October 17, 2012
Job Announcement
ACLU of San Diego
The ACLU and ACLU Foundation of San Diego and Imperial Counties seek an Associate Director to supervise its program work, including communications, field/organizing, legal, and policy advocacy. The Associate Director will report to the Executive Director and supervise four to six program directors and policy advocates.
The ACLU fights for individual rights and fundamental freedoms for all, through education, litigation, policy advocacy, and organizing. The ACLU promotes and defends civil rights and civil liberties, including First Amendment rights, equal protection, privacy, and due process. The San Diego ACLU works collaboratively with the ACLU affiliates headquartered in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and with a lobbying office in Sacramento. Together, the three affiliates have more than 110,000 members and 130 staff in California.
Located in beautiful San Diego, the ACLU affiliate covers the length of California’s border with Mexico. It has 20 staff members, 23 board members, 9,000 members, and an annual budget of $2.2 million. San Diego is the eighth largest city in the United States and the second largest in California. San Diego County has the third largest number of registered voters in California. Imperial County is the poorest county in California.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Associate Director’s primary responsibilities are to (1) develop and manage strong, well-designed programs, and to (2) lead strategic, effective advocacy for civil liberties by facilitating dynamic, collaborative work among ACLU staff teams.
(1) Develop and manage strong, well-designed programs:
- Provide overall leadership, management, and support for program activities, includingmulti-disciplinary campaigns that utilize litigation, advocacy, public education, and organizing strategies;
- Primary supervision and support of four to six program directors and policy advocates;
- Supervise the organization’s development of annual program priorities, staff retreats, and strategic planning;
- Guide and advise program staff in the conception and implementation of goals, work plans, tactics and indicators of success;
- Ensure program staff’s coordination and assistance with fundraising efforts;
- Supervise program staff’s compliance with c3, c4, lobbying, privilege, and related rules;
- Facilitate agenda setting for staff and senior staff meetings; and
- Supervise the preparation of progress reports and updates for staff, board, and other ACLU offices.
(2) Lead strategic, effective advocacy for civil liberties by facilitating dynamic, collaborative work among ACLU staff teams and allies.
- Lead effective, high-impact campaigns, rapid response, and strategic communications to protect and promote civil liberties;
- Direct and facilitate, as appropriate, collaboration across staff teams and integrating legal, legislative, public education, communications, and organizing strategies;
- Collaborate with the other ACLU offices in California and along the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as the National Office on advocacy campaigns and rapid response;
- Ensure appropriate collaboration and communication with allies and community partners;
- Directly supervise certain policy programs and efforts; and
- Lead affiliate’s process for determining positions on ballot initiatives and issues requiring board involvement.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
- Working with the Development team and Executive Director,
- Identify opportunities for funding current and future program work, and
- Assist with development of foundation applications and reporting;
- Identify, create, and manage systems that promote organizational and program effectiveness, from program planning to contact management; and
- Other tasks as assigned by the Executive Director.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Commitment to and knowledge of civil liberties;
- Excellent writing, speaking and analytic skills; the ability to explain complex civil liberties issues to the public;
- Ten years professional experience in program management, policy advocacy, policy research and analysis, coalition building, civil liberties law, or a related field;
- Familiarity with and/or expertise in a broad range of civil liberties issues, such as, immigrants’ rights and other border issues, educational equality, racial justice, discrimination, death penalty, drug policy, and voting rights;
- Demonstrated initiative, creativity, follow-through, and results;
- Creative, result-oriented, self-starting, willing to learn, and able to manage multiple ongoing projects;
- Ability to work with diverse communities; ability to speak Spanish preferred;
- Highly self-motivated, organized, and adaptable; and
- Relevant graduate degree preferred.
Salary & Benefits: Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits.
Please send a letter of interest and resume with references by November 12, 2012.
Application Procedure: Interested individuals must send a cover letter, resume, list of references, and a writing sample (no more than 5 pages), preferably by e-mail to
jobs@aclusandiego.orgor by mail to:
ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties
ATTN: Kevin Keenan, Executive Director
PO Box 87131
San Diego, CA 92138-7131
The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, and veterans.
