Senior Strategist, Special Projects

Title: Senior Strategist

Office: National Offices

Location: New York, New York, United States

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks a full-time position of Senior Strategist, Special Projects in the National Political Advocacy Department of the ACLU’s National office in Washington, DC or New York, NY.

The National Political Advocacy Department builds power to achieve an accountable, representative democracy. We have ambitious goals across Reproductive Freedom, Voting Rights, Systemic Equality, Immigration, Trans Justice, and Criminal Justice 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 and executive levers. We are policy experts, lawyers, community organizers, lobbyists, campaign strategists, 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, inclusion, and belonging in our approach.

Reporting to the Chief Political Advisor, the Senior Strategist, Special Projects will be responsible for leading large and complex political/campaign projects that cut across multiple issue areas within NPAD. The Senior Strategist will partner with a variety of internal and external stakeholders, including national and affiliate staff, coalition partners, and vendors/consultants, to design, manage and facilitate workstreams that will lead to the successful implementation of special projects, including coordinating logistics for large, in-person events (e.g., state/federal convenings, Lobby Days, etc.).

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design and lead complex, multi-tooled campaign-related projects from planning to execution at the national/federal, state, and local level, with minimal need for management level guidance
• Develop and manage project plans and schedule to ensure projects are on time, in scope, and within budget
• Coordinate the day-to-day activities of projects, convene and execute on-the-ground meetings and campaign events
• Lead a working group of internal and external stakeholders - national and affiliate staff, coalition partners, and consultant - to ensure all stakeholder groups are integrated into project plan, methodology, and implementation
• Ability to utilize a wide variety of sophisticated campaign tactics and tools as needed
• Exercise strong project management skills including budget, vendor, consultant and stakeholder management, assessing project risks and solutions, and facilitating decision making and resolution
• Develop and cultivate strategic external partnerships that expands the ACLU’s influence
• Exercise significant independent judgment to solve problems and determine creative solutions

In addition to:

• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned
• Center principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging in all work, embedding the values in program development, policy application, and organizational practices and processes
• Commitment to the mission of the ACLU
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity within the office using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regards to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability and socio-economic circumstance
• Commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• Significant experience with issue advocacy and/or electoral campaigning at the federal, state, and/or local levels
• Demonstrated experience successfully managing large, complex projects from inception and design to implementation and maintenance
• Sound judgment in navigating political environments
• Ability to manage and oversee multiple, complex workstreams ranging from technical, programmatic, and operational
• Proven problem solver, with the ability to handle difficult situations and unexpected challenges
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team
• Excellent research, writing, analytical, and communication skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, simultaneously handle many tasks, work efficiently and quickly, and meet deadlines, while remaining composed under pressure
• Excellent diplomacy skills - ability to manage up, down, and laterally to keep stakeholders aligned and moving forward
• Willingness to travel

COMPENSATION

ABOUT THE ACLU

The ACLU dares to create a more perfect union – beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees.

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 from government abuse and overreach.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. 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.

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, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people; women; people with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply.

The ACLU makes every effort to assure that its recruitment and employment provide all qualified persons, including persons with disabilities, with full opportunities for employment in all positions.

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.