Senior Policy Counsel

About the role

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Foundation of Florida seeks a Senior Policy Counsel to join our Policy & Advocacy Department and help achieve the organization's goal of protecting the liberties that define our democracy. This position is based in Miami or Tallahassee, Florida, with a Florida-based remote option available.

What you'll do

Reporting to the Policy and Advocacy Director and working in close collaboration with the ACLU-FL Policy & Advocacy team, the Senior Policy Counsel will identify opportunities to advance civil rights and civil liberties in complex policy areas through non-litigation methods — including legislative, administrative, and community-based strategies — and will collaborate closely with colleagues in the Legal, Communications, and Philanthropy & Field Departments to expand rights and access for all Floridians.

This position may require occasional travel across Florida, as well as proactive and responsive availability during state legislative sessions, including evenings and weekends as needed.

Your day to day

• Identify opportunities to advance civil rights and civil liberties in complex policy areas using non-litigation methods at the state and local levels.
• Monitor, research, analyze, and advise on legal, legislative, political, technological, and other developments in assigned issue areas; identify other areas that warrant the organization's attention.
• Independently research, analyze, and draft state and local legislation, administrative rules and regulations, ballot measures, and public comments.
• Prepare and provide expert-level guidance and testimony on pending legislation before state and local legislative committees, administrative agencies, and other regulatory bodies.
• Lobby elected officials, their staff, and other public officials to support ACLU of Florida positions on pending legislation and policy initiatives.
• Conduct in-depth civil liberties briefings for government officials to advance priority ACLU of Florida positions.
• Design and lead public records requests in support of priority advocacy campaigns, including reviewing, categorizing, and synthesizing documents obtained and communicating their civil liberties implications to ACLU-FL staff.
• In consultation with the Communications, Legal, and Philanthropy & Field Departments, draft civic engagement, public education, and communications materials, and contribute to op-eds and other publications.
• Engage in direct civic engagement and coalition building, and participate as an ACLU of Florida representative in meetings, task forces, working groups, and coalitions.
• Provide expert commentary to media and participate in media briefings as needed.
• Build and maintain trusted, respectful, and collaborative relationships with stakeholders, including people impacted by our work, community members and leaders, coalitions, allied organizations, issue experts, legislative staff, and government officials.
• Supervise and support select staff, fellows, and interns engaged in policy, legislative, and administrative advocacy work.
• Perform other tasks as needed to advance the work of the Policy & Advocacy Department and strategic objectives of the affiliate.

Future ACLU'ers will

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU of Florida and the broader civil liberties movement.
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging in their work, using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance.
• Be committed to working collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflict.

What you'll bring

While no one person will have all of the qualities enumerated below, the successful candidate will bring many of the following qualifications and attributes:

• Juris Doctor or advanced law degree required; demonstrated expertise in constitutional law and statutory analysis is preferred.
• Significant experience (typically five or more years) working in legislative, political, policy, legal, or government settings, including direct experience with issue-based public advocacy campaigns.
• High degree of familiarity with public policy, legislative, and/or administrative processes.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze legislative and regulatory policy, including experience drafting and analyzing legislative language, and sophisticated judgment in giving advice and counsel to leadership.
• Prior lobbying experience preferred.
• Excellent research, analytical, and writing skills, including the ability to communicate complex legal and policy issues in language accessible to a wide variety of audiences.
• Flexibility and adaptability to navigate dynamic political landscapes and respond to evolving policy priorities.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines while maintaining strong attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building, and communication skills to reach a broad range of stakeholders, including people impacted by our work, community members and leaders, coalitions, allied organizations, issue experts, legislative staff, and government officials.
• Fluency in a language other than English (especially Spanish or Creole) is desired but not required.
• A valid driver's license and regular access to a car; ability to drive outside of the county as necessary and to work evenings and weekends when needed.
• Unwavering commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU, including a demonstrated commitment to racial justice and civil rights issues.

Compensation

Compensation will be commensurate with experience, within the range of $90,200 to $110,500 (Pay Grade 12).

Benefits

The ACLU of Florida provides excellent benefits, including health and dental insurance with generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave policies, as well as a Defined Contribution 401(k) Retirement Plan. Base vacation leave is five weeks per year, increasing to six weeks per year after five years of service.