Description
Job Description
For nearly 100 years, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been our nation’s guardian of liberty, working in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country. Whether it’s achieving full equality for the LGBT community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, ending mass incarceration, 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, disability, gender, sexual orientation, disability or national origin.
The Affiliate Support and Advocacy Department (ASA) of the ACLU’s National Office in New York City is seeking a full-time Advocacy & Policy Strategist or Advocacy & Policy Counsel to advance our robust agenda to expand privacy protections nationwide.
Overview
The ACLU has been at the forefront of the struggle to rein government surveillance and strengthen privacy protections for sensitive personal information. Our privacy advocacy has taken on new urgency in light of recent revelations about government surveillance programs that are regularly monitoring the calls of hundreds of millions of Americans and spying on a vast but unknown number of Americans' international calls, text messages, and emails.
The Advocacy & Policy Strategist/Counsel will play a key role in an exciting interdisciplinary team advancing privacy protections nationwide. In partnership with our state affiliates, the Advocacy & Policy Strategist/ Counsel will be responsible for advancing state-based advocacy efforts utilizing policy analysis, lobbying, coalition building, polling and message research, earned and paid media, targeted constituent outreach, grasstops engagement and mobilization of the ACLU activist network. The ideal candidate will bring experience from successful lobbying efforts political, and/or ballot initiative campaigns, have sharp political instincts, leadership skills, and experience analyzing policy and advancing comprehensive advocacy plans. In addition, a strong background on the issue of privacy and technology is preferred.
Reporting to the Senior Advocacy and Policy Strategist, the Advocacy & Policy Strategist/Counsel will be part of the Advocacy Team, which works with ACLU affiliates to further the ACLU’s public policy priorities at the state level to protect and advance civil liberties. ACLU affiliates lobby in every state legislature and lead advocacy campaigns on a wide range of issues, including criminal justice, the death penalty, immigrant’s rights, marriage equality, reproductive freedom and voting rights.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Collaborate in planning and implementing a comprehensive strategy to advance privacy protections nationwide in partnership with ACLU affiliates.
- Provide legislative and strategic guidance and tools to ACLU affiliates and state partners, including policy analysis, strategies for lobbying, power-mapping and decision-maker targeting, effective coalition building, messaging and public engagement.
- Analyze state legislative and other policy proposals and draft policy analyses designed to influence state policymakers. For Advocacy and Policy Counsels, conduct legal analysis on the interpretation and constitutionality of proposed state legislation and policy initiatives.
- Develop and produce advocacy tools for ACLU affiliates to assist their state-based advocacy efforts.
- Collaborate and work closely with colleagues in our Communications, Legal, Development and Washington Legislative Office, and affiliates around the country.
- Participate in national coalitions and develop relationships with allies and other organizations to further our advocacy goals.
- Coordinate ACLU affiliates’ participation in the National Office’s federal advocacy campaigns.
- Speak publicly at national, state, and local forums, conferences and meetings.
- Develop expertise in privacy and technology and other key civil liberties issues.
Qualifications
- For Advocacy and Policy Counsels, applicants must have a J.D. and at least three (3) or more years of successful experience developing, leading, and implementing legislative, issue-based or electoral campaigns. An exceptional ability to conduct legal analysis and research required.
- For Advocacy and Policy Strategists, applicants must have at least five (5) or more years of successful experience developing, leading, and implementing legislative, issue-based or electoral campaigns and experience working in the federal or state legislative arena.
- Background/expertise in privacy and technology issues strongly preferred.
- Experience advancing a proactive issue-based program at a national and/or state organization preferred.
- Demonstrated understanding of the legislative process, ballot campaigns or political strategic planning.
- 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.
- Experience working in coalitions, including developing shared plans, coordinating external and internal communications, and understanding internal political dynamics among partner groups.
- Ability to multi-task, take initiative, think strategically, prioritize and complete assignments, including providing rapid analytical responses with strong attention to detail.
- Strong writing and communications skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information for various audiences.
- 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.
- Frequent travel is required.
- Commitment to civil liberties and social justice issues.
Salary
The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.
Application Instructions
Please send a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to hrjobsASAD@aclu.org - Reference [ASD-22/ACLU-W] in the subject line. Please note that this is not the general ACLU applicant email address. This email address is specific to the Affiliate Supporting and Advocacy Department posting. In order to ensure your application is received, please make certain it is sent to the correct e-mail address. You can expect to receive an automatic response that acknowledges the submission of application materials.
Alternatively applications can be mailed to:
Affiliate Support and Advocacy Department
American Civil Liberties Union
[Re: ASD-22/ACLU-W]
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of this career opportunity.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
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