The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU-WA) is seeking a Campaign Organizer. Working in the Political Strategies Department under the management of the Field Director, the Campaign Organizer furthers the ACLU-WA’s work to champion and advance political goals the ACLU-WA has prioritized in consultation with impacted community partners. The Campaign Organizer will build political power with and in communities disproportionately impacted by systemic oppression by cultivating trusted relationships with community partner organizations and facilitating collaboration among internal and external stakeholders in the implementation of campaign strategies that advance shared political goals. The Campaign Organizer will focus in the next two years on campaigns to advance equity and fairness in Washington’s criminal legal system, and may also work on campaigns related to other civil rights and civil liberties issues.
OVERVIEW
The ACLU-WA is one of the largest affiliates of the nation-wide ACLU. 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. We have a staff of 50+ and nearly 60,000 supporters statewide.
Within the ACLU-WA, the Political Strategies Department works to advance legislative and ballot measure campaigns, and voter and candidate issue education. Our organizing work focuses on building political power to advance state and local legislation, and our organizers work on legislative and executive issue campaigns with defined policy goals. The ACLU-WA does not endorse or oppose candidates or contribute time or money to candidate campaigns. PSD uses an integrated advocacy approach, working collaboratively with the Legal, Policy Advocacy, and Communications teams to further its goals. The ACLU-WA’s criminal legal work seeks to dismantle racially biased policing, prosecution, sentencing, and incarceration systems and advance systems that invest in meaningful safety and healing for all people and communities.
The ACLU of Washington is committed to ending racism in Washington State and throughout the country. This includes how we work with each other, and with our partners and allies in the communities we serve. We are committed to bringing anti-racism to all aspects of ACLU-WA's internal and external functions, including but not limited to recruitment; hiring and human resources; strategic planning; ally, donor, and volunteer relations; Board and committee processes; and deciding what cases to litigate and what legislation to support and oppose. We are looking for candidates who share this commitment to advancing racial justice, both internally in our organization and externally in the communities that we serve.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
QUALIFICATIONS
We know that no one can specialize in everything. If the position sounds like a good fit, please do not let fear of not having every qualification deter you from applying.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The ACLU-WA observes a hybrid workstyle, with some staff working primarily remotely while others work in the office several days a week. Our office is generally open between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and is located in downtown Seattle. The physical demands and work environment described below represent those required and encountered by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. The ACLU-WA reserves the right to change the content of this posting at any time without advance notice. This position is “exempt” under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The ACLU of WA is dedicated to centering equity in all aspects of the organization and, as such, has adopted a salary scale for measuring how to best compensate its employees. The salary for this position is $81,774 to $97,944. A range indicates the intention to accommodate those with varying years of relevant experience, as determined by the salary scale.
Benefits include three weeks of vacation, thirteen sick days with an additional ten days given in 2023, fifteen holidays, employer-paid professional development, fully paid employee medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance, an employer contributed retirement plan, student loan reimbursement, family care and adoption assistance, life insurance, and an ORCA card, the regional transportation pass.
ACLU-WA provides laptops, home office supplies, certain equipment, and technology support. You will need an effective WiFi connection and a way to reach you by phone. This position is eligible for either a work phone or phone stipend, as well as an additional $150 stipend each month to help cover any additional costs while working from home.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
To apply, please submit a cover letter and résumé on our online job portal. In your cover letter, please explain the ways in which you satisfy the skills and qualifications specified above. We also invite applicants to include in their letter information about how their background and/or experience could contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and advocacy work.
Applications will be accepted until noon on October 23, 2023, at which time the job announcement will be displayed as closed on our website at www.aclu-wa.org/careers.
HIRING TIMELINE
We will schedule interviews with qualified candidates after the application deadline and hope to have the selected candidate start in December.
OVERVIEW
The ACLU-WA is one of the largest affiliates of the nation-wide ACLU. 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. We have a staff of 50+ and nearly 60,000 supporters statewide.
Within the ACLU-WA, the Political Strategies Department works to advance legislative and ballot measure campaigns, and voter and candidate issue education. Our organizing work focuses on building political power to advance state and local legislation, and our organizers work on legislative and executive issue campaigns with defined policy goals. The ACLU-WA does not endorse or oppose candidates or contribute time or money to candidate campaigns. PSD uses an integrated advocacy approach, working collaboratively with the Legal, Policy Advocacy, and Communications teams to further its goals. The ACLU-WA’s criminal legal work seeks to dismantle racially biased policing, prosecution, sentencing, and incarceration systems and advance systems that invest in meaningful safety and healing for all people and communities.
The ACLU of Washington is committed to ending racism in Washington State and throughout the country. This includes how we work with each other, and with our partners and allies in the communities we serve. We are committed to bringing anti-racism to all aspects of ACLU-WA's internal and external functions, including but not limited to recruitment; hiring and human resources; strategic planning; ally, donor, and volunteer relations; Board and committee processes; and deciding what cases to litigate and what legislation to support and oppose. We are looking for candidates who share this commitment to advancing racial justice, both internally in our organization and externally in the communities that we serve.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Participation in ACLU-WA’s race equity work. This may include utilizing ACLU-WA race equity tools, adopting ACLU-WA race equity practices, etc.
- Cultivate trusted relationships with community partners, including those representing and led by directly impacted people. Working in collaboration with the Field Director and staff in other ACLU-WA departments, develop plans for broadening and deepening the ACLU-WA’s relationships in particular geographic areas, or with and among people with particular lived experience or expertise, and support effective execution of those plans.
