Deputy Legal Director/ Director, Center for Democracy

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks outstanding candidates with strategic litigation and management experience to fill the full-time position of Deputy Legal Director/ Director of the Center for Democracy in the National Legal Department of the ACLU’s national office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

The ACLU’s Center for Democracy, one of three component centers in the ACLU’s National Legal Department, encompasses the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, Voting Rights Project, Immigrants’ Rights Project, National Security Project, and Human Rights Project. With a staff of approximately 80, the Center for Democracy works to build an inclusive and participatory democracy, advance and defend civil liberties and civil rights, and ensure government accountability.

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the National Legal Director, the Deputy Legal Director/ Director of the Center for Democracy (Center Director) oversees the work of the Center for Democracy and directly supervises the five Project Directors within the Center.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Supervise the Project Directors of the Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, Voting Rights Project, Immigrants’ Rights Project, National Security Project, and Human Rights Program. Provide high-level advice and guidance on litigation strategy and legal practice issues
• Oversee and provide input into the development and implementation of the projects’ strategic plans and budgets
• Supervise the staff attorney assigned to the Center for Democracy
• Serve as a member of the National Legal Department’s leadership and administrative team, consisting of the National Legal Director, three Center Directors, and the Associate Director of Legal Operations. Ensure that the operations and administration of the National Legal Department run smoothly to facilitate its programmatic work
• Serve as a nationally recognized spokesperson and subject-matter expert on issues within the Center for Democracy (freedom of expression, privacy, voting rights, immigration, national security, and human rights), along with other experts within the Center and its component projects
• Work with the Project Directors to ensure that the programmatic work of the Center for Democracy is well-coordinated with colleagues in the Strategy Office, National Political Advocacy Department, Communications Department, Affiliate Support and Nationwide Initiative Departments, and the ACLU’s state affiliates
• Work with the Development Department on fundraising and maintaining relationships with the ACLU’s funders and members
• Work with business operations units of the ACLU including Human Resources, Finance, and IT to facilitate the work of the Center for Democracy
• Work in partnership with the Legal Department leadership team and ACLU in-house counsel on legal practice and ethics issues
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL 

• 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

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

The applicant must possess the following qualifications:

• J.D. degree and significant impact litigation experience in civil rights and civil liberties are required
• Demonstrated experience in and commitment to Center for Democracy priorities and issues. In light of the Center’s current priorities, subject-matter expertise in immigration, freedom of speech, and the intersection of national security and individual liberty is strongly preferred
• Strong management skills in a public interest law setting are required. Management experience in a federated nonprofit organization is strongly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to manage and motivate teams to set and meet long-term and short-term goals
• Superior analytical and problem-solving skills are a must
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and persuasively with a wide range of audiences
• Demonstrated ability to engage in complex legal analysis and fact-finding
• Demonstrated ability to work with a wide range of people and foster strong workplace morale and focus on mission. Ability to serve as a mentor and provide guidance and support to staff
• Experience in an orga