Fuse Washington

Policy Advocate, American Civil Liberties Union of Washington

The ACLU of Washington is a non-profit, public interest organization devoted to protecting civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU advances its goals through legal and legislative advocacy, media and public awareness efforts, information and training, membership mobilization, and coalition work. Its staff of thirty employees and numerous volunteers work in a fast-paced, friendly, and professional office.

The ACLU is pursuing a multi-year strategic educational and organizing campaign in Washington, the Marijuana Policy Project (MEP), to reframe public thinking about marijuana laws. In collaboration with travel writer Rick Steves, the ACLU has produced a 30 minute video, “Marijuana: It’s time for a Conversation,” which is part of a broad-ranging educational effort to advance public dialogue about our marijuana laws among policy makers, opinion leaders, and professional organizations. We seek a self-motivated public policy advocate to work with the Marijuana Education Project Director to advance this work. The position reports to the Marijuana Education Project Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• With the Project Director, develop and implement strategic outreach and education strategies to encourage opinion leaders, professional organizations, and other leaders to support a call for marijuana law reform.
• Build leadership, alliances and local groups to support marijuana reform in selected cities throughout the state, helping to develop organizational infrastructure and coordination.
• Generate opportunities for presentations to strategically important groups. Make presentations and train others to do so.
• Support, train and deploy members of the MEP advisory committee and other high-level volunteers.

• Collaborate with ACLU staff and allies to develop clear messages, to coordinate activities, and to help participants stay on task, on time, and on message. Work with other area drug policy reform groups to advance our goals.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Sophisticated experience working in a “grass tops” advocacy campaign or in marketing of a significant policy reform; demonstrated abilities to plan and implement targeted outreach efforts, media relations, and other communications strategies.
• Excellent leadership skills to facilitate communication and collaboration; strong persuasive skills, personal enthusiasm, a confident, positive, and professional demeanor and an ability to work effectively with a variety of professionals and with individuals across the political spectrum; a “quick study;” comfortable analyzing and articulating legal and policy concepts.
• Exceptional organizational skills to keep track of, mobilize, and guide multiple activities and constituencies.
• Access to a car and a valid driver’s license, along with the ability to travel throughout Washington, and the flexibility to work irregular hours that will include evening meetings.
• A strong commitment to civil liberties and civil rights; a commitment to diversity; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance.
• Microsoft Outlook, Word & Excel (or equivalent) experience desirable.

• Bilingual skills in an underserved language are a plus.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary will be commensurate with experience within the parameters of ACLU-WA salary policies. An excellent benefits package includes medical, dental and disability insurance, a pension plan, three weeks vacation to start, and a commuter FlexPass.

APPLICATION

To apply, mail a letter of application and a résumé to:

MEP Screening Committee
ACLU of Washington
705 – 2nd Avenue, Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98104-1799

Please no fax or email applications. Applications accepted until the position is filled, at which time the announcement will be removed from our website.

The ACLU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and encourages individuals of every race, creed, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity to apply.

The ACLU of Washington comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington and the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Foundation. The ACLU of Washington and the ACLU of Washington Foundation share the same overall mission, office space, and employees. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU of Washington.”