Labor and Community Job Opportunities, Opportunities

American Civil Liberties Union Seeks Deputy Director of Advocacy and Policy (NYC)

CAREER OPPORTUNITY Deputy Director of Advocacy and Policy [ASD-53] American Civil Liberties Union Foundation National Political Advocacy Department, New York, NY

For nearly 100 years, the ACLU has been our nation’s guardian of liberty, working in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBT community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach. With more than a million members, activists, and supporters, the ACLU is a nationwide organization that fights tirelessly in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., for the principle that every individual’s rights must be protected equally under the law, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or national origin.

The American Civil Liberties Union in New York City is seeking a full-time Deputy Director of Advocacy and Policy.

OVERVIEW

Working on the frontlines in every state across the country, the nationwide ACLU organization strives to protect and advance civil liberties, including in the areas of criminal justice, privacy, immigrant’s rights, LGBT rights, reproductive freedom, and voting rights. The Deputy Director of Advocacy and Policy will help lead the ACLU’s State Advocacy Team. The State Advocacy Team develops and deploys state-based strategies in furtherance of nationwide change on the ACLU’s priority issues. Wherever possible, the State Advocacy Team seeks to build the ACLU’s effectiveness, particularly in key battleground states. The State Advocacy Team tests new tactics, tools, and models, as well as cultivates relationships with critical partners and constituencies.

Reporting to the Director of Advocacy and Policy, the Deputy Director will be part of the team’s leadership and will focus on staff supervision and program development and execution.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Assist in the management of the Advocacy Team, including supervising staff.
  • Participate in program development and evaluation of priority issues.
  • Identify needs and develop systems for team integration, collaboration, evaluation, and optimal functioning.
  • Work closely with national colleagues engaged in state advocacy to ensure coordination and infusion of best practices.
  • Establish effective cross functional and interdepartmental working relationships.
  • Work with ACLU affiliates across the country in furtherance of shared goals.
  • Identify opportunities for nationwide campaigns.
  • Undertake special projects under the direction of the Director of Advocacy and Policy.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to diversity within the office; A personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regards to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance
  • Commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s degree and minimum of eight (8) years of experience working in political, policy, or government settings.
  • Experience managing staff.
  • Experience advancing a legislative or other issue-based program at a national and/or state-based organization.
  • Experience with program development, planning, and evaluation.
  • Experience and success in managing and motivating a team of staff to achieve short-term and long-term goals.
  • Familiarity and experience with an expansive toolbox of strategies to move decision-makers and voters, including paid and earned media, message testing, persuasion tactics, field organizing, online activism, constituent engagement, etc.
  • Ability to multi-task, take initiative, and think strategically.
  • Strong writing and communications skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information for various audiences and ensuring reports and other public communications are written in a clear and cogent manner.
  • Demonstrated flexibility in problem-solving and the ability to adapt to shifting priorities.
  • Proven track record of working collaboratively with colleagues across departments and functions, including the ability to work with colleagues remotely.
  • Willingness to consistently dedicate the time required to meet the objectives.
  • Commitment to the mission of the ACLU.

COMPENSATION

The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within the parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.

Please send a cover letter, resume and a relevant writing sample to: hrjobsNPAD@aclu.org – reference NPAD-/ACLU in the subject line.

Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of this career opportunity.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU reserves the right to change the description and/or posting at any time without advance notice.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, and veteran status.

The ACLU undertakes affirmative action strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to assure that persons with disabilities have full opportunities for employment in all positions.

We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodations in the application process to contact:hrjobsincl@aclu.org. Correspondence sent to this email address that is not related to requests for accommodations will not be reviewed. Applicants should follow the instructions above regarding how to apply.

The ACLU comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation. Both the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation are national organizations with the same overall mission, and share office space and employees. The ACLU has two separate corporate entities in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU.”