Director of Strategy & Innovation

ACLU • Washington, NY

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Director of Strategy & Innovation in the Strategy Office of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY or Washington, DC. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. The ACLU works on some of the most pressing civil rights and civil liberties issues facing American society today. The Strategy Office supports the ACLU to advance civil rights and civil liberties for all through the development and delivery of a bold strategy with shared goals that maximizes our impact today and in the long-term. The office resides within the Executive Department, which drives strategic direction, governance partnership, and a values-driven and inclusive culture.

Requirements

• Demonstrated strategic planning expertise for an organization of similar complexity and scope, and experience aligning policy, political, and communications strategies.
• A facilitation practice, centered on asking difficult questions, synthesizing diverse perspectives, and framing choices and decisions in a way that builds consensus and makes colleagues feel heard
• Exceptional organizational, planning and project management skills with demonstrated ability to manage large, complex projects and prioritize effectively against simultaneous demands
• Familiarity and understanding of issue areas relating to civil rights and civil liberties and/or related legal and advocacy fields
• Experience driving an evidence driven approach to meaningfully track progress against strategic goals and using quantitative and qualitative data to inform strategic decisions
• Strong analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• A skilled relationship builder, communicator and leader , who effectively listens to and understands a range of approaches and opinions with an open mind, confidently embraces feedback, and motivates stakeholders to collaborate
• Ability to navigate disagreement and/or conflict in a way that maintains a comfortable and collaborative team environment while advancing team priorities
• Excellent verbal and written communication skill s, with the demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information clearly and professionally for a senior audience
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and manage multiple demands effectively in a dynamic work environment
• A collaborative and trusted partner who brings sound judgment, integrity, initiative, and a constructive approach to working with others

Nice To Haves

• Experience operating successfully in an organization with a federated structure a bonus

Responsibilities

• Architect and author cohesive and impactful strategies that draw on the ACLU’s extensive internal expertise, your own experience and relationships, research, consultation, data, and landscape analysis.
• Facilitate strategic planning sessions with Senior Leadership and subject matter experts, asking probing questions, working through misalignment, recommending shared goals and tactics, and driving key decision points.
• Understand progress towards our strategies by driving an evidence-driven approach that includes identifying what success looks like, facilitating moments for evaluation and learning, and using those insights to inform decision making.
• Facilitate difficult conversations and drive strategic decisions with senior leaders, and present recommendations to senior audiences , including the executive team and board of directors.
• Identify, incubate, and advance new, bold ideas that progress civil rights and civil liberties and/or take the ACLU to the next level. This may include bringing in outside experts, conducting landscape analysis, leading conversations on where the ACLU can play a distinctive and impactful role in addressing the most pressing challenges ahead, creating scalable pilots and evaluating success, and making recommendations for future investments.
• Lead large, complex cross functional initiatives that unlock opportunities, drive efficiencies, or address challenges in service of our strategies.
• Develop and drive adoption of standardized strategic frameworks, tools, and processes while regularly identifying improvements based on collected learnings.
• Create regular internal communications and champion change management to promote awareness and understanding of our strategies, developments, and important decisions.

Benefits

• generous paid time-off policy
• comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• 401k plan and employer match
• annual professional development funds
• internal professional development programs and workshops

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed