Community Engagement and Education Program Director

Summary

The ACLU of Connecticut Foundation (ACLU of CT) seeks a Community Engagement and Education Program Director to build and strengthen relationships with supporters, activists, and communities across Connecticut with an anticipated start date in mid-September. This new position is full-time and will pay a starting salary between $85,000 - $100,000. This position allows for hybrid work, but requires in-person work at our Hartford office and regular travel across the state of CT. This position requires residency in Connecticut.

Position Overview

The current political climate, with a federal government that is hostile to civil rights and liberties, has emphasized the need for Connecticut to build people power to actively resist policies that threaten our rights and to demand state level protections. We have created a new position, the Community Engagement and Education Program Director, to lead the organization’s efforts to build and strengthen relationships with supporters, activists, and communities across Connecticut. This role will develop and implement engagement strategies to deepen partnerships, expand engagement and volunteer opportunities, and ensure that the ACLU Foundation of CT (ACLU of CT) is a responsive and collaborative ally in movements for justice. This position will work with the Executive Director and across departments to build a community of engaged supporters and organizations that can be rapidly deployed to amplify the impact of our advocacy, to expand our ability to provide public education to interested communities, and to raise the profile of the ACLU Foundation of CT across the state.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement community engagement strategies to expand the ACLU of CT’s presence and impact in Connecticut communities.
• Build and maintain existing relationships with community members, grassroots organizations, faith-based leaders, and other external partners to foster collaboration and mutual support.
• Craft a method of tracking community partnerships that allows the affiliate to tap into existing resources and track relationships touched by more than one department.
• Identify emerging issues affecting communities across the state, helping coordinate an appropriate response to ensure the ACLU of CT remains a trusted and proactive partner.
• Plan ACLU of CT-led community events to educate, engage, and mobilize residents around civil rights issues and facilitate Know Your Rights sessions across the state.
• Represent the ACLU of CT at community, cultural, and civic education events, town halls, and other gatherings to ensure the ACLU of CT is present and engaged in key conversations.
• Build and maintain an organizational calendar of external events to elevate organizational visibility, with a focus on emphasizing our strategic goals and a sustainable use of staff capacity.
• Support cross-departmental work to align community engagement efforts with advocacy, legal, comms, and fundraising priorities.
• Evaluate and report on the effectiveness of community engagement programs by tracking participation, impact, and feedback to inform ongoing improvements.
• Maintain a list of interested supporters and volunteers and rapidly deploy them in ways that meaningfully contribute to the organization’s work.
• Rebuild and manage CT college chapters

Core Competencies

• Proven ability to establish a community network, with strong, existing community connections in Connecticut
• Comfortable moving in many different types of communities, particularly across age groups
• Experience in successfully navigating conflict and constituencies with competing priorities
• Highly organized; able to keep track of large data sets, complex calendars, and both short and long term deliverables.
• Experience developing or delivering training or educational materials
• Comfortable with public speaking and representing a constituency group
• Strong communication skills, both internal and external
• Experience making strategic decisions when resources are limited
• Comfort with using technology and learning new systems
• The ideal candidate has at least 5 years of relevant experience, though we welcome applicants with all levels of experience to apply
• Able to travel all over CT, including areas that are not serviced by public transportation
• Residency in CT at time of start

Compensation and Benefits:

The position is full-time and will pay an annual salary between $85,000 - $100,000 depending on experience. The ACLU of Connecticut also offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package starting with four weeks paid vacation, plus paid sick and personal time; 100%-employer premium paid medical, dental, and vision insurance; a supplemental wellness benefit; 401(k) Plan including employer contribution; a robust employee assistance program; and 13 paid holidays. (The ACLU of Connecticut reserves the right to alter or eliminate its current employee benefit plans and programs). This position is full-time, salaried, and exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and applicable Connecticut law.

How to Apply

Send an email with your resume and cover letter in PDF form to search@acluct.org with “Community Engagement & Education Program Director – [your name]” in the subject line.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the role is filled.

Hiring Process:

1. Phone Screen
2. Hiring Exercise
3. 20-minute hiring exercise conversation
4. Second Interview
5. Final Interview
6. Reference Checks
7. Offer Extended

About the ACLU of Connecticut

The ACLU of Connecticut defends, promotes, and expands the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Connecticut through litigation, community organizing and legislative advocacy, and civic education and engagement. We are an inclusive, non-partisan, and statewide organization within the nationwide American Civil Liberties Union network, powered by our supporters, partners, staff, interns, cooperating attorneys, and our board of directors.

We comprise three nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations: the ACLU of Connecticut, a 501(c)(4) organization which does legislative and organizing advocacy work; the ACLU Foundation of Connecticut, a 501(c)(3) which does litigation and public education work; and the ACLU of Connecticut Rise PAC, a non-partisan 527 organization which builds the necessary relationships, public awareness, public narratives, and pressure felt by politicians in order to build the political power of people directly impacted by civil rights and liberties issues.