ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks a full-time position of Senior Advisor & Regional Campaigns Lead in the National Political Advocacy Department of the ACLU’s National office in Washington, DC. This position is focused on Region 5, which includes CT, DC, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, VA, and WV and may be located in one of the states in this Region.

The National Political Advocacy Department builds power to achieve an accountable, representative democracy. We have ambitious goals across Reproductive Freedom, Democracy and Voting Rights, Systemic Equality, Immigration, Trans Justice, Criminal Justice and other core issues in order to protect and expand civil rights and civil liberties, and advance the freedom, equality, ability to prosper, and humanity of all People.

Our department conducts analysis, develops policy, crafts world class campaigns and situates the ACLU to have impact across legislative, administrative, and electoral levers. We are policy experts, lawyers, community organizers, lobbyists, campaign strategists, electoral specialists, program managers and more. We partner across the ACLU to drive national efforts, and support and amplify the priorities of our affiliates. We work to center principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in our approach.

The Senior Advisor & Regional Campaigns Lead will report to the Director, State Campaigns.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Design and lead legislative and administrative victories across all priority issue areas at the state and local level, while building the ACLU’s power, for the assigned region, in close partnership with ACLU affiliates
• Serve as a consultant and strategic advisor on electoral engagements, campaign priorities, political strategy, and budget decisions; and helping to execute as needed, in close coordination with the Electoral Team
• Initiate and cultivate strong affiliate partnerships, building a deep understanding of affiliate priorities, capacities and cultures by regularly interfacing with affiliate leadership including affiliate Executive Directors.
• Build meaningful, robust campaigns with affiliates that are relevant to, and supportive of, affiliate and national strategic priorities
• Responsibly direct the work of regional strategists, consultants, and others to achieve political/policy outcomes jointly sought by NPAD and affiliates
• Effectively manage partner relationships in the delicate context of a federated organization with a wide range of coalition partners across the political spectrum with varied and sometimes conflicting interests
• Identify opportunities to utilize NPAD personnel and/or other resources to advance affiliate campaigns where affiliate and National goals align
• Develop a regional power analysis and represent ACLU as needed in coalitions or partnership efforts, in partnership with affiliates
• Work with others in the ACLU, such as colleagues in the Affiliate Support and Nationwide Initiatives Department (ASNI), to make affiliate campaign grants and provide feedback to affiliates on grant commitments
• Drive campaign interventions that highlight the political power wielded by the ACLU and its affiliate structure
• Manage staff, including remote staff and consultants, for program success and professional growth
• May provide subject matter expertise, advice, and support to fellow colleagues in the State Campaigns Division as they develop and execute state/local campaigns in new and unfamiliar issue areas
• Demonstrate an ability to be flexible and adjust priorities as necessary in order to adapt to changing external environment

FUTURE ACLU’ERS WILL 

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• Significant leadership experience and a proven track record in issue advocacy and/or electoral campaigns at the federal, state, or local levels, including campaign management leadership experience
• Significant demonstrated experience designing campaign strategy and developing campaign tactics and execution plans - both issue campaigns and electoral campaigns preferred
• Demonstrated people management experience with a track record of motivating teams, attracting and recruiting talent, and developing people and teams
• Experience managing budgets and making resource allocation decisions
• Outstanding relationship builder who uses influence effectively in a variety of settings, both within the organization and with external constituencies, including public officials, trade associations, and other relevant parties
• Ability to work in a matrixed and federated environment; strong conflict management skills; ability to bring consensus around a common purpose and deliver collaborative solutions
• Ability to manage and oversee multiple campaigns at once
• Excellent research, writing, analytical, and communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to speak in public settings on behalf of one’s organization
• Familiarity building, leading, and working within coalitions

COMPENSATION

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked 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 LGBTQ+ 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.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid-time off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage 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, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.    

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

The Department of Education has determined that employment in this position at the ACLU does not qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.