- Represent the ACLU-WA externally in campaign coalition meetings and other campaign organizing spaces. Share information about the ACLU-WA’s positions on issues, goals, and strategies with accuracy. Listen and learn about community partners’ priorities and positions and communicate that information to other staff in the ACLU-WA.
- In collaboration with other advocacy staff, seek the input of organizations led by and/or centering the voices of directly impacted individuals and communities to help shape ACLU-WA’s priorities, strategies, and tactics.
- Develop and implement coalition organizing workplans to help advance specific legislative priorities during legislative and electoral cycles, and through ballot measure campaigns. Recruit, educate, and mobilize campaign coalition partners to broaden and deepen base of support for political goals, facilitate coalition meetings for collective strategy development, support coalition partners in engaging in activities to influence lawmakers, help prepare people for testimony panels, and support inclusive and accountable collaboration by maintaining timely and accessible communication of updates.
- Facilitate internal and external meetings related to specific legislative campaigns.
- Serve as a key point of contact for campaign coalition partners, particularly partners who represent individuals directly impacted by the campaign issue. Work with coalition partners to build alignment around shared goals, identify areas of disagreement, and with the support of the Field Director and other ACLU-WA staff involved in the campaign, engage with coalition partners to redress conflict. Shepherd coalition partners’ engagement in developing and executing pivots in tactics (in response to changing circumstances and often under significant time pressure) to accomplish longer term strategy.
- Help build community partner campaign organizing skills and capacity; share ACLU-WA information and tools, model their use, and provide mentorship as appropriate and welcomed. Identify opportunities to help build community partners’ political power and communicate those in the office. Facilitate or participate in, as assigned, coalitions convened to advance priority issues through direct and grassroots lobbying, and ballot measure proposals.
QUALIFICATIONS
We know that no one can specialize in everything. If the position sounds like a good fit, please do not let fear of not having every qualification deter you from applying.
- Ideal candidates will have an awareness of, and willingness to engage in, the difficult and transformative work of challenging systems of oppression, institutional and structural racism, and implicit bias.
- At least 2 years’ experience in motivating and mobilizing individuals and organizations to collaborate in advancing a shared legislative or electoral campaign goal.
- Strong facility with Microsoft Office Suite and ability to adapt to new technologies.
- Experience working with constituent relationship management software preferred.
- An understanding of civil liberties and civil rights issues. Lived experience with the criminal legal system, or prior experience working with people who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships with diplomacy, and to work effectively and respectfully with politically, ideologically, culturally, and geographically diverse people and communities. Demonstrated ability to bring people from diverse perspectives together around common goals. The ability to build and maintain genuine and strong relationships with people who have been marginalized by systems of oppression.
- Experience managing and motivating coalitions to achieve specific, timebound legislative or electoral goals, including recruiting new allies, building and maintaining relationships, identifying and supporting leaders, serving as a consultant to community partners, shepherding pivots in strategy, engaging in generative conflict, and working with others to develop productive mechanisms to redress conflict.
- Demonstrated capacity for self-reflection, and the ability to seek, accept, and apply constructive feedback.
- Strong verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills combined with the ability to listen deeply and authentically. Strong group facilitation skills.
- Ability to make presentations on complex issues to a variety of audiences; a "quick study" on a dynamic array of issues.
- Experience in keeping organized in a fast-paced environment, managing several projects simultaneously, and adjusting to frequently changing demands.
- Experience in having courageous conversations with colleagues and community partners. The ability to engage in candid conversations about racial equity, white supremacy, and allyship to communities impacted by systemic oppression.
- Excellent judgement regarding sharing sensitive information with external stakeholders; the ability to build trust, steward the ACLU-WA’s resources and reputation.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The ACLU-WA observes a hybrid workstyle, with some staff working primarily remotely while others work in the office several days a week. Our office is generally open between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and is located in downtown Seattle. The physical demands and work environment described below represent those required and encountered by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Able to input information into a computer for long periods of time.
- Able to remain stationary for extended periods.
- Able to assess information communicated through a computer.
- Able to work some evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- Able to periodically work long and extended hours.
- Able to travel locally/regionally/across the state a minimum of 4 days a month, as needed.
This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. The ACLU-WA reserves the right to change the content of this posting at any time without advance notice. This position is “exempt” under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The ACLU of WA is dedicated to centering equity in all aspects of the organization and, as such, has adopted a salary scale for measuring how to best compensate its employees. The salary for this position is $81,774 to $97,944. A range indicates the intention to accommodate those with varying years of relevant experience, as determined by the salary scale.
Benefits include three weeks of vacation, thirteen sick days with an additional ten days given in 2023, fifteen holidays, employer-paid professional development, fully paid employee medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance, an employer contributed retirement plan, student loan reimbursement, family care and adoption assistance, life insurance, and an ORCA card, the regional transportation pass.
ACLU-WA provides laptops, home office supplies, certain equipment, and technology support. You will need an effective WiFi connection and a way to reach you by phone. This position is eligible for either a work phone or phone stipend, as well as an additional $150 stipend each month to help cover any additional costs while working from home.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
To apply, please submit a cover letter and résumé on our online job portal. In your cover letter, please explain the ways in which you satisfy the skills and qualifications specified above. We also invite applicants to include in their letter information about how their background and/or experience could contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and advocacy work.
Applications will be accepted until noon on October 23, 2023, at which time the job announcement will be displayed as closed on our website at www.aclu-wa.org/careers.
HIRING TIMELINE
We will schedule interviews with qualified candidates after the application deadline and hope to have the selected candidate start in December.
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 identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, socio-economic circumstance, or record of arrest or conviction. We do not conduct criminal background checks on our candidates. People of color, women, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.
