Planning Manager

Lambda Legal•New York, NY

1d•$85,000 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Planning Manager plays a critical role in translating strategy into implementation at Lambda Legal. This position enables senior leadership to focus on high-value strategic work by managing the operational infrastructure of strategic planning: coordinating cross-departmental work, strengthening data, project, and process management. The Planning Manager regularly supports executive decision-making processes, and requires access to and handling of sensitive information ensuring leaders have the clarity, tools, and insights needed to advance organizational priorities. This is a highly execution-oriented role with room to grow in setting strategy that helps translate big picture goals into actionable plans to advance Lambda Legal’s mission.

Requirements

3+ years of experience in project management, operations, planning, or a related role
Demonstrated ability to create and manage project plans, timelines, and deliverables across a variety of stakeholders
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Experience creating new processes, systems, and templates to maximize collaboration, tracking, and efficiency
Structured and process-oriented thinker who can break down complex projects into actionable steps
Proven ability to work independently, take initiative, anticipate needs, and follow through on assignments without constant supervision
Ability to create deliverables from scratch with limited direction
Skilled at upward management by providing targeted, timely updates, surfacing key decisions needed, and asking clarifying questions proactively
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to facilitate collaboration across departments and teams, including the ability to produce board-level presentations
Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment and maintain strict confidentiality when handling highly sensitive financial, labor relations, executive, and board-level information Experience tracking metrics, working with qualitative and quantitative data, and applying analytical rigor to assess progress and outcomes
Comfort with providing administrative leverage, including selective scheduling, agenda creation, documentation, and follow-up

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting strategic planning or organization-wide initiatives
Familiarity with dashboards, reporting tools, or performance measurement frameworks
Interest in organizational strategy and how planning connects to mission impact
Exposure to change management and continuous improvement work
Previous experience using project management systems like Monday, Asana, etc.
Prior work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community and/or people living with HIV is highly desirable. Experience working with other historically marginalized communities (in a professional or volunteer capacity) is also preferred.

Responsibilities

Support the implementation of Lambda Legal’s strategic plan, including coordinating timelines, deliverables, and executive-level reporting across departments
Lead task force coordination and metrics management, including structuring meeting logistics, agendas, work plans, progress tracking, and executive-ready updates
Develop, refine, and maintain dashboards, metrics, and reporting tools aligned to strategic priorities
Prepare materials and presentations for departments, executive leadership, and the Board
Design and facilitate workflows and communications that enable stakeholders to make informed decisions, set clear next steps, and execute efficiently
Support the annual strategy refresh process, including development of templates, timelines, frameworks, and thought partnership
Serve as internal strategic consultant in providing project management support for high-priority initiatives that need structure, clarity, or momentum to move to completion
Create and refine planning tools, templates, and management systems that promote accountability, transparency, and disciplined execution
Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to surface insights, patterns, risks, and implications, translating raw information into executive-level recommendations
Exercise independent judgment in identifying barriers, proposing solutions, and escalating decisions appropriately to senior leadership
Provide operational support to the Chief of Planning & Program Management to maximize leadership capacity, including coordinating stakeholder meetings and communications, contracting vendors, and managing interns
Maintain shared resources, documentation, and task-tracking systems to ensure follow through on organizational priorities
Support executive management in collective bargaining strategy and preparation as needed, providing structured project and process management to ensure alignment, timelines, and deliverables are effectively managed

Benefits

Medical benefits that begin on your start date
Dental, Vision, and Life insurance (effective 30 days from your start date)
Short & Long-Term Disability plans (effective 30 days from your start date)
403(b) Retirement Plan (employer contribution and matching program begins after 90 days of employment)
Paid Vacation (15 Days)
Sick Leave (12 Days)
Personal Leave (3 Days)
Religious Observance Leave (3 Days)
Bereavement and Bereavement Anniversary Leave
Floating Holiday (1 Day)
12 paid holidays and 5 early office closures
Flexible Spending Account (FSA/DC FSA) and Commuter Benefits
Health Reimbursement Account
Annual professional development funds
$50 monthly mobile phone reimbursement
Summer Fridays from Memorial Day to Labor Day
Premium subscription to the Calm App
Paid sabbatical after 7 years of service at Lambda Legal (4 weeks for non-exempt positions and 8 weeks for exempt positions)