Senior Organizer

Job Description

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is the nation’s foremost defender of constitutional rights and civil liberties. ACLU of Colorado is an affiliate of the national ACLU, and it is the state’s guardian of freedom, working in the courts, in the legislature, and in communities across the state to protect and advance civil rights and civil liberties for all. Founded in 1952, ACLU of Colorado is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to fulfilling the promise of equal justice under the law for all Coloradans. For more information about the work of the ACLU of Colorado and the civil liberties principles we uphold, please visit our website at www.aclu-co.org.

Commitment To Equity, Diversity, Belonging, and Inclusion

ACLU of Colorado is an equitable opportunity employer. We believe that having a board, staff, and volunteer base with diverse identities and backgrounds enhance our ability to meet our mission and creates an environment where all community members can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified persons, including people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated, and other members of underrepresented and marginalized groups.

ACLU of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or record of arrest or conviction. We are committed to providing a work environment that practices equitable and inclusive treatment and is quick to act to prevent and address harassment or discrimination of any kind.

Advocacy and Strategic Alliances

The ACLU of Colorado’s Department of Advocacy and Strategic Alliances (“ASA”) focuses on achieving transformational and systemic change. ASA accomplishes this goal through multi-year, issue-based integrated campaigns, by building powerful coalitions and networks working together to achieve shared goals, and by empowering the next generation of civil rights and civil liberties champions. The ASA team includes policy experts, campaigners, organizers, data analysts and researchers who work in integrated teams alongside the ACLU’s litigators and communications experts. These integrated teams combine policy advocacy, organizing and public education, litigation, electoral and political strategies, corporate campaigns, and communications strategies to achieve audacious goals.

Job Description

The ACLU of Colorado’s Senior Organizer is responsible for helping to build, sustain and grow a dynamic, statewide organizing program for the ACLU of Colorado. The Senior Organizer sits in the affiliate’s Department of Advocacy and Strategic Alliances, and works on integrated campaigns with colleagues in policy, legal, communications, campaigns, and research and analytics. The Senior Organizer is responsible for developing a statewide organizing strategy and coordinating the affiliate’s organizing, volunteer development, and public education strategies across the state, in target geographies and communities, and in support of multi-year campaigns alongside community and coalitions. The Senior Organizer oversees a team that includes staff, fellows, and interns, including staff that may be sited outside of the Denver metro area.

Primary Responsibilities

• Help co-create the ACLU’s statewide organizing strategy, building power and relationship with local communities, which is being reimagined within the affiliate’s new integrated Department of Advocacy and Strategic Alliances
• Design and execute complex organizing strategies, including multi-year or multi-geographic projects
• Determine near- and long-term objectives for the ACLU’s organizing program based on community needs, impact, the pathway to victory, and other key criteria, and track progress-to-goal on these objectives
• Work collaboratively with an inter-disciplinary team to design organizing strategies that are aligned with and supported by strategic communications, policy, litigation, electoral programs, and other strategies and tactics
• Cultivate an innovative and learning-oriented culture, and lead debriefs to identify learnings from organizing strategies or other projects
• Implement evidence-based strategies or tactics throughout the organizing team
• Cultivate key strategic relationships with elected officials, stakeholders, and peers at other organizations
• Lead or be the principal of coalitions or tables

Qualifications:

• Dedicated to carrying out the mission and goals of the American Civil Liberties Union in protecting and furthering civil rights and civil liberties.
• Ability to apply the work of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (EDIB) to the Department
• Extensive experience in supervision and mentoring
• Understanding of organizing theories of change and ladders of engagement
• Understanding of state and local political landscapes and communities
• Experience with organizing strategy at the municipal, county, and state level
• Experience with both digital and field organizing strategies and tactics
• Substantial experience with organizing work and strategy at the municipal, county, or state level, and with different communities
• Can create workplans and campaign plans that clearly identify measurable goals, strategies, and tactics. Fluency with project management software a plus.
• Lived or professional experience in one of the ACLU of Colorado’s core issue areas, including economic justice, housing, voting, immigration, or criminal legal reform
• Can create high-functioning project management structures, communication channels, and processes
• Comfortable giving direction to personnel in other departments or organizations
• Can execute a project within a defined budget
• Team player who inspires collaboration lifts up the work of others and maintains balance and perspective
• Fluency in an additional language spoken by one of Colorado’s communities is a plus.
• Public speaking and writing experience
• Willingness to work long and evening hours and statewide travel as required

Work Accommodations during the COVID-19 Pandemic

To ensure the safety of our employees, the ACLU of Colorado implemented a mandatory work-from-home policy. While the policy stays in effect, we acknowledge that there are special circumstances when working at the office is necessary. For these situations, we ask staff to send notifications of their time in the office and to follow CDC precautionary measures to ensure staff safety. We are preparing a hybrid work accommodation in June 2022. It is mandatory to send a vaccination record or request a medical or religious exemption to return to the office.

Compensation and Benefits

This position is full-time; the approximate salary range is $85,000 to $95,000 and within the pay scale parameters of ACLU of Colorado. Benefits include medical and dental insurance, life and long-term disability insurance, 401k contribution, paid vacation, and holidays. In addition, ACLU-CO covers 100% of mental health services to its employees.

To Apply

We accept only serious applicants for this position. First, complete the online form ACLU-CO Job Application Pre-Screening Form before sending a cover letter and resume. Then, the hiring manager will contact you about whether the hiring committee will review your cover letter and a resume. Please no phone calls or direct e-mails. If you have questions about this process, e-mail [email protected]

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