Special Assistant to the Chief Information & Security Officer

Job Description

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks a full-time position of Special Assistant to the Chief Information & Security Officer in the Information Technology department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY.

The American Civil Liberties Union uses technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ACLU staff and programs. The ACLU is committed to advancing its internal information and technology infrastructure while setting and informing an industry standard.

Reporting to the Chief Information and Security Officer , the Special Assistant to the Chief Information & Security Officer will be a critical member of an 18-member team that manages the ACLU’s tech hardware, network systems, software applications and information security. Our ideal candidate is a highly organized problem solver with excellent judgement, a drive for results and a service mindset.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Administrative Support

• Complete a broad variety of administrative and logistical tasks that facilitate the CISO’s ability to effectively lead the IT department, including: calendar management; composing and preparing correspondence; designing and producing documents, reports, and presentations; collecting and preparing information for meetings with staff and outside parties; maintaining contact and attendee lists; arranging travel; and completing expense reports
• Serve as "gatekeeper" and "gateway" for internal and external constituencies on all matters pertaining to the CISO; prioritize and determine appropriate course of action, referral, or response, exercising judgement to reflect CISO’s style and organization policy
• Provide sophisticated calendar and task management assistance: prioritize inquiries and requests while troubleshooting conflicts; maintain an organized system of tracking, monitoring, and prioritizing tasks and projects related to the CISO’s portfolio; make judgements and recommendations to ensure smooth day-to-day engagements
• Receive and screen communications to the CISO, including office visitors, telephone calls, email messages, and mail; provide assistance using independent judgment to determine those requiring priority attention
• Work closely with the CISO to keep them well informed of upcoming commitments and responsibilities, following up as appropriate; act as a "barometer," having a sense for the issues taking place in the environment and keeping the CISO updated and anticipating needs in advance of engagements
• Manage invoice submission process for IT department; work with IT and other departments to gather relevant information for submissions, ensure invoices are submitted timely with appropriate expense coding, liaise with vendors and respond to inquiries

Project Management

• Support a wide range of IT-related projects and special assignments tasked by the CISO, including conducting research, gathering requirements, tracking progress, assisting in resolving potential conflicts, and managing communications
• Serve as liaison between CISO and project stakeholders, at times serving as lead contact
• Design and implement methods for tracking deliverables, schedules, and metrics for projects, providing clear tasks and accountability for project teams
• Assist IT team in creating and maintaining comprehensive project documentation, providing a clear historical record of decisions, systems, procedures and communications involved in each project’s completion
• Execute specific tasks within projects, including drafting communications, assisting with systems build-out and testing, and creating project evaluation and presentation materials

Other Responsibilities

• Prepare ad hoc reports and perform 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
• Demonstrate a 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
• Demonstrate a commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent judgement with ability to maintain a high level of integrity and discretion in handling sensitive information
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels;
• Strong communication skills with an ability to write in a clear, succinct and persuasive manner such that expectations and timelines are clearly defined
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with little or no guidance and switch gears at a moment’s notice
• Highly organized with above-average attention to detail
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; ability to design and edit basic graphic presentations and materials using Microsoft Office applications
• Willingness to conquer the “small tasks” with an understanding of their vital importance in the success of the team
• Proficiency with using the Microsoft Office 365 platform (OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Office Online)

COMPENSATION

The annual salary for this position is $85,466 (Level I). This salary is reflective of a position based in New York, NY. This salary will be subject to a locality adjustment (according to a specific city and state), if an authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting. Note that most of the salaries listed on our job postings reflect New York, NY salaries, where our National offices are headquartered.

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 [email protected] . 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.