Policy and Advocacy Strategist: Privacy, Technology and Surveillance

The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois (ACLU-IL) has an open Policy and Advocacy Strategist position, centering on our Privacy, Technology and Surveillance (PTS) work.

The Strategist will primarily focus on our work at the intersection of civil liberties and PTS, including the use of emerging and existing technologies by law enforcement and private actors, automated decision-making, and informational privacy. The Policy and Advocacy Strategist works collaboratively across departments to use integrated advocacy tools, including legislation, policy change, coalition building, and communications, to advance meaningful change.

Policy and Advocacy Strategists must have at least five years of policy development and implementation experience beyond an academic setting and at least three years of direct experience working on PTS issues.

The Policy and Advocacy Strategist is part of the Advocacy Department and reports to the Director of Advocacy and Intergovernmental Affairs. This is a full-time, non-exempt union position that is part of a bargaining unit represented by the National Organization of Legal Services Workers/United Auto Workers Local 2320.

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will have:

Demonstrated knowledge of PTS civil liberties issues.
At least five years of hands-on experience successfully advocating for legislative or policy change, with at least three years working directly on PTS issues.
At least five years of experience researching and synthesizing large amounts of information from various sources to provide policy recommendations.
Proven ability to work independently and manage multiple projects with competing deadlines on a tight timeline while maintaining strong attention to detail.
Proven ability to think critically and strategically about solving problems and coming up with solutions that drive results.
Strong communication skills to explain complex issues in accessible terms for various audiences, both verbally and in writing.
Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with a broad range of constituencies, including people who have been impacted by our work.
Ability to travel throughout Illinois and work beyond the typical workday and on weekends.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Policy and Advocacy Strategist helps to develop and implement the ACLU-IL’s legislative, policy, and advocacy priorities by:

Analyzing priority local, state, and national ACLU issues.
Conducting rigorous research that identifies and evaluates best practices around model policies and programs (legislation, ordinances, directives, practices) and implementation strategies.
Building and maintaining trusted, respectful relationships with stakeholders, including but not limited to: people impacted by our work, community members and leaders, coalitions, allied organizations, issue experts, legislative staff, government officials, and elected officials.
Drafting legislation, developing policy positions, and creating strategies that result in meaningful change while engaging the public on civil liberties issues.
Executing implementation of strategy through partnerships, public education activities, legislative and stakeholder meetings, and delivering testimony.
The Policy and Advocacy Strategist is expected to draft concise internal and external memos and develop advocacy tools, including fact sheets, talking points, public education materials, position letters, and policy briefs, in multiple formats for a range of audiences.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Benefits include four weeks of paid vacation (pro-rated the first year); 100% employer-paid medical, vision, and dental insurance for staff and eligible dependents; hybrid work options; a 403(b) retirement benefits plan with employer match; life insurance; and long-term disability insurance. In accordance with the ACLU salary scale and commensurate with experience, the salary range is $65,000 to $85,000.

JOB APPLICATION STATEMENT

The ACLU of Illinois is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and 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, criminal record or veteran status.

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance applying online, please email jobs@aclu-il.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants should prepare a resume and cover letter addressing the following questions:

Tell us about a time you advocated for a policy change. What skills did you use in the process? What was most challenging for you? Please be specific. (You do not need to limit yourself to a formal legislative effort or organized campaign led by an organization. Examples of where you have advocated for policy change in a personal capacity would also be applicable.)
Describe a time when you worked with a diverse group of people to create change. What did you learn about yourself in the process?
What is your experience working on PTS issues?

Please fill out the fields below. Then, email AdvocacyJobs@aclu-il.org and use the subject line “YOUR NAME Policy and Advocacy Strategist: PTS.” No calls or outreach via social media or other platforms, please. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Referral Source

Please share how you heard about the job: through a website, from a friend, etc. This information will be kept confidential and shared only with our Human Resources department for tracking purposes.

Demographic questions (optional)

At the ACLU of Illinois, we’re committed to making our organization one where people from all backgrounds – including people with marginalized identities – thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer, working to incorporate equity and inclusion into all aspects of our work, and we welcome all individuals, including individuals with historically marginalized identities, to apply for open positions. The following questions about your identity are completely optional, and anonymous: we do not ask for your name, email address, or other personally identifying information on this form. (See our privacy statement at the bottom of the page for more information.) The answers we receive will be used to confirm that our recruiting and outreach practices are effective at attracting a diverse pool of candidates in the initial stages of the hiring process.

Race and/or Ethnicity (optional)

If you chose ‘A race or ethnicity not listed,’ or “Two or more races/ethnicities” please let us know how you self-identify:

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Voluntary self-identification of disability

For the purposes of this form, a disability is defined as “a physical or mental impairment or medical condition that substantially limits a major life activity.”

Disabilities include, but are not limited to: blindness, deafness, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, autism, cerebral palsy, HIV/AIDS, schizophrenia, muscular dystrophy, bipolar disorder, major depression, multiple sclerosis (MS), missing limbs or partially missing limbs, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, impairments requiring the use of a wheelchair, and intellectual disability.

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Significant Disability Status

Disability diversity in the workplace includes people with significant disabilities. A “significant disability,” for the purpose of this survey, is one that is associated with particularly low employment rates. The federal government has recognized that individuals with certain disabilities face barriers to employment above and beyond the barriers faced by people with the broader range of disabilities. (For more information, see Questions and Answers: The EEOC's Final Rule on Affirmative Action for People with Disabilities in Federal Employment at https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/regulations/qanda-ada-disabilities-final-rule.cfm)

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