Senior Policy Counsel, Racial Justice

Full-time

No

## Senior Policy Counsel, Racial Justice

### Job Title: Senior Policy Counsel

### Office: National Offices

### Location: New York, New York, United States

The ACLU seeks a full-time position of Senior Policy Counsel, reporting to the Deputy Director of Policy in the Equality Division of the National Political Advocacy Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY or Washington, DC, to focus upon issues of racial justice.

### About the Job

The National Political Advocacy Department (NPAD) works to strengthen the efforts of the ACLU at the federal, state, and local levels of government. The department harnesses the political power that comes from having more than four million members and supporters, as well as affiliates in every state. Through grassroots organizing, lobbying and policy work, and issue campaigns, the ACLU seeks to achieve change as profound in the legislative, administrative and electoral arenas as it has accomplished through the courts.

Reporting to the Deputy Division Director, the Senior Policy Counsel will play a key role in designing and executing the ACLU’s racial justice agenda. Working closely with the ACLU’s Systemic Equality program and the Racial Justice Legal Program, the Senior Policy Counsel will work on racial justice issues including economic justice, access to housing and education equity.

### Responsibilities

- Work with ACLU national and affiliate staff on racial justice civil rights issues with an emphasis on issues related to closing the racial wealth gap
- Develop strategic legislative, executive, and administrative policy options
- Develop strong relationships with civil rights advocacy organizations and represent the ACLU in multi-organization coalitions and working groups
- Support and carry out, as appropriate, lobbying efforts at the state and federal level. Support state affiliates with lobbying guidance, materials, content expertise and strategic recommendations, as needed
- Independently draft bills and/or administrative rules/regulations at the state, local, or federal levels, providing content expertise as well as legislative and regulatory drafting knowledge
- Prepare and provide guidance on and/or deliver testimony on pending legislation before Congressional committees or federal regulatory agencies and other legislative or regulatory bodies at the state and local/municipal levels, as relevant
- Help coordinate strategy designed to reach campaign goals or other policy/political outcomes across ACLU departments, ACLU affiliates, and coalition partners
- In collaboration with ACLU Communications staff, provide expert commentary to the media, participate in media briefings, and contribute to op-eds and other publications
- Coordinate efforts to keep legal staff, communications staff, strategists, and affiliates abreast of the relevant priority issues in this portfolio, and where needed, enlist support for such issues
- Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned
- Center principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging in all work, embedding the values in program development, policy application, and organizational practices and processes
- Commitment to the mission of the ACLU
- Demonstrate a commitment to diversity within the office using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regards to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability and socio-economic circumstance
- Commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts

### Experience & Qualifications

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- Significant experience working in political, policy, legal, or government settings; high familiarity with public policy and legislative, administrative and/or electoral processes
- High level and creative policy development skills
- Demonstrated ability to work with organizations representing communities of color including Black, Latinx, AMEMSA, AAPI, and Indigenous communities and/or Tribes
- Experience with federal and state legislative analysis and advocacy relating to civil rights and anti-discrimination law
- Ability to work independently as well as within a team
- Excellent interpersonal, relationship building and communication skills
- Excellent research, writing, analytical, and communication skills
- Ability to communicate complex legal and policy issues to government decision makers, and the general public; expertise in field of policy
- Ability to work and communicate quickly and accurately, handling multiple projects and deliverables under pressure

### Compensation

The ACLU values equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. Consistent with the ACLU’s compensation philosophy, there is a set salary for this role. The annual salary for this position is $148,261 (Level E), reflective of a position based in New York, NY, where our National offices are headquartered. This salary will be subject to a locality adjustment (according to a specific city and state), if an authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.

### About the ACLU

The ACLU dares to create a more perfect union – beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees.

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 from government abuse and overreach.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the

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Political, Policy, Legal, Government Settings, Legislative Analysis and Advocacy, Civil Rights and Anti-Discrimination Law, Interpersonal, Relationship Building, Communication Skills

Advanced degree (J.D., M.P.P.) or equivalent training in policy analysis, advocacy, or campaigns preferred

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Qualification and Experience Advanced degree (J.D., M.P.P.) or equivalent training in policy analysis, advocacy, or campaigns preferred

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