Temporary Legislative Session Lobbyist

POSITION OVERVIEW

The ACLU of Montana Foundation (“ACLU of Montana”) seeks a person adept at policy analysis, with strong communication and negotiation skills, to join the Advocacy and Policy Department as a temporary Legislative Session Lobbyist for the 2023 Legislative Session. The Legislative Session Lobbyist lobbies Montana legislators on one or more of the bolded ACLU of Montana’s issue areas below.

The ACLU of Montana leads legislative advocacy on the following issues:

• Indigenous Justice
• Criminal Legal Reform

The ACLU of Montana also responds to other issue areas in service of Montanans:

• Voting Rights
• Reproductive Rights
• Immigration
• LGBTQ Rights
• Death Penalty
• Policing
• Free Speech
• Environmental Justice
• Jail & Prison conditions
• Religious Freedom & Establishment Clause
• Privacy
• Aid in Dying

The Legislative Session Lobbyist is a member of the Advocacy & Policy Department (APD) and reports to the Policy Director. This is a temporary position, that will start by late September, 2022, and end in mid-May, 2023.  

ABOUT THE ACLU OF MONTANA
The ACLU of Montana (founded in 1972) is an affiliate of the national ACLU (founded in 1920) and operates as a private, independent, non-profit organization. We are the state’s largest and most influential civil rights organization. Our current top priorities are Indigenous Justice, criminal legal reform, LGBTQ rights, and voting rights. We work on a range of additional issues including reproductive justice, immigrants’ rights, freedom of speech and religion, and informational and digital privacy. The ACLU of Montana envisions a fair, equitable, and free Montana that welcomes and celebrates diversity of all kinds. In our Montana, everybody is treated with dignity and respect, and has equal access to rights and freedoms.

The ACLU of Montana has a current staff of 13 and an office located in Missoula. We aspire to a friendly work environment, with flexibility and consideration of personal needs and circumstances. To learn more about the work of the ACLU of Montana, please visit http://aclumontana.org.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
ACLU of Montana is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We believe that having a board, staff, and volunteer base with diverse personal and professional backgrounds enhances our ability to meet our mission and creates an environment where all members of our community can thrive.

The ACLU of Montana does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, faith, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, tribal affiliation, disability, veteran status, or record of arrest or conviction. We are committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment and one that honors and promotes a culture of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We are engaging in ongoing internal racial equity work, with an emphasis in anti-racism and anti-colonialism.

We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, bi- or multi-lingual (including Indigenous languages) speakers, bicultural individuals, members of the LGBTQ and two-spirit community, those who have been formerly incarcerated or are currently under supervision, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. We seek to build a team that reflects that diversity. All qualified applicants who share this vision and who have a desire to contribute to our mission are encouraged to apply.

We commit to developing and collaborating on thoughtful training programs and onboarding processes with the Legislative Session Lobbyist that identify an individual’s growth areas, in relation to the job description, and empowers their existing knowledge and skills.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Legislative Session Lobbyist will:

• Work collaboratively with APD staff to advise on and recommend improvements on the ACLU of Montana’s 2023 Legislative Session plan including proactive bills, defensive strategy, research on legislation from previous sessions and other states, and other advocacy strategies related to the ACLU of Montana’s issue areas including, but not limited to: Indigenous Justice, criminal legal reform, voting rights, reproductive rights, immigration policies, LGBTQ rights, etc.;
• Assist APD with pre-session o