Legislative Associate

The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania (ACLU-PA) seeks a legislative associate to help advance the ACLU-PA’s policy priorities through legislative, coalition, and program advocacy while engaging ACLU-PA members and supporters in the campaigns and policy work of the organization.

The ACLU-PA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest organization, dedicated to defending and enhancing personal freedoms protected by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights through litigation, legislative advocacy, and community education. The ACLU-PA has three offices, ten volunteer chapters, around 40,000 members and donors, 37 employees, and an almost $8 million operating budget.

Working under the direction of the legislative director, the legislative associate will be responsible for coordinating the ACLU-PA’s role and participation in several local and statewide coalitions and will support the work of the ACLU-PA’s campaigns. The legislative associate will assist in managing the core responsibilities of the ACLU-PA’s legislative work and with the development and oversight of a constituent lobbying program. This position works in close collaboration with other staff, including legal, communications, and field, on integrated advocacy initiatives to enhance the overall political capacity and effectiveness of the organization, while supporting existing networks of activists and volunteers.

This is a full-time position based in Harrisburg, with some travel to other parts of the state. We currently offer a hybrid, flexible work schedule. In its current strategic plan, the ACLU-PA has three priority issues: decarceration, policing reform, and voting rights. People with personal experience being incarcerated or otherwise impacted by the criminal legal system are encouraged to apply.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Specific responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

Legislative advocacy

In collaboration with the legislative director, the legislative associate will assist with the ACLU-PA’s lobbying efforts at the capitol with an emphasis on aligning and leveraging the affiliate’s network of members and supporters with the goals of the legislative program. The legislative associate will assist the legislative director with:

• Cultivating relationships with lawmakers and decision makers to advance ACLU-PA objectives.
• Tracking bills of interest in the Pennsylvania legislature and soliciting feedback and analysis on bills from staff and allies as needed.
• Managing legislative actions, briefings, trainings, constituent meetings, and lobby days.
• Coordinating with advocacy staff to engage ACLU-PA constituencies in legislative lobbying efforts.
• Developing and managing the Advocate Academy—the ACLU-PA’s constituent lobbying program that trains and facilitates engagement between interested constituencies and their elected officials on targeted legislative actions.
• Attending and reporting on legislative committee meetings and hearings.
• Supporting the communications team by contributing to blog posts, podcasts, and responding to press requests and inquiries.
• Researching and writing legislative reports.

Coalition advocacy

The legislative associate will be responsible for coordinating the ACLU-PA’s relationships with and participation in local and statewide coalitions with allies and other organizations to further advocacy goals. The legislative associate will:

• Represent the ACLU-PA on a variety of coalitions and serve as the legislative liaison to select coalitions, providing updates and advice on bills of interest to those coalitions.
• Work in partnership with allied organizations and coalitions to further the ACLU-PA’s legislative, issue, and policy priorities, including attending coalition meetings, and identifying new potential partners.

Program advocacy

In coordination with the legislative director, the legislative associate will collaborate with ACLU-PA staff across departments to support the work of the ACLU-PA’s targeted programs and campaigns.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 2-3 years of experience and demonstrated familiarity with legislative, policy, and/or issue advocacy.
• Strong commitment to advancing the ACLU’s values, mission, and goals, with an understanding of the range of civil liberties and civil rights issues and their implications.
• Experience coordinating or organizing legislative, policy, political campaigns, public education, or issue-based advocacy campaigns.
• Experience engaging and motivating volunteers and stakeholders and working cooperatively with coalition partners or allied organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully, effectively, and collaboratively with diverse staff and a variety of stakeholders, including coalition and community groups, members, policymakers, volunteers, and organizational partners across the political spectrum.
• Demonstrated advocacy and organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines while under pressure.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral, as well as the ability to articulate complex issues and communicate them clearly, respectfully, and effectively to a variety of audiences. Public speaking experience is preferred.
• Ability to keep organized in a fast-paced environment, to manage several projects simultaneously, and adjust to frequently changing demands.
• Familiarity with Pennsylvania’s legislative process, geography, demographics, and general political landscape preferred.
• Commitment to diversity; a personal approach that values the individual, respects differences, and promotes inclusion of all identities.
• Personal enthusiasm, collegiality, creativity, and a sense of humor.
• Ability to work flexible and/or occasional overtime or irregular hours, particularly during legislative sessions.
• Proficiency in G-Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms).

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The ACLU-PA offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and competitive with public interest salaries. The annual salary for the position is $60,000. Benefits include 11 paid holidays along with generous vacation and sick leave; individual/family employer-provided health insurance; life insurance and long-term disability; and a defined contribution plan with employer match. This position is full-time, salaried, and exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

To apply, send a cover letter of application, resume, and a short data organizing sample (EX. training materials, a project plan, a tracking document or spreadsheet) that you have created via our career page https://aclupahr.applytojob.com/apply. Please feel free to remove names or other details that you consider confidential. No calls, please.

DEADLINE

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, at which time the job announcement will be removed from our website, www.aclupa.org/jobs.

The ACLU-PA is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU-PA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or record of arrest or conviction.

The ACLU-PA comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union (the “Union”) of Pennsylvania and the ACLU Foundation (the “Foundation”) of Pennsylvania. The Union is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, and ACLU membership dues fund its lobbying work. Donations to the Union are not tax-deductible. The ACLU Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Foundation funds support litigation and public education efforts. Donations to the Foundation are tax-deductible. The legislative associate is an employee of the ACLU of Pennsylvania.

Both the ACLU of Pennsylvania and the ACLU Foundation of Pennsylvania have the same overall mission, and share office space, employees, and the same board of directors. The two entities are jointly known by the term “ACLU of Pennsylvania.”

ACLU-PA’s hiring process will comply with Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Records Screening Standards (“Ban the Box”) ordinance.

 

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Last updated on Aug 29, 2023