Policy Advocacy Assistant

Unpublished

 
Policy Advocacy Assistant
Full-time
 
Application deadline:
July 11, 2019
 
The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU-WA) is seeking a Policy Advocacy Assistant. The Policy Advocacy Assistant supports the Policy Advocacy Group staff. The Policy Advocacy Group includes Directors and Counsels of the following issues areas: Criminal Justice, Health Care & Liberty, Police Practices & Immigration, Technology & Liberty, and Youth Policy.

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 works in a fast-paced, friendly and professional office in downtown Seattle. We are supported by more than 135,000 members, activists, and donors.
 
Whether it’s ending mass incarceration and police brutality, achieving full equality for LGBT people, protecting privacy in the digital age, preserving the right to vote, or ensuring reproductive freedom, the ACLU is willing to take on tough civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach. And we’re successful. In the past few years in Washington State, we’ve won a lawsuit for a gay couple who was denied service by their local florist, a major victory for Latino voting rights in Yakima, and a ruling that stops the horrific practice of warehousing mentally ill persons in jails without mental health treatment, and much more. The ACLU stands for the principle that every individual’s rights must be protected equally under the law.
 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Provide administrative and research support to the Policy Advocacy Group team members; manage their calendars, electronic and paper files; make travel arrangements.
  • Draft, produce, and proofread e-mails, letters, and other materials with attention to detail and professionalism.
  • Arrange meetings, generate notes, prepare background materials, and handle follow-up actions.
  • Create and track public records requests (RCW 42.56) on behalf of the Policy Advocacy Group.
  • Communicate confidently and respectfully with external staffers, ACLU leaders, and allies.
  • Use online databases to track and monitor municipal agendas.
  • Assist with the supervision of policy advocacy volunteers and interns, ensuring high levels of performance and efficiency.
  • Coordinate logistics of Policy Advocacy events and assist staff with other events. Assignments may sometimes involve working with staff in other departments including assisting the Communications Department with outreach efforts.
  • Occasionally attend other ACLU events. Help facilitate the smooth running of the office.
  • Other tasks as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • At least two years of administrative experience, preferably related to non-profits or advocacy.
  • Excellent word processing skills. Computer proficiency, including mastery of MS Office Suite, including Excel, and the Internet; strong writing and online research skills.
  • Strong organizational skills to maintain record systems and to initiate improvements in consultation with supervisors.
  • Demonstrated ability to handle stress well, to produce work reflecting consistent attention to accuracy, and to coordinate numerous concurrent projects, often under tight deadlines.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage details, resourcefully solve problems and follow through with a minimum of direct supervision.
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in teams as well as independently.
  • Excellent communications skills, over the phone, by email and in person, with staff, volunteers, allies and other outside callers. A confident and welcoming presentation.
  • Ability to supervise volunteers and work cooperatively with others.
  • A high degree of emotional intelligence; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance.
  • An understanding of and enthusiasm for civil liberties and civil rights.
  • Proficiency in a language other than English spoken by the communities we serve is a plus. (Examples are Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Somali, Arabic, Tagalog, and others.)
 
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 based on experience and qualifications. Benefits include three weeks of vacation to start, 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 Policy Advocacy Assistant. In your letter, please indicate where you learned of the posting. Applications will be accepted until July 11, 2019 at which time the job announcement will be removed from our website at www.aclu-wa.org/careers.
 

The ACLU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU encourages applications from all interested individuals without regard to race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or other protected categories.

 
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” or “ACLU of Washington.”