Work at the ACLU

The ACLU of Colorado is the state's leading voice in defense of civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU offers an excellent work environment in a spacious office with free parking close to downtown Denver. There are currently ten full-time staff members, including three attorneys, who work with numerous volunteers to protect and extend civil liberties in Colorado.

The ACLU of Colorado is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, people of color, LGBT persons, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Current Employment Opportunities:

Job Announcement: Advocacy Associate
March 29, 2012

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a national public interest organization, is the leading defender of civil liberties guaranteed by our nation’s Bill of Rights. The ACLU of Colorado, a private, non-profit organization, is the state affiliate of the ACLU and Colorado’s guardian of freedom that works to promote and defend civil rights and civil liberties in Colorado. To achieve our mission, we manage legal, legislative and public education programs on a broad range of constitutional issues including discrimination, free speech, religious freedom, reproductive rights, GLBT rights, criminal justice and privacy. To learn more about the work of the ACLU and the civil liberties principles we uphold, please visit www.aclu-co.org and www.aclu.org.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and LGBT individuals to apply.

Position Overview
The ACLU of Colorado is seeking an Advocacy Associate to work closely with staff in both Public Policy and Communications Departments in the execution of public policy programs to advance and defend civil liberties and of communications strategies to enlarge media visibility and ACLU member and general public awareness of and engagement in our legal and advocacy efforts. The Advocacy Associate will also help coordinate efforts to reach out to diverse communities, people directly affected by our issues, ACLU members and others statewide, and the media.
Reporting jointly to the Public Policy Director and the Communications Director, the Advocacy Associate will assist with the research and writing of legislative testimony, prepare fact-sheets, draft policy statements and press releases about our litigation and policy advocacy, and perform other writing tasks; help coordinate grassroots and organizational coalition efforts; help carry out social media and online communications strategies and maintain media tracking and community contacts databases.

Responsibilities
Legislative, Policy Advocacy Writing and Research – Help monitor and research ballot measures, legislative bills and government policy proposals that pose a threat to civil liberties. Prepare educational materials, testimony, fact sheets and talking points supporting or opposing initiatives that are relevant to ACLU of Colorado work.

Coalition and Campaigns – Help to build and/or represent ACLU of Colorado in coalitions and collaborations to advance ACLU of Colorado priorities. Maintain relationships with allies on priority issues and collaborate with Communications and Public Policy staff to strategize around coalition work. Assist in implementing strategies for advancing legislative and policy campaigns. Assist in organizing public education events; work with student clubs and chapters in organizing public education events.

Legal Writing – Work with Legal Department and Communications staff to draft, produce and distribute media statements, press releases and other collateral material to promote legal victories, advance litigation, and create media opportunities for legal work.

Social Media – Carry out social media and online communications strategy, stay ahead of social media use trends, track and analyze data from social media platforms, update website, help produce website content.

Public Education -- Help coordinate the planning, implementation and execution of Young Professionals, Lunch and Learn, ACLU Engage, and other statewide outreach efforts.

Other Public Policy and Communications duties as assigned.

Qualifications
• B.A. or equivalent and at least two years of relevant work experience. Experience in non-profit, advocacy, legal, public policy work is valuable;
• Excellent organization and creative skills; strong, consistent attention to detail, organized work style, and ability to think outside the box and follow through on work assignments and meet deadlines with a minimum of direct supervision;
• Outstanding writing skills, including the ability to write clearly, quickly and persuasively about the legal and policy aspects of civil liberties and civil rights issues;
• Strong proofreading skills and attention to detail;
• Excellent computer skills in desk top publishing, website management, database management and word processing are necessary;
• A commitment to the confidentiality of legal and other organizational information;
• The ability to work on several projects at various stages of completion. Good problem solving skills, flexibility, determination and good humor;
• Ability and willingness to work occasional irregular hours;
• A commitment to and enthusiasm for civil rights and civil liberties issues;
• A commitment to diversity; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance.

Compensation and Benefits
Salary based on experience. Benefits include paid vacation, medical and dental insurance, pension plan, life and long-term disability insurance.

To Apply Send cover letter, resume, three references and two writing samples to: Rosemary Harris Lytle, Communications Director, ACLU of Colorado, P.O. Box 18986, Denver, CO 80218 or media@aclu-co.org. Applications accepted until position is filled, which will not be before April 20, 2012. Please indicate in your cover letter where you found this job listing.

The ACLU of Colorado comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado and the ACLU Foundation of Colorado. Both entities have the same overall mission, and share office space and employees. The ACLU has two separate corporate entities in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties.

The ACLU of Colorado offers clerk positions to law students each year. Get more information.