Organizing Strategist

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Temporary Organizing Strategist in the National Political Advocacy Department of the ACLU’s National Office. This position is an 18-month term-limited position and is eligible for remote work in the United States.

The National Political Advocacy Department builds power to achieve an accountable, representative democracy. We have ambitious goals across Reproductive Freedom, Democracy and Voting Rights, Systemic Equality, Immigration, Trans Justice, Criminal Justice and other core issues in order to protect and expand civil rights and civil liberties, and advance the freedom, equality, ability to prosper, and humanity of all People. 

Our department conducts analysis, develops policy, crafts world class campaigns and situates the ACLU to have impact across legislative, administrative, and electoral levers. We are policy experts, lawyers, community organizers, lobbyists, campaign strategists, electoral specialists, program managers and more. We partner across the ACLU to drive national efforts, and support and amplify the priorities of our affiliates. We work to center principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in our approach.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

Reporting to the Temporary Deputy Director of Organizing, the Temporary Organizing Strategist will be responsible for the following: 

• Design and lead complex, multi-tooled organizing strategies in partnership with ACLU affiliates
• Assist with research, story gathering and analysis to further the organization’s communication, policy and legal goals
• Develop organizing goals, plans, strategies, tactics, and budgets to serve the organization’s concrete political/policy outcomes
• Deploy key organizing tactics in partnership with ACLU affiliates including phone banking, text banking, rallies, marches, story collection, and social media engagement
• Collaborate with policy counsels and campaign strategists to develop and integrate organizing plans into broader campaign strategies
• Execute on-the-ground organizing meetings and events in priority jurisdictions in partnership with ACLU affiliates
• Track program progress to goal and metrics through standardized reporting
• Produce compelling call and text scripts for priority campaigns
• Oversee volunteer recruitment, training, retention and mobilization across multiple platforms
• Develop and implement new volunteer team structures and systems
• Set and track volunteer team goals and activities
• Leverage organizing tools effectively for volunteer engagement
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned
• Demonstrate flexibility in adjusting priorities based on the changing external environment
• This position requires flexibility in work schedule and location, including the ability to travel nationally as programming demands and work non-traditional hours

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

• Significant experience in political, electoral, advocacy and/or issue campaigns as a campaign manager, political director, field director or equivalent role
• Proven success in grassroots organizing, volunteer recruitment and management, and issue advocacy
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• Experience with earned media strategies
• Experience working in and navigating coalition spaces
• Ability to assess needs and recommend resource allocation
• Excellence in analyzing complex concepts and presenting clear recommendations
• Strong independent work ethic and team collaboration skills
• Superior analytical, writing, and organizational abilities
• Access to a major airport and ability to travel substantially

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.    

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please complete the Accommodation Request Form.  If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

The Department of Education has determined that employment in this position at the ACLU does not qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.