Policy & Advocacy Strategist

Job Description

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ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas is the leading civil rights organization in the Lone Star State. We work in courts, legislatures, and communities to protect and extend the civil rights of all people in Texas. The ACLU of Texas is both a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. The ACLU of Texas operates professional offices in Houston, Austin, Dallas, El Paso, and Brownsville, Texas.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The ACLU of Texas seeks a highly motivated person with a passion for civil rights and civil liberties to serve as a Policy and Advocacy Strategist within the Policy and Advocacy Department. In this role, the Policy and Advocacy Strategist will work for policy change in Dallas, with an initial focus on criminal law reform, policing, and reproductive freedom. The Policy and Advocacy Strategist reports to the manager for Smart Justice within the department.

Policy and Advocacy Strategists are an integral part of the Policy and Advocacy team and the ACLU of Texas’ work. This role is focused on educating, motivating, and developing leaders in affected communities to advocate for change, while simultaneously developing relationships with public officials and coalition partners to galvanize support for ACLU of Texas policy objectives. The role is highly collaborative, requiring work within strategic coalitions and across all ACLU of Texas departments: Policy and Advocacy, Communications, and Legal.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Policy Advocacy Strategist is responsible for the following:

• Assisting in development of strategies and executing plans to achieve departmental objectives in one or more policy areas with guidance and support from their supervisor.
• Maintaining knowledge of priority issues and the key influencers and organizations that shape the issues at the local/regional level.
• Exerting influence at the local level through relationships with like-minded organizations, grassroots groups, and offices of elected officials at the local/regional level.
• Organizing ACLU members, volunteers, and community members to advance ACLU of Texas policy goals and issue campaigns, and working to broaden and strengthen our supporter base throughout the region.
• Building and strengthening relationships with coalition partners, community leaders, and other regional advocacy groups, including both traditional and new allies, and representing the organization in coalition and other community spaces across issue areas.
• Planning and managing events to raise visibility and support for campaigns and priority issues, and supporting and participating in community partners’ events.
• Developing advocacy materials including fact sheets, toolkits, action alerts, and emails.
• Successfully implementing advocacy technology tools, including distributed organizing tools such as peer-to-peer text messaging, e-mail, and phone calls.
• Participating in strategy development for the department, making strategic recommendations for action.
• Producing high-standard written products for internal and external audiences, based on original research and analysis.

COMPETENCIES

• Leadership ability. Able to facilitate communication and collaboration with a diverse group of community members, policy makers, organizational partners and volunteers to achieve goals.
• Written and verbal communication. Quickly produces written products, including emails and memos, that summarize information and present options for action. Can communicate with internal and external stakeholders clearly and with empathy.
• Organizational relations. Represents departmental and organizational positions in internal and external negotiations to achieve objectives. Responsive to requests for action, internally and externally.
• Brings a positive, problem-solving attitude to relationships with colleagues and partners.
• Follows through on assignments. Colleagues can count on you to complete assignments on time and in line with expectations, communicating along the way.
• Self Starter. Shows the ability to work independently and in a team environment with minimal supervision, assisting team members as necessary.

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least two years of experience working in community organizing, political campaigns, and/or public policy research and advocacy.
• Commitment and demonstrated experience working with diverse directly-affected communities including: communities of color, low-income people, youth, LGBTQ people, homeless people, immigrants, women, and people with disabilities.
• Ability to manage several projects simultaneously and adapt to frequently changing demands.
• Interest in expanding policy knowledge and influencing skills to achieve public policy objectives that improve civil liberties in Texas.
• Solid computer skills, including proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, and communications tools.
• Flexible schedule and ability to work non-traditional hours as needed.
• Demonstrated commitment to civil liberties.
• Spanish fluency desired, but not required.

COMPENSATION

Salary is commensurate with experience and within the parameters of ACLU of Texas’s salary scale.

This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU of Texas reserves the right to change the job description and/or posting at any time without advance notice.

The ACLU of Texas is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU of Texas 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, previous criminal conviction and veteran status.