Director, Policy and Government Affairs, Liberty Division

Director, Policy and Government Affairs, Liberty Division

American Civil Liberties Union

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks a full-time position of Director, Policy &
Government Affairs of the Liberty Division in the National
Political Advocacy Department of the ACLU’s National office in
Washington, DC. This is a hybrid role that has in-office
requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per
month.

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.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Lead and manage a team charged with charting the course for the
ACLU’s policy agenda on reproductive freedom and LGBTQ rights, and
other civil rights and civil liberties issues
• Lead the Division in the development of novel goals, strategy,
and vision, and the strategic plans necessary to advance key policy
priorities and civil rights and civil liberties
• Identify areas of work that should be prioritized by the
Division, developing an annual slate of policy priorities that
drive the core work within the Division
• Provide strategic advice and counsel to the Senior Director of
Policy & Government Affairs as well as other department
leadership in areas of substantive expertise and in efforts to lead
the Division’s work on policy engagements, lobbying strategy, and
shaping policy agendas
• Develop the strategy for and direct the policy and lobbying
efforts in specific issue areas and civil liberties and civil
rights at the federal level and support similar efforts at the
state and local levels
• Coordinate with other leaders within the Policy & Government
Relations vertical to ensure effective relationship management,
coordination on Capitol Hill, and on effective legislative
strategies across policy divisions; coordinate regularly with other
division Directors of Policy & Government Affairs to ensure
alignment
• Work in partnership with National and State Campaigns leadership
to achieve legislative and administrative victories that advance
civil liberties and civil rights in specific issue areas, while
building the ACLU’s power
• Work collaboratively with Legal Department staff on policy
advocacy directed towards Congress or the Executive Branch to align
their efforts with federal policy counsel in the Division, as well
as collaborate with Legal Department staff in providing advice to
affiliates on state and local policy
• Serve as a principal policy, legal, and/or subject matter expert
and advocate; represent the Division and department in meetings of
ad hoc lobbying and policy and/or political coalitions as well as
interdepartmentally
• Direct the Division‘s work on the development and execution of
accurate and persuasive written explanations of the ACLU’s position
on proposed federal or state policy
• Manage and cultivate relationships with policymakers in Congress
and the Executive branch; testify as an expert at legislative
hearings and agency meetings; identify and prepare expert witnesses
and testimony when necessary
• Lobby elected officials, their staff, and other public officials
to support ACLU positions on pending legislation and policy
initiatives
• Provide strategic guidance on lobbying efforts and testimony to
be delivered by ACLU state affiliates before legislative or
regulatory bodies at the state and local/municipal levels, in
collaboration with affiliate leadership
• In collaboration with ACLU Communications staff and other key
stakeholders, provide expert commentary to media, participate in
media briefings, and draft and contribute to op-eds and other
publications
• Serve as a spokesperson for the ACLU on substantive areas of
expertise
• Engage in fundraising and donor cultivation
• Develop staff capacity to work together collaboratively and grow
issue expertise and policy and lobbying skills; lead trainings and
provide mentorship and guidance
• Lead efforts to recruit staff, and further strengthen the
division and department
• May provide subject matter expertise, advice, and support to
fellow colleagues in other Divisions 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

The ACLU seeks a highly-skilled individual who brings a deep
understanding of and passion for reproductive freedom and LGBTQ
rights, and other civil rights and civil liberties issues, and will
have a track record of driving successful policy outcomes.

This leader will be experienced in leading legislative and
administrative advocacy. They will be familiar with building,
leading, and working within coalitions. The successful candidate
will naturally connect and build strong relationships with others,
demonstrating strong emotional intelligence and an ability to
communicate clearly and persuasively. They will bring excellent
research, writing, and analytical skills. The successful candidate
will be comfortable representing one’s organization and bring
public speaking experience.

This leader will be effective working in a fast-paced environment,
can handle multiple tasks simultaneously, is able to work
efficiently and quickly, and is reliable in their delivery against
deadlines, and is composed under pressure.

In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for
the position, we would highlight the following:

Setting Strategy & Executing for Results

• Proven ability to identify and set policy priorities
• Decisive in strategic planning but aware of a changing
environment and maintains a needed level of flexibility
• The vision and skills to create and articulate an inspiring
vision for the Division
• The ability to set clear and challenging goals while committing
the organization to improved performance; tenacious and accountable
in driving results
• Comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty; capacity to adapt
nimbly and lead others through complex situations
• A leader who is viewed by others as having a high degree of
integrity and forethought in their approach to making decisions;
acts in a transparent and consistent manner while always taking
into account what is best for the organization

Leading Teams

• The ability to motivate the team, attract and recruit top talent,
delegate effectively, celebrate diversity within the team, and
manage performance; widely viewed as a strong developer of
others
• Able to persevere in the face of challenges, and exhibit a
steadfast resolve and relentless commitment to higher
standards
• Self-reflective and aware of their own limitations; leads by
example and drives the organization’s performance with an attitude
of continuous improvement by being open to feedback and
self-improvement
• The willingness to make mistakes in pursuit of ambitious,
game-changing goals, while possessing the ability to accept
responsibility and learn from those mistakes with a sense of humor
and humility

Relationships and Influence

• 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
• Skilled at advocacy, influence, and persuasion; able to convince
others to act on information or recommendations based on compelling
logic or common best interests

COMPENSATION

The ACLU values equity, transparency, and clarity in pay.
Consistent with the ACLU’s compensation philosophy there is a set
salary for this role. The ACLU also has a locality adjustment
policy that applies to salaries. The annual salary for this
position is $206,637 (Level C2), reflecting the salary of a
position based in Washington, DC. This position is subject to a
hybrid schedule of 2 days/week or 8 days/month in-office.

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
benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. 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.

Apply online at https://grnh.se/9b50d1102us

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