Senior Policy Counsel
ABOUT THE JOB
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. The Senior Policy Counsel will serve as a policy and legal expert leading and advancing the ACLU of Florida’s civil rights and civil liberties priorities through non-litigation methods — including legislative, administrative, and community-based state and local advocacy strategies — to expand rights and access for all Floridians.
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Florida (ACLU of Florida or ACLU-FL) is an affiliate of the national ACLU, a national public interest organization devoted to the defense of the Bill of Rights. For over 100 years, the ACLU has served as the nation’s primary protector of the liberties that define our democracy. The organization implements its vital civil liberties mission in all 50 states, in large part through affiliate entities such as the ACLU of Florida.
The ACLU of Florida, the state’s largest civil rights and civil liberties organization, employs litigation, public policy advocacy and organizing, and public education to protect and promote a broad range of constitutional values and individual rights, such as freedom of speech, racial justice, right to privacy, religious liberty, criminal justice reform, voting rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, disability rights, and immigrants’ rights. The ACLU of Florida litigates a broad range of complex constitutional cases in federal and state courts through direct representation, filing amicus briefs, and submitting administrative complaints to state and federal agencies.
This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the National Organization of Legal Services/United Auto Workers Local 2320.
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
The ACLU of Florida is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. Compensation will be commensurate with experience, within the range of $90,200 to $110,500 (Pay Grade 12).
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.
To apply for the Senior Policy Counsel position, visit this link: https://airtable.com/appeUbxh4gDjgsAHp/pagmbTBCJqlzrTYhi/form
All attachments should be in Microsoft Word or PDF format.
This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required for the Senior Policy Counsel position. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU of Florida reserves the right to change the job description and/or posting at any time without advance notice.
OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU of Florida and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us, these are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance to make long-term, meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization — one that respects and embraces difference, treats everyone equitably, and empowers our colleagues to do their best work. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.
With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the National Organization of Legal Services/United Auto Workers Local 2320.
If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, or to perform the essential functions of this job, the ACLU of Florida will provide one. We make every effort to ensure that our recruitment and employment efforts provide people with disabilities full opportunities for employment in all positions, and we undertake affirmative action strategies to help make that a reality.