JOB DESCRIPTION
DIRECTOR, PUBLIC EDUCATION
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF TEXAS, FOUNDATION

General Duties:
The Director of Public Education is a member of the ACLU of Texas’ leadership team and is, under the direction of the Executive Director, primarily responsible for the ACLU of Texas’ brand - communicating clearly with the media, the public and our members on a wide variety of civil liberties issues and ensuring that the message and the image of the ACLU of Texas is accurately represented. The Department uses communications as a tool to directly affect the ACLU’s mission to defend and expand civil liberties and civil rights. The Director ensures a department fully integrated with the affiliate’s legal and policy/legislative, development and field offices. The Director works in concert with the National ACLU headquarters in New York and Washington, D.C.

Specific Responsibilities:

1. Manage and coordinate ACLU of Texas’ media relations. With other staff, formulate appropriate public statements. Assist ACLU personnel and chapter volunteers in responding to media requests, provide background information to reporters, and help prepare clients, cooperating attorneys, and others for press interviews. Design and implement media campaigns on selected issues.
2. Assist ACLU-TX chapters enhance the ACLU-TX’s presence at the local level by drafting model Op Ed articles, training speakers, facilitating meetings with local editorial boards, and reviewing letters to the editor drafted by local leaders; ensure that all media contact is used to optimize our mission and message.
3. Provide on-going support to the Executive Director by drafting speeches, facilitating media interviews, conducting research for media interviews on select topics, and bringing important stories to his/her attention;
4. Develop relations with other media and public relations professionals; facilitate their involvement in the ACLU’s work and project activities as volunteers; develop and maintain relationships with communications staff at the National ACLU, its projects, and other affiliates and participate in National ACLU staff conferences;
5. Guide and oversee the development and production of materials, publications, the Annual Report, marketing tools and online communications services that engage the media, decision makers and the general public (particularly communities of color and youth) in the ACLU’s mission and programs and enhances these audiences’ understanding of the ACLU and the preservation of civil liberties;
6. Assist in the identification of potential funders for public education projects and draft foundation proposals for those projects;
7. Collaborate with senior staff to conduct integrated issue advocacy campaigns and high-impact strategies utilizing ACLU’s communication, legislative, field organizing and legal programs. Develop toolkits on topics specific to Texas; localize national topics. Ensure an up-to-date library of talking points is available to staff and chapter presidents.
8. Supervise the ACLU-TX website, integrating national ACLU web-based materials as necessary; monitor site usage; report trends to the Executive Director; develop strategies to increase web-based traffic;
9. Be informed of, and facilitate the use of, new technologies and software that will enhance and facilitate external communications; work with senior staff to plan membership communications via the Action Alert on-line network and facilitate its execution.
10. Create a speakers bureau; coordinate speaking requests and occasionally represent the ACLU before community groups and in public forums.
11. All other tasks as assigned by the Executive Director.

Qualifications:

• Excellent writing, speaking and analytic skills with which to explain complex civil liberties issues to the public; strong attention to detail and organizational skills;
• Eight to 10 years professional experience in public relations, political organizing, journalism, or a related field which included significant writing and educational responsibilities;
• Proven skills in the production of publications, including lay out, design and desktop publishing. Knowledge of broadcast and interactive networks is a plus.
• Ability to supervise paid and volunteer staff and coordinate numerous concurrent projects.
• Education and skills in such fields as journalism, political science, social work and public relations are desirable.
• Commitment to the work of the American Civil Liberties Union in defending and advancing civil liberties principles.

Personal Characteristics:

• Personally committed to advancing the ACLU’s values, mission, goals and programs, with an understanding of the range of civil liberties issues and their implications.
• An energetic person who can handle and prioritize multiple activities and responsibilities; a self-starter and finisher.
• A team player who inspires collaboration and functions decisively; is flexible and is well organized.
• Emotionally mature and self-confident, with a sense of humor in order to maintain balance and perspective.

Supervision:
The Public Education Director reports to the Executive Director, who is responsible for the overall program.

Compensation:
Commensurate with experience. Excellent health and dental coverage, employee’s coverage fully paid by the ACLU of Texas. A Defined Pension Benefits Plan is provided to each employee; 401(k) plan; generous vacation and leave benefits.

To Apply:
Submit a resume, writing samples and a cover letter that explains how his or her past experience is applicable to the job requirements. Applications should be submitted to:

Terri Burke
Executive Director
ACLU of Texas
P.O. Box 12905
Austin, Texas 78711

The ACLU is an affirmative action employer.