Director of Organizing

ABOUT THE ACLU OF NORTH CAROLINA

The ACLU of North Carolina (ACLU-NC) is an affiliate of the National ACLU. For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s achieving full equality for LGBTQ+ people, working to transform our broken and racist criminal legal system, defending freedom of speech, religion, and the right to protest, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach.

A critical component of our work is applying an anti-racist lens to all aspects of our internal and external functions including but not limited to our issue campaigns, recruitment and human resources, strategic planning, donor and volunteer relations, Board and committee processes, and deciding what cases to litigate.

We are currently a team of more than 20 that cares deeply about the work we do. Our team is predominantly white, and we are actively striving to diversify our staff with individuals from underrepresented and marginalized groups who have experience in and share our passion for civil rights and civil liberties.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The ACLU of North Carolina (ACLU-NC) seeks an Organizing Director to develop and manage a robust and non-partisan organizing infrastructure to defend and strengthen the civil liberties and civil rights of all North Carolinians.

A member of the ACLU-NC’s leadership team, the Organizing Director will report directly to the Chief Program Officer, and will work in close partnership with the Policy, Communications, Legal, and Development directors and staff to execute the ACLU-NC’s integrated advocacy campaigns on priority issues including voting rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, immigrant rights, and criminal legal system transformation. The Organizing Director is the first hire in the ACLU-NC's new organizing department and will oversee the hiring and direct supervision of other staff in the department.

The ACLU of North Carolina has adopted a “campaign” approach for its work. Work is focused on pursuing specific integrated advocacy campaigns to achieve measurable goals that will expand civil liberties and civil rights, while building the long-term political and community power of the ACLU to defend, protect, and strengthen civil liberties and civil rights across the state.

The Director will be responsible for creating and overseeing the implementation of comprehensive organizing strategies and tactics as part of these campaigns. This includes recruiting and developing volunteer leaders, working alongside impacted communities to develop and align strategies and tactics, mobilizing grassroots support to influence decision-makers, planning and executing campaign events, and conducting outreach to North Carolina residents through community engagement opportunities and person-to-person field contact to involve them in the work of the ACLU. The ideal candidate is a creative and effective problem solver who works well independently and in a collaborative team environment, can effectively manage competing priorities and their time, and has a keen sense of humor.

This position will require the person to travel throughout North Carolina, but the candidate should be based in or around Raleigh, NC.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Campaign planning and execution

• Develop and implement clear organizing strategies that achieve the organization’s integrated campaign objectives. 
• In collaboration with the Policy, Communications, and Legal Departments, create and oversee the implementation of detailed campaign plans that turn goals into tactics, timelines, and metrics.
• Facilitate the ACLU-NC’s presence at community events to mobilize and expand support for state-based civil liberties issues among ACLU-NC members, non-member supporters, and others and to recruit volunteers to engage with our work.
• Work alongside members from directly impacted communities, including by building and maintaining strong working relationships with community partners and grassroots coalition members to find opportunities for collaboration and learning.
• Develop infrastructure to create and sustain the ACLU-NC’s volunteer corps through recruitment, training, recognition, leadership development, and ongoing engagement. 
• In collaboration with the Legal Department, develop and conduct Know Your Rights and other training specific to ACLU-NC issue areas for community members.
• In collaboration with the Communications and Policy Departments, develop persuasive and informative outreach materials to be used for organizing purposes.

Capacity Building and Management

• Oversee the recruitment, hiring and training of organizing program staff.
• Manage a team of organizers, each with their own programmatic goals and responsibilities that align with ACLU-NC’s strategic plan and priorities.
• Facilitate successful implementation of organizing technology tools, including the best use of CRM EveryAction, peer-to-peer text messaging, e-mail, and phone calls to increase engagement by the organizing staff and volunteers. 
• Develop and implement training that builds the capacity of ACLU members, supporters, and activists to be strong leaders, advocates, and messengers for the civil liberties and civil rights movement. 
• Ensure that any short-term mobilization efforts are part of long-term organizing and capacity building for the ACLU-NC, including by building an engaged and diverse volunteer base.
• Identify and facilitate the professional development needs of Organizing department staff.
• Design and implement a metrics-based reporting system to scale and track the department’s progress to goals, produce reports, and adjust plans as necessary.
• Develop, implement, and monitor the departmental budget.

TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS ROLE, THE CANDIDATE WILL HAVE

• Five to seven years of experience managing organizing and field programs.
• Excellent attention to detail and superior organizational and planning skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, including an ability to navigate and resolve conflict in a manner that values and respects relationships with colleagues inside and outside of the ACLU.
• A commitment to diversity and a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to work under pressure and effectively prioritize multiple responsibilities.
• A willingness and ability to speak in public and to facilitate meetings and training.
• Excellent communication skills, and experience addressing a wide range of audiences including donors, volunteers, Board members, vendors, staff, partners, and community members.
• Willingness to work irregular hours, including some evenings and weekends.

TO STAND OUT FROM THE OTHERS, YOU WILL

·        Demonstrate a personal commitment to advancing the ACLU’s values, mission, goals, and programs, with an understanding of the range of civil rights and civil liberties issues and their implications.

·        Demonstrate a personal commitment to uplifting the voices and leadership of people who have been directly impacted by the issues the ACLU champions.

·        Possess knowledge and understanding of how power is manifested in matters of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance.

·        Have experience and familiarity with a range of organizing styles and models, including campaign organizing and digital organizing strategies.

·        Experience and interest in litigation as a tactic in a larger struggle for social justice.

·        Demonstrated experience in volunteer development and management.

·        At least 2 years of direct staff management experience preferred.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU KNOW?

You are welcome here! The ACLU-NC is committed to an inclusive work environment that reflects the population that we serve. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to building an organization where all employees and North Carolinians can be proud. We eagerly anticipate 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, parental status, veteran status, or record of arrest or conviction.

COMPENSATION

The salary range for this position is from $100,000 to $110,000, depending on experience. Excellent benefits include but are not limited to:

·        Three weeks paid vacation at time of hire (increasing to four weeks after two years)

·        10 paid office holidays, 1 floating holiday, and winter recess (December 25-January 1)

·        10 paid sick days

·        Hybrid work environment

·        Generous medical, dental and vision insurance options for staff members, their dependents and spouse/domestic partner

·        Flexible spending and dependent care accounts

·        Up to twelve weeks of paid medical leave

·        Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance

·        Short-term disability and long-term disability insurance

·        401(k) defined contribution retirement plan with employer match

·        Annual professional development allotment

·        Paid annual state bar membership and related fees (if an attorney)

·        Free on-site parking

·        Relocation reimbursement

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

TO APPLY

Applications may be submitted via this link (Director of Organizing - American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina - Career Page (applytojob.com)) and should include a cover letter explaining your specific interest in working for the ACLU of North Carolina and a resume. Please note that we will only be able to follow up with those candidates under consideration. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The ACLU-NC is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. Recognizing that strict minimum requirements tend to disproportionately discourage women and people of color from applying for jobs for which they would otherwise be competitive, we encourage all qualified individuals to apply -- especially people of color; women; people from low-income backgrounds; people with disabilities; people who identify as LGBTQIA+; and people who are formerly incarcerated or otherwise directly impacted by the criminal legal system.