The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU-WA) is seeking a Grassroots Organizer. Working in the Political Strategies Department (PSD) under the management of the Activism Manager, the Grassroots Organizer advances the ACLU-WA’s work to champion and advance political goals the ACLU-WA has prioritized in consultation with impacted community partners. The Grassroots Organizer will build relationship with, cultivate, and mobilize ACLU-WA activist supporters in targeted geographic areas to influence state and local lawmakers. The Grassroots Organizer focuses on developing accountable allyship among ACLU-WA activists and centering the voices of directly impacted people and the community organizers they trust.
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 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.
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 “non-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 $73,721 to $88,298. A range indicates the intention to accommodate those with varying years of relevant experience, as determined by the salary scale. Non-exempt employees observe a 35-hour work week with a 1-hour lunch break.
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, plase submit a cover letter and resume 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 16, 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.
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 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
- Participate 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 ACLU-WA supporters; working in collaboration with the Activism Manager, Field Director, Policy Advocacy, Legal, Political Strategies, and Communications staff, develop plans for broadening and deepening the ACLU-WA’s grassroots activist network in particular geographic areas, and support effective execution of those plans.
- Recruit new grassroots activists and identify potential grassroots leaders for cultivation. Work with grassroots activists to build allyship skills, with particular focus on how non-impacted activists can build political power with and in communities that have been marginalized by systemic oppression.
- Develop and implement grassroots organizing workplans focused on identifying, engaging, educating, and mobilizing lawmakers’ constituents to help persuade lawmakers to take action. Recruit people, cultivate leaders, build teams, and host meetings for strategy development and planning leading up to mobilization on legislative and ballot measure campaigns. Celebrate, debrief, and focus on retaining and recruiting more people for the next call to action.
- Assist in implementation of Lobby Week and other activist mobilization events, including outreach, recruitment, training, and volunteer management. Support development of and lead in-person and virtual Power Up trainings to equip activists with advocacy and organizing skills.
- Support ACLU-WA’s electoral issue education campaigns through research and information tracking.
- Use and support colleagues’ use of ACLU-WA’s activist-specific constituent relationship management (CRM) database to grow and mobilize ACLU-WA’s base of high-touch grassroots activists.
- Travel throughout the state; attend ACLU-WA events, including some work on nights and weekends.
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 grassroots advocacy or volunteer program management. Experience managing and motivating volunteers, including recruiting new supporters, building and maintaining relationships, identify and support leaders, serving as a consultant to volunteer-led groups, and handling complex interpersonal dynamics.
- Experience working in legislative, ballot measure, or electoral campaigns preferred. An understanding of civil rights and civil liberties issues.
- Strong facility with Microsoft Office Suite and ability to adapt to new technologies.
- Experience working with constituent relationship management software preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships with diplomacy, and to work effectively and respectfully with politically, ideologically, culturally, and geographically diverse people and communities. The ability to model accountable allyship and cultivate allyship in others, especially in relationships with people who have been marginalized by systems of oppression.
- Strong verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills combined with the ability to listen deeply and authentically. Demonstrated capacity for self-reflection, and the ability to seek, accept, and apply constructive feedback.
- 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.
- Excellent judgement regarding sharing sensitive information with external stakeholders; the ability to build trust, steward the ACLU-WA’s resources and reputation.
- The ability to engage in candid conversations about racial equity, white supremacy, and allyship to communities impacted by systemic oppression.
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 everning, weekends, and holidays.
- Able to periodically work long and extended hours.
- Able to travel locally/regionally/across the state 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 “non-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 $73,721 to $88,298. A range indicates the intention to accommodate those with varying years of relevant experience, as determined by the salary scale. Non-exempt employees observe a 35-hour work week with a 1-hour lunch break.
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, plase submit a cover letter and resume 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 16, 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.
