Senior Policy Counsel, Voting

Description:

About the Job:
The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time, term-limited position of Senior Policy Counsel in the National Political Advocacy Department of the ACLU's National office in Washington, D.C. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. This position is a three-year term-limited position.

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.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU)

What You'll Do:
Reporting to the Director of Policy & Governments - Democracy & Technology, the Senior Policy Counsel will focus on voting rights, with a particular emphasis on state and local policy advocacy for election safeguarding, as well as protecting voting rights against redistricting and voter suppression legislation.

Your Day to Day:

• Advance civil liberties and civil rights in complex policy areas at the federal, state, and local levels, specifically advocating for a more representative, open, and accountable democracy, including by combatting voter suppression measures, achieving reforms that expand access to the ballot, advancing institutional reforms to the judicial and legislative branches, and other civil rights and civil liberties issues
• Focus primarily on state and local policy, in collaboration with ACLU state affiliates, NPAD campaign leadership and staff, and other NPAD and Legal Department staff working on voting issues
• Develop strategic legislative, campaign, and administrative policy options
• Independently develop novel ideas and approaches to solving problems, in addition to sourcing existing policy ideas and approaches to civil liberties challenges
• Independently draft bills and/or administrative rules/regulations at the state, local, or federal levels, providing content expertise as well as legislative and regulatory drafting knowledge
• Prepare, provide guidance on and/or deliver testimony on pending legislation before congressional committees or federal regulatory agencies and draft or provide guidance on testimony to be delivered by ACLU state affiliates before legislative or regulatory bodies at the state and local/municipal levels, in collaboration with an affiliate
• Lobby elected officials, their staff, and other public officials to support ACLU positions on pending legislation and policy initiatives
• Support Division leadership and National and State Campaigns staff in preparing written materials, meeting with stakeholders, and advocating policies to internal and external audiences
• Provide legislative counseling, including policy, legislative or legal analysis, strategic planning guidance, and tactical suggestions, to ACLU state affiliates to support of state and/or locally-based efforts
• Coordinate and conduct in-depth civil liberties briefings for government officials as pertinent to advancing priority ACLU positions
• Help coordinate a strategy designed to reach campaign goals or other policy/political outcomes across ACLU departments, ACLU state affiliates, and coalition partners
• Work with National and State Campaigns and organizers in NPAD to advance campaign goals or other policy and political outcomes
• Collaborate with other NPAD Policy and Government Affairs staff to ensure effective relationship management, coordination on Capitol Hill, and in state policy work, to achieve policy objectives
• Participate as an ACLU representative in meetings of ad hoc lobbying and policy and/or political coalitions, as relevant
• 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, as relevant
• Organize, lead, and work with outside groups to bolster support for ACLU policy goals or to minimize opposition to those goals
• Ensure key ACLU positions and documents are archived, and that vote recommendations on federal legislation are included in the ACLU scorecard
• Provide subject matter expertise, advice, and support to colleagues in other Divisions as they develop and execute state/local campaigns in overlapping or related issue areas
• Demonstrate an ability to be flexible and adjust priorities as necessary in order to adapt to a changing external environment
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned

• 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

• Law degree, with substantial legal research, writing, and advocacy experience
• Significant experience working in policy, legal, political, or government settings; high degree of familiarity with public policy and legislative, administrative, and/or electoral processes
• Experience working in a campaign setting preferred
• Demonstrated substantive expertise in civil liberties and civil rights law and policy, preferably with an emphasis on voting and elections
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team
• Experience with media and serving as a spokesperson for an issue, campaign, or cause; exceptional ability to explain, both in writing and orally, complex policy issues to both the general public and government decision-makers
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Exceptional writing and verbal skills with the ability to synthesize information
• Highly organized with excellent time management skills; detail-oriented with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and manage multiple projects simultaneously, often under strict deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal skills and confidence to navigate a large department and complex organization

Compensation:
The ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. Consistent with our compensation philosophy, there is a set salary for each role based on geographic work location. The annual salary for this position is $161,123 (Level E), reflecting the salary of a position based in New York, NY. Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.

For details on our pay structure, please visit: https://www.aclu.org/careers/ACLU_Geographic_Pay_Structure-July_2024.pdf
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