Community Engagement Strategist

American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee • Nashville, TN

12d • $65,000 - $70,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (ACLU-TN) seeks a creative, collaborative, mission-driven community organizer to become our next community engagement strategist. The community engagement strategist will support the community engagement department’s main priorities:
Mobilizing volunteers and supporters to act in rapid response moments that threaten civil liberties and freedom in Tennessee
Executing issue-based campaigns to change public opinion on civil liberties throughout the state, such as immigration, free speech, and abuse of power
Recruiting, retaining, and developing a base of Tennesseans to plan and execute advocacy tactics at the local, state, and federal levels
Under the supervision of the community engagement director, the community engagement strategist will:
Facilitate highly engaging, participatory programming, training, and events for volunteers, turning ACLU-TN supporters into high-capacity volunteer leaders
Engage local and statewide communities and voters in ACLU-TN’s work, and
Strategize and execute campaign tactics to advance goals, mobilize constituents, and win on key issues
Community Engagement at ACLU-TN

Community engagement at ACLU-TN is oriented towards systemic change — moving people to take strategic actions that expand the civil liberties movement's size, reach, and impact and leading those who hold power to make decisions that advance specific, intentional campaign objectives. These strategic actions can occur in electoral, legislative, legal, and community organizing contexts. Community engagement at ACLU-TN is also designed to build long-term political and community power for the civil liberties movement to protect and strengthen our state's civil liberties and civil rights.

Requirements

• At least three (3) years of experience in community, issue-based, faith, labor or political organizing, and/or legislative campaigns, with an emphasis on implementing effective field organizing strategies.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with organizing and advocacy software and tools, especially EveryAction and VAN.
• Expertise with issue-campaigning and planning advocacy tactics including: emailing, petitions, planning rallies, public testimony, etc.
• A history of working collaboratively and successfully with people and organizations from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and a broad range of ideological positions and religious views.
• Ability to travel across Tennessee, as necessary, and participate in regular evening and weekend meetings. A valid automobile driver’s license is required as this position requires travel throughout the state. Proof of valid driver’s license is required.
• A commitment to centering organizing work around the experiences of directly-impacted people.
• Unwavering commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU, including a demonstrated commitment to equity and racial justice.
• Excitement and experience working with new/learning organizers/volunteers.
• Strong communications and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills; the ability to manage competing priorities and timelines.
• Creative, results-oriented, self-starting, and willing to learn.
• Strong task and time management skills.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of current political and movement landscape in Tennessee is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Expand and retain ACLU-TN’s campaign & active volunteer corps through outreach, recruitment, relationship-building, recognition, and ongoing engagement.
• Maintain volunteer support rhythms, including hosting volunteer leader calls and communication threads, and ensure volunteers have strong coordination and accountability systems.
• Maintain volunteer management systems and digital outreach tools to track new volunteers and maintain recruitment, participation, and retention statistics.
• Plan, coordinate, staff and work with volunteers at ACLU-TN’s advocacy and community events (virtual and in-person) statewide.
• Develop volunteer capacity in executing advocacy and mobilization tactics by creating and leading trainings, templates, guidance documents, supervision, and providing one-on-one and group feedback
• Cultivate opportunities for volunteers to advance their advocacy skill sets and move supporters at all levels up ACLU-TN’s ladder of engagement.
• Be a liaison between volunteers and staff, assessing civil liberties concerns raised by volunteers and strategizing responses with relevant staff members
• Assist efforts to implement non-partisan, non-endorsing strategies to educate the public about ballot access, GOTV, and candidate positions on civil liberties issues.
• Work with advocacy technology and digital outreach tools, including text messaging & phone-banking software, to increase civic engagement.
• Implement and assist with strategies to achieve ACLU-TN’s campaign objectives, including developing and executing campaign plans, tactics and timelines and assisting with campaign management as needed.
• Help track campaign progress, produce reports and highlights, and analyze campaign results and impact.
• Support staff public-speaking program, including serving as an ACLU-TN spokesperson for events, as needed.
• Assist with drafting copy for emails, texts, newsletters, and other assets quickly with attention to detail.
• Participate in and represent ACLU-TN at coalition meetings.
• Supervise interns and volunteers as needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the community engagement director.

Benefits

• Staff members receive a generous benefits package, including a minimum of 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, and 2 personal days, along with at least 13 recognized holidays; 100% employer-covered health insurance (medical, dental, and vision); a flexible-spending account; a 401(k)-matched retirement contribution; 12 weeks of parental leave; long- and short-term disability; life insurance; an annual professional development stipend; and snacks in the office.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees