marriage in every U.S. state and at the federal level.
A day at Unchained is rarely dull. Members of the small but feisty Unchained team travel all across the U.S. to testify at legislative hearings and to Chain-In, in bridal gowns and chains, to protest forced and child marriage. In just the last few years, team members ate dinner with Chelsea Clinton, watched multiple Broadway shows and appeared on Apple TV’s Gutsy series.
Unchained prioritizes self-care and team building. The virtual office closes early every Friday and every day during the last week of the year and closes for all federal holidays and for a week every summer – in addition to a generous paid-time-off package. The Unchained team holds monthly art therapy sessions and semi-annual staff retreats that sometimes involve wearing pajamas to the office and always involve eating too much guacamole.
HOW TO APPLY
To be considered for this position, submit your application and resume HERE. You will receive a confirmation email letting you know your application was received.
An Unchained team member will reach out if you seem to be a good fit for the open position. You will then have the chance to advance through Unchained’s multi-step interview process, which typically takes a couple of weeks.
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION
If you really want this position, these tips might help:
- How are you perfect for this role? Make that clear in your application, rather than assuming it is obvious from your resume.
- Does your resume have gaps or anything that might cause confusion? Best to explain those in your application.
- Have you reviewed the Unchained website? You will deeply impress your interviewers if you are deeply familiar with the organization.
- Not sure whether to send a “thank you” after an interview? The answer is always yes. The Unchained team appreciates appreciation.