Job Description

The ACLU of Pennsylvania (ACLU-PA) seeks applicants for the position of  Democracy Defense Campaign Director. We are looking for energetic, creative candidates who recognize the current threats to democracy and will bring innovative strategy and tactics, with an emphasis on organizing and communications. This position will complement and  build upon our existing, robust voting rights efforts. Please note this position is currently funded for one year of employment with the possibility of extension for up to two additional years.

Candidates should have successful experience managing issue advocacy campaigns and leadership experience in statewide efforts that include coalition partnerships, legislative advocacy, strategic communications, organizing, and electoral work.

The ACLU-PA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest organization, dedicated to defending and enhancing personal freedoms protected by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights through litigation, legislative advocacy, organizing, and community education. It is a fast-paced environment that addresses headline-making issues with powerful personal stories and dynamic, precedent-setting solutions. The ACLU-PA is expanding its advocacy infrastructure to increase the ACLU’s effectiveness in advancing civil rights and liberties. The ACLU-PA will be receiving significant investment and support over the next several years to execute campaigns that blend our traditional legislative, communications, and legal strategies with the mobilization of our rapidly growing supporter base. 

The Democracy Defense Campaign Director will develop, lead, and execute a campaign, encompassing innovative strategies, to fight threats to our democracy and voting rights. This person will work with colleagues to protect and expand voting rights and access, as well as eliminate barriers that disenfranchise and suppress voters. This person will help drive programmatic work related to protecting vote-by-mail, voter rights education, fighting constitutional amendments, election protection and other efforts related to protecting and advancing voting rights. The Democracy Defense Campaign Director will report to the Director of Advocacy and Policy and will lead an interdisciplinary, cross-departmental campaign team. 

BACKGROUND

American democracy is under attack by efforts to change election laws that undermine the process of having free and fair elections.  We cannot sit back as our democracy is threatened and as efforts are made to restrict access to polls/ballots. There must be election standards in place that are maintained to ensure not only the right to vote, but also equal access. The ACLU of Pennsylvania is committed to protecting and expanding voting rights and access, eliminating barriers that disenfranchise voters, increasing civic engagement, and fighting against attempts to undermine election administration. And, the ACLU-PA has routinely represented voters and candidates in order to protect the right to vote and the right to participate in a fair election process.  

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Devise strategies to engage supporters across the state in defending democracy.
• Collaborate with local leaders and community members to monitor threats and opportunities and push for pro-democracy agendas and fight against attempts to undermine elections.
• Develop a statewide “democracy defenders” network of activists.
• Design and lead multi-tooled campaigns aimed at defending democracy and protecting and expanding voter rights,  bringing together legislative, advocacy, organizing, communication and legal efforts to meet strategic goals.
• Working closely with ACLU-PA and ACLU national staff, oversee all aspects of the research, drafting, and implementation of a campaign plan.
• Develop key performance metrics and evaluate the success of individual tactics as well as the campaign’s overall effectiveness. 
• Develop campaign plans, goals, strategies and tactics to achieve outcomes. 
• Work in collaboration with colleagues to execute statewide legislative, electoral, ballot initiative and/or administrative campaigns.
• Work with the Director and Deputy Director of Advocacy & Policy to determine campaign field strategy and goals for specific campaigns.
• Develop and manage statewide field operation plans, including field budget, work plans, goal setting, metric tracking and setting timelines. 
• Establish accountability systems in the field to ensure that campaign goals are met, including the implementation of post-campaign debriefs and assessments.
• Work collaboratively with the communications team. 
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key stakeholders across the state.
• Participate in statewide coalitions focused on protecting and advancing voting rights and access.
• Manage staff and consultants advancing campaign goals.
• Elevate leadership within impacted communities and the broader public to help shape campaign goals, strategies, and tactics.
• Provide regular, comprehensive updates on campaign progress to various stakeholders.
• Manage campaign budget.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Significant experience with issue advocacy and/or electoral campaigning at the federal, state, and/or local levels, including campaign management experience.
• Significant experience designing and executing  campaign plans, strategies and tactics. 
• Successful track record managing project timelines, delegating responsibilities, supervising diverse staff, and managing a budget.
• Extensive knowledge of and experience working with voter files, modeling and targeting, and the Voter Action Network (VAN).  
• Significant experience drafting field plans including budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in politically sensitive and high-pressure environments.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise excellent political judgment and discretion.  
• Ability to work independently within the context of a plan.
• Effective time management skills, including prioritizing and managing multiple tasks, and demonstrated experience in developing campaign and personal work plans and goals. 
• Experience in coalition building, management and engagement, as well as  leading and working within coalition spaces collaboratively.
• Knowledge of the opportunities and challenges of building and working in large, diverse coalitions.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and work efficiently, remaining composed under pressure.
• Experience working on both issue advocacy campaigns and electoral campaigns is a plus. 
• Experience doing legislative and administrative advocacy.
• Significant experience doing grassroots organizing is a plus.
• Demonstrated understanding of how to use policy analysis, research, lobbying, media, communications, organizing and mobilization, and alliance-building to influence the political agenda, with proven experience of engaging with and influencing decision-makers.
• Knowledge of policy, specifically voting rights and election, or an ability to quickly become conversant with latest research, messaging and tactics used to educate the public and move policymakers. 
• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral). 
• Passion for and commitment to protecting and expanding voting rights and access, eliminating barriers that disenfranchise voters and increasing civic engagement.
• Willingness and ability to travel. 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary for this position is $90,000.  Excellent benefits include generous vacation and sick leave; individual/family employer-provided health insurance; life insurance and long-term disability; defined contribution plan with employer match; and 11 paid holidays. This position is full-time, salaried, and exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

DEADLINE

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, at which time the job announcement will be removed from our website, www.aclupa.org/jobs.  

The ACLU-PA is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU-PA encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, people with records of arrest or conviction, veterans, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals to apply.

The ACLU-PA comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union (the “Union”) of Pennsylvania and the ACLU Foundation (the “Foundation”) of Pennsylvania.  The Union is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, and ACLU membership dues fund its lobbying work. Donations to the Union are not tax-deductible. The ACLU Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Foundation funds support litigation and public education efforts. Donations to the Foundation are tax-deductible. The Campaign Director is an employee of the ACLU Foundation of Pennsylvania.

Both the ACLU of Pennsylvania and the ACLU Foundation of Pennsylvania have the same overall mission, and share office space, employees, and the same board of directors. The two entities are jointly known by the term “ACLU of Pennsylvania.”

ACLU-PA’s hiring process will comply with Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Records Screening Standards (“Ban the Box”) ordinance.

How to Apply

Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 80,000 - 100,000.

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