The Policy Counsel works collaboratively across teams to advance the ACLU of Virginia’s public policy objectives by contributing to multi-strategy advocacy campaigns. Their work includes developing and analyzing state and local policy proposals, direct lobbying, coalition building, strategic communications, and voter education. This position will be responsible for leading policy and legislative initiatives related to one or more of the organization’s civil rights and civil liberties priority areas. The Policy Counsel position is part of the Policy Team and reports to the Policy Director. This individual is strategic, collaborative, innovative, effective, and committed to developing and advocating for sustainable and systemic policy change, while applying a racial justice lens.

The ACLU-VA strives to be Virginia's premier guardian of civil liberties and a recognized champion of civil rights for all Virginians. For over a hundred years (55 in Virginia), the ACLU has made a profound difference in the lives of clients and community members, as well as historic contributions to our country and state. Now, more people than ever before have turned to the ACLU to fight back against unprecedented new attacks on civil rights and liberties. We are also committed to pursuing impactful policy changes at the local and statewide levels to achieve racial equity and advance civil liberties and civil rights for everyone. The ACLU-VA is committed to ending racist policing, cutting the number of people incarcerated in Virginia, increasing access to quality mental and medical care, ending sex and gender-based discrimination at work and in schools, and securing a constitutional right to vote for everyone.

The Policy Counsel helps to develop and implement the ACLU-VA’s legislative, policy, and advocacy priorities by:

• Analyzing current and prospective local, state, and national civil rights and liberties issues.
• Conducting, analyzing, and presenting rigorous research which identifies and evaluates best practices around model policies and programs and includes a review of both quantitative and qualitative data as it relates to policy goals.
• Producing in-depth policy and legal research to support advocacy projects related to the organization’s priorities.
• Building and maintaining trusted, respectful relationships with people directly impacted by relevant policies, community members and leaders, coalitions, allied organizations, issue experts, government officials, and legislative staff.
• Developing policy positions and strategies which increase awareness of, and opportunities to engage with, civil liberties and civil rights issues among impacted communities and the general public; will result in meaningful change and actively mitigate the potential of unintentional disparate impact on people of color; and include a plan for successful implementation and a process for monitoring impact.
• Developing, coordinating, and executing strategy by developing partnerships that facilitate successful policy, legislative, and non-litigation advocacy implementation; tracking and analyzing changes to legislation during the General Assembly’s legislative session to assist the Policy, Communications, Organizing, and Legal teams understand the position, progress, and impact of our legislative advocacy; engaging in public education activities that reach a wide variety of audiences and promote public participation in support of the organization’s civil rights and civil liberties priorities; coordinating and participating in legislative and advocacy meetings; and communicating our positions to policymakers and other interested parties, including writing and delivering compelling testimony before governmental bodies.
• And more…. See the full job description here

Our "Must Have's"

Minimum Requirements

• Significant hands-on experience successfully advocating for legislative or policy changes on civil rights, civil liberties, or other social justice issues.
• Accredited JD degree
• Proven ability to think critically and strategically about solving problems and coming up with solutions that will drive results
• A commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
• A commitment to the mission and values of the ACLU of Virginia, particularly including racial justice and anti-racism
• Willingness and availability to work beyond the normal workday and on weekends during Virginia’s Legislative Session as needed

The ACLU of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, bi- or multi-lingual (including Indigenous languages) speakers, multi-cultural individuals, members of the LGBTQ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated or are currently under supervision, and other people from underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. We seek to build a diverse team and an inclusive organizational culture. All qualified applicants who share our vision and who have a desire to contribute to our mission are encouraged to apply.

Salary is based on market factors and individual experience and abilities. The salary range for this position is $82,600 to $126,000, with a midpoint of $104,300. Compensation offers will generally be somewhere between the starting point and the midpoint of the range and are based on a candidate's specific experience and current market factors at the time of the offer. To preserve the opportunity for advancement, we do not typically hire above the midpoint of the range. The ACLU of Virginia is a unionized workplace, and this position is part of the bargaining unit.

In addition, we offer excellent benefits including paid time off, generous paid holidays, a 401k plan with employer contribution, flexible spending account, paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, 50% employer-paid dependent medical coverage, life insurance, wi-fi stipend, wellness stipend, student loan assistance, annual sick leave, short-term and long-term disability insurance, and professional development allowances.

Due to COVID-19 and our desire to keep our employees safe, our organization is currently following a long-term hybrid work policy. All ACLU-VA staff must reside within the Commonwealth of Virginia or within a 150-mile radius of our downtown Richmond office.

Please review the complete job description on our Careers page and apply from our career site. A resume and cover letter will be required. Our HR team will review applications on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Submit your application as soon as possible. We will begin reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The ACLU of Virginia is a unionized workplace.