Director, Equity and Inclusion

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks a full-time position of Director, Equity and Inclusion in the Executive Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

The Executive Department is led by ACLU’s Executive Director and provides leadership for the organization as a whole. It is integral in promoting a cohesive vision across departments and affiliates working to ensure alignment that is in support of the ACLU's common mission of preserving civil liberties and civil rights. The Executive Department is also responsible for the ACLU’s national board and several special projects including the Advocacy Institute and Research Program.

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, the Director, Equity and Inclusion will be responsible for implementing the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) strategy for the staff of the national headquarters of the ACLU.

This is a unique opportunity to play a key leadership role in moving the ACLU to a culture of belonging, building on the institution’s past work and investment. We seek to develop an organization that reflects the world in which we aspire to live, valuing and reflecting the people whose lives and pursuit of fairness drive our work. We know that our success in doing so is tied to our success in advancing our mission.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

Strategy

• Contribute to the vision and strategy for the organization’s nationwide EDIB work, seeking to align it with the ACLU’s overall strategic direction
• Collaborate with the Chief Human Resources Officer, the Strategy Office and senior leaders to integrate EDIB principles into department goals and long-term strategic planning
• Advance and oversee strategic communications for EDIB, working closely with the Director of Internal Comms to communicate with staff about the EDIB team’s work, and partner with HR to effectively share the ACLU’s EDIB story externally and attract diverse talent
• Provide leadership and EDIB expertise to the departments at the National office, advising and supporting team members in their EDIB projects and initiatives, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth

Program Management and Evaluation

• At the direction of the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, work with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to develop goals and plans for their EDIB work. Consult with and advise ERGs on implementation of strategies, priorities, programming, budgeting, and timeframes. Support the leadership development of ERG leaders
• Enhance governance structures for Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to align with the overall EDIB strategic plan, ensuring stakeholder engagement and accountability throughout the organization
• Develop and manage a robust, data-driven baseline across key focus areas, including community engagement and supplier diversity. Define metrics to measure the impact of EDIB programs, track progress, and report findings to guide future initiatives
• Support the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer to ensure that EDIB best practices are applied across the organization. Identify and develop strategies to correct structural barriers to EDIB

Leadership and Coaching

• Provide coaching and mentorship to staff, identifying development and training needs to enhance their contributions to EDIB initiatives
• Design, implement, and manage a comprehensive leadership development program that aligns with the organization's goals and EDIB strategy. Oversee all aspects of the program, including content creation, scheduling, and participant engagement, ensuring successful delivery and measurable outcomes
• Assist in leading and facilitating Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council (EDIC), supporting the development and execution of initiatives that promote a diverse, inclusive, and equitable organizational culture

Community Building and Conflict Resolution

• Design, create and facilitate community building circles to foster a sense of inclusion, trust, and open communication across the organization, encouraging meaningful dialogue and connection among staff
• Serve as entry point for internal EDIB Restorative Inclusion Conflict Resolution Practice. Coordinate and facilitate restorative justice and conflict resolution sessions to address internal EDIB issues

Education

• Manage and oversee the design and implementation of training for national staff, ensuring the development and delivery of EDIB-focused topics including but not limited to: anti-oppression, anti-subordination, unconscious bias, inclusive behaviors and inclusive leadership
• Evaluate the effectiveness of EDIB training by gathering feedback, tracking outcomes, and applying best practices to continuously improve content, delivery methods, and participant engagement.

Consultation and Collaboration

• Work cross-functionally with operational teams to provide EDIB expertise and ensure that all functions reflect the ACLU’s commitment to diversity and inclusion
• Partner with Human Resources to help national staff ensure diverse leadership teams in collaboration with the Human Resources department
• Collaborate with key departments (e.g., Legal, Development, Communications and Marketing) to integrate EDIB principles into programmatic initiatives and outreach efforts
• Stay informed about emerging DEI trends and best practices, leveraging external research and partnerships to refine goals and enhance initiatives

Engagement in Special Projects

• Analyze and interpret results from the Staff Engagement Survey, acquiring data to evaluate staff diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and monitor patterns and trends in partnership with the Human Resources department
• Support the communication of the EDIB team’s projects, initiatives and accomplishments across the organization, ensuring consistent and transparent messaging that highlights progress, key milestones, and the impact of the EDIB team’s work

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL 

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

Vision and Leadership

• Proven experience in the field of EDIB, including successfully developing and implementing strategic plans, establishing metrics and measuring progress
• Keen understanding of how to lead and support organizational change; empower people, influence colleagues and manage conflict preferably at an organization with a complex organizational structure
• Significant experience working across departments and/or divisions at a large, complex organization

Organizational Management and Acumen

• Demonstrable track record of success in driving organizational change and results
• Strong team building and management skills
• Ability to use benchmarking and data metrics to drive organizational change and accountability
• Exceptional communications and interpersonal skills, the ability to build trusting, productive relationships with a wide range of partners and stakeholders
• Excellent critical listening and thinking skills and implementation skills

Internal Relations

• Track record of challenging and influencing peers to approach all work with an equity lens
• Demonstrated passion for EDIB work; deep knowledge, research, and best practices for organizations on equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging
• Openness to a multi-faceted range of viewpoints; ability to engage with tough questions in a thoughtful and respectful manner
• Ability to engender trust and respect

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• An effective listener with a highly collaborative style
• Experience managing with a trauma-informed approach
• A strong background of managing change throughout a distributed system of entities and teams
• In-depth understanding of laws and guidelines related to diversity, inclusion, accessibility and non-discrimination; advanced EDIB best practices; program management and development principles; and strategy development
• A Bachelor’s degree and/or advanced degree in a related field. However, education does not take the place of robust/relevant work experience
• A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience with a demonstrated track record in achieving results in the EDIB arena

COMPENSATION

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• 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

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.    

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

The Department of Education has determined that employment in this position at the ACLU does not qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.