Deputy Project Director, Capital Punishment Project

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Deputy Project Director in the Capital Punishment Project of the ACLU’s National office in Washington, DC; San Francisco, CA; Durham, NC or 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 Capital Punishment Project, part of the ACLU’s Center for Justice, challenges the unfairness and arbitrariness of capital punishment while working toward the ultimate goal of abolishing the death penalty. The Project engages in public advocacy and strategic litigation, including the direct representation of capital defendants, challenges to systemic problems in the administration of capital punishment, and amicus briefing.

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Project Director, the Deputy Project Director will be responsible for assisting the Project Director in: setting and leading the Project’s strategy; supervising staff; overseeing litigation; recruiting diverse and excellent candidates; onboarding and mentoring staff; managing internship and fellowship programs; liaising with other departments, including National Policy and Advocacy Department (NPAD) and Communications; and other management and administrative duties as directed.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

Strategy and Management 

• Readiness to align with management including, collaborating with and sharing ownership of decisions made by the Project Director, Center Director, and Senior Staff
• Assist Project Director with development and implementation of annual strategic plan, including:
  • Setting short- and long-term goals and reviewing substantive filings and internal communications to ensure alignment with strategic priorities
  • Collaboration with NPAD and the Communications Department
  • Collaboration with state affiliates and other partners

Supervision and Staffing 

• Directly supervise attorneys, legal fellows and support staff, including monthly check-ins and approval of expense reports and time off
• Assist Project Director in:
  • Supporting staff retention, feedback, and professional development efforts for all project staff
  • Making staffing decisions by ensuring balance of work across project staff, including opportunities for writing, discovery, witness examinations, arguments, and other professional growth
• With a focus on developing and maintaining an excellent and diverse staff, undertake the following responsibilities: 
  • Managing processes for hiring and onboarding new staff, fellows, and interns, which includes recruiting excellent candidates and furthering our board-mandated goal to increase the percentage of staff with disabilities and significant disabilities and working in furtherance of our other announced diversity hiring initiatives
  • Lead sustained efforts to create and nurture pools of diverse candidates from which to recruit 

Administration 

• Assume responsibility for ongoing administrative functions such as maintenance of the case docket and legal database, completion of the time survey, recruitment of pro bono firms, ensuring co-counseling agreements are in place, among other work, as directed
• Assist the Project Director with expense tracking and budgeting as directed 

Litigation and Advocacy 

• Assist Project Director with reviewing substantive filings
• Coordinate the Project’s work in the United States Supreme Court: review requests for amicus briefs and representation, write and edit as appropriate briefs in selected cases in connection with National Legal Director, and recruit amici or cooperating counsel where appropriate
• Supervise litigation teams
• Engage in litigation in federal and state court, including drafting pleadings, briefs, and affidavits; conducting discovery and motion practice; handling hearings and trials; and arguing appeals in both federal and state courts
• In consultation with Project Director and the ACLU Communications Department, represent CPP / ACLU in public-facing meetings / speaking events / media opportunities that cut across multiple issues / cases
• Collaborate with staff across the organization, including with other Projects within the ACLU’s Legal Department, Communications, Affiliate Support and Nationwide Initiatives, National Political Advocacy Department, and state affiliates
• Build relationships with stakeholders and conduct outreach to national, state, and community partners to develop coalitions and