ACLU of Colorado is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization guided by a mission to protect, defend, and extend the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Colorado through litigation, education, and advocacy. As the oldest and largest civil rights organization in Colorado, its work is guided by the Bill of Rights, ensuring the freedoms contained within are available for members of marginalized communities, including people of color, LGBTQ+ people, women, immigrants, people experiencing poverty, unhoused people, incarcerated people, and students. ACLU of Colorado envisions a future where the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Colorado are honored, respected and upheld. For more information about the work of the ACLU of Colorado and the civil liberties principles we uphold, please visit our website at www.aclu-co.org.

Summary of Position

The ACLU of Colorado’s Policy Counsel will join one of the most dynamic and impactful policy teams in the state. This position plays a key role in developing and advancing multi-year policy campaigns alongside community and coalitions and in collaboration with colleagues in the advocacy, legal, and communications departments. The Policy Counsel contributes to the affiliate’s lobbying efforts, testimony, legislative tracking, and coalition work at the state capitol during the legislative session. This position engages in policy advocacy with other legislative, executive, and administrative bodies. The Policy Counsel sits within the affiliate’s Public Policy department and reports to the Public Policy Director. A Juris Doctor (JD) degree is required for this position.

Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct legal and policy research including but not limited to the areas of digital speech, privacy, surveillance and technology, housing access, economic justice, voting access, immigration, and criminal legal reform.
• Draft, analyze, and revise policies and legislation, including mark-ups and amendments.
• Prepare white papers, memoranda, fact sheets, reports, and other policy advocacy tools tailored for policymakers, stakeholders and other diverse audiences.
• Lobby individual lawmakers and testify before legislative bodies on ACLU-CO policy priorities.
• Design and execute one or more short-term policy projects.
• Collaborate with inter-disciplinary teams to design policy strategies that are aligned with and supported by strategic communications, organizing, litigation, electoral programs, and other strategies and tactics.
• Cultivate and maintain key strategic relationships with elected officials, stakeholders, and peers at other organizations.
• Lead or serve as the ACLU-CO's principal representative at coalitions and policy tables.
• Serve as a spokesperson for the ACLU-CO's policy positions in the media.
• Participate in special projects and temporary job assignments that may fall outside the defined scope of the position, including opportunities designed to support professional development.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree required.
• Minimum three years of experience in policy drafting and/or analysis.
• Dedicated to carrying out the mission and goals of the American Civil Liberties Union in protecting and furthering civil rights and civil liberties.
• Demonstrated ability to carry out work responsibilities with deliberate commitment to the principles of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (EDIB).
• Ability to work extended hours including nights and weekends during state legislative session and as needed outside of legislative session.
• Ability to travel as required.
• Excellent legal and policy research, analysis, and writing skills.
• Subject matter expertise and/or lived experience in one or more of the following issue areas: digital speech, privacy, surveillance and technology, housing access, economic justice, voting access, immigration, and criminal legal reform.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, while meeting deadlines, and adjusting strategy to frequently changing demands.
• Comfortable working in coalitions and building alliances across the political spectrum. Prior coalition leadership experience is a plus.
• Ability to navigate conflict with professionalism.
• Demonstrated experience in executing policy strategy at the state, municipal or county-level preferred.
• Skilled in executing complex lobbying strategies, including multi-year or multi-jurisdictional efforts.
• Effective project management skills, including in multi-disciplinary teams that may include external partners and vendors.
• Experience developing workplans and campaign plans with measurable goals, strategies, and tactics. Proficiency in project management software a plus.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate complex and distant contingencies and both near-term and long-term opposition.
• Public speaking and verbal communication skills, especially when engaging with media or legislative bodies.
• Proficiency in a language other than English a plus.

ACLU of Colorado’s Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Belonging, and Inclusion

ACLU of Colorado is an equitable opportunity employer. It believes that having a board, staff, and volunteer base with diverse personal and professional backgrounds enhances its ability to meet its mission and creates an environment where all community members can thrive. It strongly encourages applications from all qualified persons, including people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated, and other members of underrepresented and marginalized groups.

ACLU of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other basis protected by State or federal requirements. It is committed to providing a providing a work environment that practices equitable and inclusive treatment and is quick to act to prevent and address harassment or discrimination of any kind.

Essential Job Functions

The following activities are essential for success in this role:

• Ability to remain at workstation for long periods of time.
• Ability to work in office at least two days a week.
• Some walking and standing required at ACLU-CO events.
• Communicate with others effectively in verbal and written formats.
• Use a computer.
• Answer and make phone calls/text messages.
• Have a reliable form of transportation to commute to and from the office in downtown Denver.
• Ability to travel between locations across the state of Colorado.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position. The compensation range for this position is $66,000 to $98,000 based on skills and years of experience and within pay scale parameters of the ACLU of Colorado. ACLU of Colorado offers comprehensive benefits including medical, vision, and dental insurance, life and long-term disability insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, 401(k) contribution, paid vacation, and holidays.

Location

The Policy Counsel may work from any location within the State of Colorado with regular access to Denver. Ability to be at the Colorado State Capitol every day as needed during legislative session (January-May) required.

Application Instructions

Send a cover letter, résumé, and references in an email with “Policy Counsel” in the subject line to [email protected]. No phone calls please. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of ACLU of Colorado as well as the responsibilities and qualifications presented in the prospectus. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the successful candidate has been selected. To request an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact [email protected].