ACLU of Colorado is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization guided by a mission to protect, defend, and extend the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Colorado through litigation, education, and advocacy. As the oldest and largest civil rights organization in Colorado, its work is guided by the Bill of Rights, ensuring the freedoms contained within are available for members of marginalized communities, including people of color, LGBTQ+ people, women, immigrants, people experiencing poverty, unhoused people, incarcerated people, and students. ACLU of Colorado envisions a future where the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Colorado are honored, respected and upheld. For more information about the work of the ACLU of Colorado and the civil liberties principles we uphold, please visit our website at www.aclu-co.org.
Summary of Position
ACLU of Colorado’s Policy Counsel or Policy Strategist will be joining one of the most dynamic and impactful policy teams in the state. The Policy Counsel or Policy Strategist sits in the affiliate’s department of Advocacy and Strategic Alliances, and works on integrated campaigns with colleagues in organizing, legal, communications, and campaigns, to develop and execute audacious multi-year policy campaigns alongside community and coalitions. The Policy Counsel or Policy Strategist contributes to the affiliate’s lobbying and other strategies at the state capitol during the legislative session, as well as contributing to policy advocacy with other legislative, executive, and administrative bodies. The Policy Counsel or Policy Strategist reports to the Senior Policy Strategist.
Primary Responsibilities
- Conduct legal and policy research.
- Draft policies and legislation.
- Analyze policies and legislation, including mark-ups and amendments.
- Draft white papers, reports, or other policy-orientated assets.
- Major role on lobbying and testifying in one or more policy spheres.
- Design and execute one or more short-term policy projects.
- Work collaboratively with an inter-disciplinary team to design policy strategies that are aligned with and supported by strategic communications, organizing, litigation, electoral programs, and other strategies and tactics.
- Cultivate key strategic relationships with elected officials, stakeholders, and peers at other organizations.
- Lead or be the principal of coalitions or policy tables.
- Work assigned as needed includes stretch career development assignments, temporary job assignments, special projects, and other tasks that may temporarily exist outside of the Policy Counsel or Policy Strategist job description.
Qualifications
- Dedicated to carrying out the mission and goals of the American Civil Liberties Union in protecting and furthering civil rights and civil liberties.
- Ability to apply the work of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (EDIB) to the Department.
- Excellent legal and policy research, analysis, and writing skills.
- Policy expertise and/or lived experience in one or more of the following issue areas: digital speech, privacy, surveillance, and technology, housing access, economic justice, voting access or criminal justice reform. Expertise and/or experience in immigrants’ rights is preferred.
- Capable of fast-paced analysis and policy recommendations.
- Comfortable working in values-based alliances, as well as strategic alliances across the political spectrum.
- Experience with policy strategy at the state level, and municipal or county-level policy experience preferred.
- Can execute complex lobbying strategies, including multi-year or multi-jurisdictional strategic policy projects.
- Can create workplans and campaign plans that clearly identify measurable goals, strategies, and tactics. Fluency with project management software a plus.
- Anticipate complex and distant contingencies and both near-term and long-term opposition.
- Effective project management skills, including in multi-disciplinary teams that may include external partners and vendors.
- Public speaking and writing experience.
- Willingness to work long hours, especially during state legislative session, and statewide travel as required.
- Three years or more experience in policy drafting and/or analysis.
- Juris Doctor or master’s degree in public policy preferred.
ACLU of Colorado’s Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Belonging, and Inclusion
ACLU of Colorado is an equitable opportunity employer. It believes that having a board, staff, and volunteer base with diverse personal and professional backgrounds enhances its ability to meet its mission and creates an environment where all community members can thrive. It strongly encourages applications from all qualified persons, including people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated, and other members of underrepresented and marginalized groups.
ACLU of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other basis protected by State or federal requirements. It is committed to providing a providing a work environment that practices equitable and inclusive treatment and is quick to act to prevent and address harassment or discrimination of any kind.
Essential Job Functions
The following activities are essential for success in this role:
- Ability to remain at workstation for long periods of time.
- Some walking and standing required at ACLU-CO events.
- Communicate with others effectively in verbal and written formats.
- Use a computer.
- Answer and make phone calls/text messages.
- Have a reliable form of transportation to commute to and from the office in downtown Denver.
- Ability to travel between locations across the state of Colorado.
Salary and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $70,000 to $98,000 annually. ACLU of Colorado offers comprehensive benefits including medical and dental insurance, life and long-term disability insurance, 401k contribution, paid vacation, and holidays.
Location
The Policy Strategist or Policy Counsel may work from any location within the State of Colorado with regular access to Denver.
Application Instructions
Send a cover letter, résumé, and references in an email with “Policy Strategist or Policy Counsel” in the subject line to [email protected]. No phone calls please. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of ACLU of Colorado as well as the responsibilities and qualifications presented in the prospectus. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the successful candidate has been selected.