Director of Strategy & Innovation
Job Location:
Washington, DC - USA
Monthly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Director of Strategy & Innovation in the Strategy Office of the ACLUs National office in New York NY or Washington DC.This is ahybrid rolethat has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight(8) days per month.
The ACLU works on some of the most pressing civil rights and civil liberties issues facing American society today. The Strategy Office supports the ACLU to advance civil rights and liberties for all through the development and delivery of a bold strategy with shared goals that maximizes our impact today and in the long-term. The office resides within the Executive Department which drives strategic direction governance partnership and a values-driven and inclusive culture.
The Director of Strategy & Innovation will report to the Chief Strategy Officer and work collaboratively with other members of the Strategy Office and stakeholders across the organization.
The Strategy Office sets strategy at multiple levels within the organization that sync with and reinforce the others. The ACLUs 2030 Strategy is the result of a national strategic planning process that aligns the organization around a set of strategic priorities some are related to how we advance fundamental civil rights and liberties issues while others are focused on more internal aspects of our theory of change. The Strategy Office facilitates this strategy setting process every four years in close partnership with organizational leadership and then serves as the central engine to drive implementation. Each year departments create annual plans that define their priorities and translate them into coherent executable strategies to advance the 2030 Strategy utilizing the frameworks tools and guidance provided by the Strategy Office. These plans form the foundation for resource allocation decisions. The Strategy Office also works with cross-functional experts (Legal Communications and Advocacy) to create clear actionable strategies for the ACLUs leading 5-7 issues (e.g. immigration voting rights LGBTQ rights). The Strategy Office works deeply with cross-departmental issue teams to develop issue-based strategic plans that align shared goals and tactics.
The Director will work with organizational leadership and subject matter experts to set strategy across these levels and will identify incubate promote and advance bold innovative shifts that will take the ACLU to the next level. The Director will support the organization in successful strategy delivery driving priority initiatives and monitoring progress and capturing learnings along the way. The Director of Strategy & Innovation serves as an internal convener steward and integrator of the ACLUs work creating strategic alignment and coordinated execution across many departments within the organization.
- Architect and authorcohesive and impactful strategiesthat draw ontheACLUs extensive internalexpertise your own experience and relationships research consultation data and landscape analysis.
- Facilitate strategic planning sessionswith Senior Leadership and subject matter experts asking probing questions working through misalignment recommending shared goals and tactics and driving key decision points.
- Understand progress towards our strategies by drivingan evidence-driven approach that includes identifying what success looks like facilitating moments for evaluation and learning and using those insights to inform decision making.
- Facilitate difficult conversations and drive strategic decisions with senior leaders andpresent recommendations to senior audiences including the executive team and board of directors.
- Identify incubate and advancenew bold ideas that progress civil rights and civil liberties and/or take the ACLU to the next level. This may include bringing in outside experts conducting landscape analysis leading conversations on where the ACLU can play a distinctive and impactful role in addressing the most pressing challenges ahead creating scalable pilots and evaluating success and making recommendations for future investments.
- Lead large complexcross functional initiativesthat unlock opportunities drive efficiencies or address challenges in service of ourstrategies.
- Develop and drive adoption ofstandardized strategic frameworks tools and processeswhile regularly identifying improvements based on collected learnings.
- Create regularinternal communicationsand champion change management to promote awareness and understanding of our strategies developments and important decisions.
- Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
- Center and embed the principles of equity inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
- Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts
- Demonstratedstrategic planning expertisefor an organization of similar complexity and scope and experience aligning policy political and communications strategies.
- A facilitation practicecentered on asking difficult questions synthesizing diverse perspectives and framing choices and decisions in a way that builds consensus and makes colleagues feel heard
- Exceptional organizational planning andproject management skillswith demonstrated ability to manage large complex projects and prioritize effectively against simultaneous demands
- Familiarity andunderstanding of issue areasrelating to civil rights and civil liberties and/or related legal and advocacy fields
- Experience driving anevidence driven approachto meaningfully track progress against strategic goals and usingquantitative and qualitative datato inform strategic decisions
- Strong analyticalcritical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Askilled relationship builder communicator and leader who effectively listens to and understands a range of approaches and opinions with an open mind confidently embraces feedback and motivates stakeholders to collaborate
- Ability to navigate disagreement and/or conflictin a way that maintains a comfortable and collaborative team environment while advancing team priorities
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information clearly and professionally for a senior audience
- Ability to adapt to changing priorities and manage multiple demands effectively in a dynamic work environment
- A collaborative and trusted partner who brings sound judgment integrity initiative and a constructive approach to working with others
- Experience operating successfully in an organization with afederated structurea bonus
For over 100 years the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether its ending mass incarceration achieving full equality for the LGBTQ community establishing new privacy protections for our digital age 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.
We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work but to their overall well-being.
At the ACLU we offer a broad range of benefits which include:
- Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
- Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical dental and vision coverage parental leave gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
- Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
- We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds internal professional development programs and workshops
Accessibility equity diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty equality and justice for all. For us diversity equity accessibility and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities but a chance for us 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 the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression anti-ableism and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether were 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.
The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online please complete theAccommodation Request Form
If you are selected for an interview you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
The Department of Education has determined that employment in this position at the ACLU does not qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Required Experience:
Director
About Company
The ACLU dares to create a more perfect union — beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees.
