Deputy Director

ACLU of Alabama•Montgomery, AL

20h•Onsite

About The Position

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alabama is one of the nation’s foremost defenders of civil liberties and civil rights. We are part of the American Civil Liberties Union, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with 54 affiliates across the country. Our mission is to protect and advance the rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution through public education, legislative advocacy, and litigation. We are anchored in Alabama's history of oppression and progress. At our core, we believe in equity and justice in Alabama. Our organization's foundation and North Star is informed by our presence in the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement. The very space where community organizing changed this nation and crafted a more equitable and inclusive democracy. We are focused on elevating the work of the ACLU statewide, being a trusted community partner, and emerging as leading experts in our core priority areas: Voting Rights, Gender Justice, and Criminal Legal Reform. The work is made possible through coalition-building and collaboration. We treat partners, clients, and the public with respect and dignity. Our communities are not voiceless; they are the ones with power. Alongside the national ACLU, we also work on issues related to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, privacy, discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation or disability, police misconduct, censorship in schools or libraries, fairness in the application of school discipline, access to government documents, inhumane jail and prison conditions, and other issues of fair treatment by government.

Requirements

Strong strategic and relational leadership skills with the ability to organically build trust and credibility across teams, partners, and stakeholders.
Demonstrated experience operating effectively in fast-paced, high-intensity advocacy, nonprofit, legal, policy, or civic engagement environments.
Proven ability to manage organizational complexity, balance competing priorities, and coordinate across multiple departments and initiatives.
Demonstrated capacity to support executive-level decision-making while ensuring strong implementation, follow-through, and accountability systems.
Deep discernment, emotional intelligence, and grounded leadership instincts with the ability to navigate nuanced organizational dynamics thoughtfully and professionally.
Proven ability to de-escalate conflict, address sensitive interpersonal or organizational challenges, and help maintain organizational stability and trust.
Collaborative and solutions-oriented leadership approach with a demonstrated commitment to fostering healthy team culture and strong cross-functional relationships.
Expertise in organizational management, operational leadership, human resources, and organizational development best practices.
Ability to communicate organizational decisions clearly, effectively, and diplomatically across diverse audiences.
Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and working effectively across diverse coalitions and communities.

Nice To Haves

Experience within movement-building, nonprofit, advocacy, legal, policy, or civic engagement spaces is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Partner closely with the Executive Leadership Team to help operationalize organizational priorities and strategic initiatives.
Create and maintain strong systems for internal communication, collaboration, and inclusive decision-making.
Structure and support annual work planning processes and long-range strategic planning efforts.
Coordinate progress-to-goals evaluations of annual and strategic plans.
Help cultivate a workplace culture grounded in accountability, trust, emotional intelligence, and continuous improvement.
Support the development of organizational systems that improve communication, transparency, and operational consistency.
Help create a culture where giving and receiving feedback is an established norm.
Improve internal meeting culture by refining meeting agendas, facilitation structures, and accountability measures.
Serve as a thoughtful and highly discerning leadership presence capable of navigating organizational complexity and helping de-escalate challenging situations with professionalism and care.
Work collaboratively with staff and leadership to foster a culture of belonging, stability, and shared accountability across the organization.
Lead efforts to retain affiliate staff by assessing staff satisfaction, professional development needs, and organizational effectiveness.
Support hiring processes in partnership with the Chief of Staff/Operations team and HR consultant to ensure consistency, equity, and strong organizational alignment.
In consultation with the Executive Director and Executive Leadership Team, help develop and implement policies governing the internal management and operations of the organization.
Serve as a strategic thought partner and leadership backup to the Executive Director, participating in internal and external meetings, including board meetings, coalition meetings, national ACLU convenings, funder meetings, and key constituency engagements.
Support organizational leadership during periods of transition and change management with steadiness, professionalism, and sound judgment.