Policy Director

Compensation for this position is $73,000 with benefits that include paid vacation, medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k), life and long-term disability insurance, and generous paid holidays.

About the role

The ACLU of Oklahoma works to secure liberty, justice, and equity for all Oklahomans through advocacy, litigation, and legislation, leading by example and fueled by people power. The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma is a nonprofit, non-partisan, privately funded organization devoted exclusively to the defense and promotion of the individual rights secured by the U.S. and Oklahoma constitutions. The ACLU-OK comprises two separate corporate entities—the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, Inc., and the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma Foundation—sharing the same mission, office space, and employees. The Policy Director is a senior position that leads the development and implementation of strategic, multi-faceted campaigns in Oklahoma to ensure decision makers in state and local legislative and executive bodies pass laws and adopt policies that advance and defend civil liberties and civil rights and oppose laws, rules and policies that would compromise those freedoms. An expectation of leadership is to take an active role in advancing organizational equity and support building an organizational culture of belonging that goes beyond diversity and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Develop overarching vision for the Public Policy program and campaign plans centered in equity to achieve strategic policy goals.
• Build trust and strong relationships with community leaders and grassroots organizations led by and centering the voices of directly impacted individuals and communities disproportionately impacted by violations of civil liberties and civil rights; seek their input to help shape ACLU’s priorities.
• Lead lobbyist at state legislature, including analyzing and tracking legislation; drafting amendments and delivering both written and oral testimony; educating and lobbying interim legislative committees and diverse, inclusive working groups.
• Develop and execute plan to build trusted relationships with lawmakers, agency decision-makers, staff, lobbyists and other stakeholders by providing clear, persuasive, fact-based analysis and resources; identify opportunities for bipartisan support on ACLU issues.
• Direct the ACLU-OK’s advocacy efforts before local decision-making bodies and agencies such as city councils and county commissions.
• Support organizing staff in defining roles and responsibilities for engagement with impacted communities, allies, ACLU-OK supporters, and other community partners, and in developing workplans that effectively use team resources to develop and advance policy priorities.
• Collaborate with the Communications and Legal Department to identify and advance opportunities to increase support for ACLU-OK policy proposals through litigation and public education.
• Create platforms for generating authentic input from people with direct experience with the systems and policies we seek to change and create opportunities for leadership development in our campaigns.
• Develop strategies to work in coalition or other partnerships with allied organizations and individuals.
• Collaborate with national ACLU and other ACLU affiliates to advance national public policy campaigns and enlist support for local initiatives.
• Research policy questions and advise Executive Director in staking out policy positions.
• Develop and implement public education strategies (including materials development and the organization of public events) to promote the ACLU-OK’s public policy goals.
• Collaborate on grant management and donor stewardship.
• In coordination with the Communications Director, represent the ACLU-OK in the media; collaborate with communications staff in the development of effective messaging strategies.

Qualifications

• BA required; JD or other advanced degree in the issue area a plus.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience with policy advocacy work.
• A track record of successfully developing and implementing policy advocacy campaigns.
• An understanding of and enthusiasm for civil liberties and civil rights and personally committed to advancing the ACLU’s values, mission, goals and programs.
• Commitment to race and other forms of equity, both internally in our organization and externally in the communities that we serve.
• Awareness of, and willingness to engage in, the difficult and transformative work of challenging systems of oppression, institutional and structural racism, and implicit bias.
• Ability to participate in, create and sustain inclusive and engaging spaces for all races/ethnicities, genders, ages, classes, and geographies.
• Experience in either government service or the non-profit sector with policy or advocacy experience, or as a legislative lobbyist.
• Excellent research, writing and oral communication skills, including public speaking.
• Demonstrated experience engaging and working with and/or on behalf of underrepresented communities is a plus.
• Excellent leadership skills. Vision, initiative, and ability to design new programs and policy strategies utilizing a broad range of tactics, and guide others in their implementation.
• Ability to gather, analyze, and synthesize information and prepare compelling educational materials.
• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and effectively with coalitions and community groups.
• Demonstrated supervisory and management skills.
• Capacity for self-reflection.
• Ability to have courageous conversations internally with colleagues and externally with allies when overcoming differences in opinion.
• Ability to work independently and keep organized in a fast-paced environment, manage several projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and adjust strategy to frequently changing demands.
• Ability to work evenings or weekends when needed.
• Ability to travel locally or regionally for work-related meetings and events.