Job o' the Day: ACLU in the West
By Lauren Forbes
Hurricane is about to fall on the East Coast, so what better time to head west?
The ACLU of Colorado is seeking to fill the position of Public Policy Director with an experienced legislative and policy advocate. The Public Policy Director is a member of the ACLU of Colorado’s senior leadership team and is responsible for advancing the civil liberties agenda of the ACLU before the Colorado legislature, executive branch, as well as city, county, or state governmental bodies. The position will advocate for the policies of the ACLU through one-on-one lobbying of legislators, working with staff of key policymakers, coalition building, planning legislative strategies, drafting legislation, developing public education strategies, presenting testimony, and involving ACLU members and leaders in the policy work of the organization. The Public Policy Director works under the supervision of the Executive Director and in close collaboration with the ACLU of Colorado’s legal, development, and communications teams. The Director will manage public policy staff and contract positions. 
Responsibilities:
- Responsible for the development and management of a Public Policy Department, which includes a Campaign Director and contract lobbyist, and will expand to include two Public Policy Associate positions. Develop and oversee the implementation of broad strategies to promote policy changes at the city, county, and state levels around ACLU of Colorado’s key issues, which include mass incarceration, racial profiling, religious liberties, prisoner treatment, police practices, immigrants’ rights, criminal justice reform, and free speech, among others;
- Collaborate with the Legal Director and staff attorneys to analyze legislation before the Colorado legislature, to manage proactive legislation and work to defeat bills that jeopardize civil liberties, by lobbying committee members, educating the Governor’s staff on civil liberties implications of legislation, providing committee testimony on behalf of the ACLU, and securing strong bipartisan sponsors of ACLU initiatives;
- Research, write, and edit policy and advocacy materials, including public policy reports, issue briefs, letters, press statements, opinion editorials, action alerts, and talking points related to ACLU’s policy work;
- Lead ACLU efforts to enhance our statewide presence by mobilizing members, local chapters, volunteers, and activists to participate in coalitions around policy initiatives, attend strategy meetings and events in legislators’ districts, and work with local media to promote ACLU’s public policy priorities;
- Develop strategic campaigns integrating legislative and public education efforts;
- Participate in development activities to fund the Public Policy Department;
- Build volunteer and intern programs to develop the potential of ACLU’s diverse constituencies;
- Work with the national ACLU and other affiliates regarding public policy matters; and prepare reports to key funders on ACLU public policy activities.
Click into the listing on PSLawNet for application instructions (login required).
