Policy Director

The Opportunity

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (ACLU-TN) seeks a creative and dynamic team player with policy advocacy experience to become ACLU-TN’s next policy director.

ACLU-TN, the state affiliate of the national American Civil Liberties Union, is a private, non-profit, non-partisan public interest organization dedicated to defending and advancing civil liberties and civil rights through advocacy, coalition-building, litigation, legislative lobbying, community mobilization, and public education.

In the wake of daily assaults on civil liberties and civil rights, ACLU-TN is embarking on its most ambitious advocacy yet. ACLU-TN’s integrated advocacy work includes, but is not limited to, democracy and voting rights, immigrants’ rights, advancing racial justice and LGBTQ+ equality, free speech and censorship, and more.

The policy director will be responsible for leading the organization’s policy advocacy work to advance ACLU-TN’s strategic priorities. The policy director’s primary role will be developing a strategic, impactful policy agenda at the state and local level, and working to implement it across advocacy venues, including the state legislature, county and municipal governments, state and local executive offices, and state and local agencies. The policy director will also be tasked with determining the most impactful way to engage in policy work within Tennessee.

The policy director is a member of ACLU-TN’s programmatic leadership team, reports to the Deputy Director of Integrated Advocacy, and oversees the policy team.

Responsibilities

• Design a strategic, impactful legislative and policy program at the state and local levels, informed by astute political analysis, that advances ACLU-TN’s priority issue areas and campaign goals, that responds to emerging civil liberties and civil rights threats, and that seeks to maximize the impact of the program, perhaps through creative or unique approaches.
• Implement ACLU-TN’s policy agenda using appropriate strategies and tactics across advocacy venues, including lobbying members of the Tennessee General Assembly and their staff, local elected officials, the governor’s office, county and city mayors, and state and local agencies, and attending legislative hearings and governmental and coalition meetings.
• Develop and execute a plan to build trusted relationships with lawmakers, agency decision-makers, staff, lobbyists, and other stakeholders by providing clear, persuasive, fact-based analysis and resources, identifying opportunities for bipartisan support on ACLU issues.
• Analyze and track state and some local legislation; draft legislation and amendments; and prepare and deliver, and/or coordinate, testimony.
• Prepare advocacy materials in collaboration with other program teams, such as policy reports, action alerts, talking points, issue briefs, letters, op-eds, FAQs, website content, etc.
• Collaborate with the community engagement department on coalition work, representing ACLU-TN in policy-based coalitions and other community meetings as needed and relevant, and engage with diverse stakeholders to advance shared policy goals, including assisting in educating the public, donors, the board, and community partners about legislation and the legislative process.
• Consult with policy subject matter experts, including directly impacted people, and facilitate their voices being heard by decisionmakers at the state and local level.
• Coordinate and collaborate with the Deputy Director of Integrated Advocacy and other program directors and staff at ACLU-TN to build and implement effective multi-disciplinary and integrated advocacy initiatives, involving a combination of policy, legal, communications, public education, and community engagement strategies.
• Work collaboratively with the national ACLU and other ACLU affiliates to advance nationwide policy campaigns, as needed.
• Oversee the affiliate’s compliance with ethics and lobbying rules at the county, state, and federal levels.
• Speak to the media or the public as needed, in consultation with the communications, community engagement, and legal teams.
• Supervise the policy team and any contract lobbyists (currently one staff member and one contracted lobbyist).
• Set goals for the policy department, create metrics, and evaluate the policy department’s progress toward departmental and integrated advocacy campaign goals.
• Manage the policy department and represent the department in organizational meetings. Oversee implementation of policy program policies, procedures, and budget. Develop the policy department budget and track spending throughout the year.
• Take an active role in advancing organizational equity and support building an organizational culture of belonging that goes beyond diversity and inclusion.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Deputy Director.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required. Law degree and/or graduate degree preferred.
• Seven years of state, national, or local legislative, political, or policy advocacy work required.
• Previous supervision experience, including supporting the professional development of direct reports, required.
• Exceptional initiative, vision, and ambition to build a strategic, integrated policy advocacy program through a broad range of short- and long-term political and lobbying tactics, in collaboration with other departments.
• Understanding of the legislative process, political strategic planning, and how to build respectful relationships across the political spectrum required; particular knowledge of the political and state and local legislative landscape in Tennessee and of ACLU-TN priority issue areas is a plus.
• Exceptional analytical, research, writing, and oral advocacy skills, as well as the ability to articulate complex issues and to communicate them tactfully and effectively to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to listen, guide, navigate conflicting perspectives, and collaborate respectfully with internal and external stakeholders to establish common ground and achieve common goals.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain allies and work collaboratively across the political spectrum with diverse coalitions, including navigating internal political dynamics among partner groups, and a personal approach that values and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socioeconomic circumstances.
• Passion for, and a well-articulated knowledge of, civil liberties, civil rights, and racial justice, and a familiarity with the work and mission of the ACLU.
• Demonstrated leadership in fostering and supporting a healthy workplace culture, and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging among staff.
• Keen attention to detail; ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects at various stages of completion; good problem-solving skills; and a positive, professional attitude with sound judgment, flexibility, determination, and good humor in a fast-paced, sometimes high-pressure office.
• Ambitious, creative, and results-oriented initiative and a desire to learn, pitch-in, and anticipate new projects; ability to collaborate, including working closely with the Deputy Director and colleagues at ACLU-TN and the national ACLU.
• An absolute commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards; and
• Willingness to work beyond 9 to 5, especially during the legislative session, and to travel throughout Tennessee as needed. Driver’s license required.

Location

ACLU-TN’s office is in Nashville, Tennessee, a rapidly growing city with a rich history in social justice and a fantastic music, arts, culture, and food scene.

ACLU-TN currently operates under a hybrid structure, where staff are expected to work in the office 8 days/month, including all-staff in-office days on the Monday and Tuesday of the first and third full weeks of each month.

Candidates outside of the Nashville, Tennessee metropolitan area will be considered for this position with the understanding that relocation to the Nashville, Tennessee area will be required.

This is a full-time, exempt position with a starting salary range of $95,000-105,000. This position reports directly to the Deputy Director of Integrated Advocacy, is a member of the programmatic leadership team, and will supervise policy team members, any contract lobbyists, and/or interns.

Staff members receive a generous benefits package, including a minimum of 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, and 2 personal days, along with at least 13 recognized holidays; 100% employer-covered health insurance (medical, dental, and vision); a flexible-spending account; a 401(k)-matched retirement contribution; 12 weeks of parental leave; long- and short-term disability; life insurance; an annual professional development stipend; and snacks in the office.