Deputy Project Director, Disability Rights Program.

ACLU - National Office • Washington, DC

13h • $220,285

About The Position

The ACLU seeks a full-time position of Deputy Project Director in the Disability Rights Project (DRP) of the ACLU’s National office in San Francisco, CA, or Washington, D.C. The Disability Rights Project strives for an America free of discrimination against people with disabilities; where people with disabilities are valued, integrated members of society who have full access to education, homes, health care, jobs, families, voting, and civic engagement. We are also committed to ensuring that people with disabilities are no longer segregated into, and overrepresented in, civil and criminal institutions such as nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, jails, and prisons. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning January 19, 2026.

Requirements

• J.D. degree and active State Bar membership
• Based on desired location, current California or D.C. bar membership, or admission to the California or D.C. bar within one year of hire
• Significant years of complex civil litigation experience in federal court
• Demonstrated experience working on behalf of people with disabilities, including professional and/or personal, lived experience
• Excellent legal research, writing, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to engage in complex legal analysis and fact finding
• Demonstrated ability to write and to speak clearly and persuasively
• Ability to work with a wide range of people and foster a team environment

Nice To Haves

• Self-motivated, diligent and able to meet strict deadlines while under pressure
• Extensive experience in litigation under federal and state disability rights laws
• Experience supervising and managing staff

Responsibilities

• Serve as strategic partner to the Project Director in building and developing initiatives for the Disability Rights Project.
• Assist the Project Director with development and implementation of strategic plans, including setting short and long-term goals and reviewing substantive filings to ensure alignment with strategic priorities.
• Collaborate with and share ownership of decisions made by the Project Director, Center Director, and Senior Staff.
• Supervise staff attorneys, legal fellows, and/or administrative staff as directed.
• Support staff retention, feedback, and professional development efforts for all project staff.
• Assist Project Director in ensuring balance of work across project staff, including opportunities for writing, discovery, witness examinations, arguments, and other professional growth.
• Improve process for hiring, onboarding, and managing 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 to work in furtherance of our other announced diversity hiring initiatives
• Oversee sustained efforts to create and nurture pools of diverse candidates from which to recruit.
• 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.
• Represent DRP in public-facing meetings, speaking events, and media opportunities.
• Provide technical assistance and expert legal advice to ACLU affiliates, cooperating attorneys and others who seek assistance from DRP.
• Collaborate with staff across the ACLU, including with other Projects within the ACLU’s Legal Department, Communications, Affiliate Support and Nationwide Initiatives, the National Political Advocacy Department, and state affiliates.
• Build relationships with stakeholders and conduct outreach to national, state, and community partners to develop and join coalitions and further advocacy goals.
• Travel as required for litigation, conferences, and case and strategy development.
• Assume responsibility for ongoing administrative functions such as maintenance of the case docket, recruitment of pro bono firms, and other work, as directed.
• Assist the Project Director and Development Department with fundraising and donor cultivation as directed.
• Assist the DRP Project Director with expense tracking and budgeting, as directed

Benefits

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees