Organizer

Unpublished

ORGANIZER
 
Application Deadline: August 9, 2019
 
The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU-WA) is seeking a full-time Organizer to engage and coordinate with socially, geographically, and politically diverse advocacy organizations on shared policy priorities and goals in state and local legislative advocacy and ballot initiatives and public education efforts to promote and protect civil liberties and civil rights. The Organizer is housed within the Political Strategies Department (PSD), which works with a broad range of stakeholders across Washington State to ensure decision makers in state and local legislative and executive bodies pass laws and adopt policies that advance and defend civil liberties and civil rights. The Organizer reports to the Field Director.
 
ACLU-WA works closely with state and local legislators and allies to promote bills that strengthen civil liberties and oppose bills that weaken them. Our state legislative program is well respected and vigorous. We work with other coalition partners to inform and mobilize people throughout the state. The people in the center of the struggles for justice, who feel the impact in their daily lives, are especially important allies. We provide resources and technical assistance through meetings, trainings, the website, and an action alert system. On federal issues, we collaborate with the D.C. Legislative Office.
 
We are a multi-issue organization—not every ally will agree with our stance on every issue, and sometimes we find ourselves partnering with stakeholders whose positions we more often oppose. Our team works to find intersections in values and priorities, and we respect differing perspectives and dissenting voices. We do not shy away from uncomfortable conversations.
 
Overview
The ACLU of Washington is a leader among state affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union, the country's premier guardian of liberty. We work in courts, legislatures, and communities to protect and extend American rights to freedom, fairness and equality. The ACLU is both nonprofit and nonpartisan.  The ACLU-WA’s staff of 40+ employees and numerous volunteers work in a fast-paced, friendly and professional office in downtown Seattle. We are supported by more than 135,000 members, activists, and donors.
 
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, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, socio-economic circumstance, or record of arrest or conviction.
 
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
 
  • Develop and maintain trust and strong personal and professional relationships with community leaders who do advocacy work in issue areas that frequently intersect with ACLU’s policy priorities, and grassroots organizations comprised of and/or representing communities disproportionately impacted by violations of civil liberties and civil rights.
  • Build coalitions with organizations sharing aligned policy goals, with priority given to organizations led by and centering the voices of directly impacted individuals and communities; seek their input to help shape ACLU’s priorities; facilitate coalition coordination as needed.
  • Work closely with colleagues across the office to support the development and implementation of effective messages, strategies, and tactics to advance the ACLU’s commitment to integrated advocacy.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with coalition partners; work to advance shared goals.
  • Collaborate across other departments in the office as appropriate in furtherance of our integrated advocacy model.
  • Work with coalition partners to identify community spokespeople, and connect them with ACLU staffers for communications, political training, and preparation if needed.
  • Regularly update ACLU colleagues on developments in community and organizational relationships, priorities, and concerns.
  • Provide Activism Manager with ally engagement and coordination support for statewide legislative advocacy trainings; provide on-site logistical and programmatic support as needed.
  • Provide Legal and Policy Departments with community outreach support as needed.
 
QUALIFICATIONS
  • Commitment to race and other forms of equity, dismantling white supremacy, and structural power analysis, with knowledge and understanding of how power is manifested in matters of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, ability, language, immigration status, national origin, and socio-economic circumstances, both internally in our organization and externally in the communities that we serve.
  • Experience in community engagement and mobilization.
  • An understanding of and enthusiasm for civil liberties and civil rights.
  • Ability to describe ACLU issues with confidence to external allies.
  • Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, including an ability to connect with people from different backgrounds, build relationships across differences, and navigate and resolve conflict in a manner that values and respects relationships.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills, and attention to detail.
  • Self-motivation, with a demonstrated ability to manage projects and follow-through.
  • A positive attitude and the ability to maintain balance and perspective even when encountering challenges.
  • Personal qualities of humility, capacity for self-reflection, and a sense of humor.
  • Ability to have courageous conversations internally with colleagues and externally with allies when overcoming differences in opinion.
  • Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends.
  • Willingness to travel frequently throughout the state.
  • Proficiency in a language other than English is a plus.
 
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 reserves the right to change the description and/or posting at any time without advance notice. This position is “non-exempt” under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Salary is $51,750.  Benefits include three weeks of vacation, medical and disability insurance, a retirement plan, and an ORCA card.
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
To apply, email a letter of application and resume to [email protected] and include in the subject line of the email: your last name and Organizer. In your letter, please indicate where you learned of the posting. Applications will be accepted until August 9, 2019, at which time the job announcement will be removed from our website at www.aclu-wa.org/careers
 
 
The ACLU of Washington comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, Inc. and the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Foundation. The two corporations share the same overall mission, office space, and employees. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU of Washington.”