The ACLU of Maryland exists to empower Marylanders to exercise their rights so that the law values and uplifts their humanity.
The Regional Community Organizer – Southern Maryland helps design and conduct sustained organizing campaigns to build civic engagement with a particular focus in supporting directly impacted communities, community leaders, and their allies in efforts to win policies on the local (city and county) and statewide level that reflect the ACLU of MD’s priorities.
The Regional Community Organizer - Southern Maryland will mobilize efforts specifically in Calvert, Anne Arundel, and Charles County and be involved in supporting our broader civil rights and civil liberties organizing efforts.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The information provided below encompasses the essential functions and capabilities linked with this position:
- Provide recommendations and conduct coalition-building and community organizing in target geographic areas around primary policy expertise.
- Offer guidance and assist with implementing strategies to organize Marylanders in specific geographic areas to work toward achieving our strategic objectives, including developing campaign plans and turning goals and strategies into tactics, timelines, and metrics. Forge and maintain key relationships in and with the local community, decision-makers, and grassroots partners.
- Support leadership development amongst members of impacted communities so that they are empowered to lead or co-lead their coalition alongside allies.
- Organize public events (rallies, town hall meetings, panel discussions, etc.) to mobilize impacted communities, ACLU members, and the public at large around local, city, and state level priorities.
- In collaboration with the Communications, Public Policy, and Legal Departments, help develop persuasive and informative outreach materials, including fact sheets, talking points, and sample letters-to-the-editor. Identify and recruit potential clients for impact litigation and potential speakers and witnesses for public hearings and press conferences.
- Design and conduct sustained organizing campaigns to build civic engagement with a particular focus in supporting directly impacted communities, community leaders, and their allies in efforts to win policies on the local (city and county) and statewide level that reflect the ACLU of MD's priorities. Be involved in supporting our broader civil rights and civil liberties organizing efforts.
- Collaborate with the policy department in designing and implementing strategies to engage regional networks of directly impacted folks, community leaders, and activists in direct constituent advocacy around our legislative priorities. Provide activists and volunteers with information, guidance, and training to effectively lobby policymakers to pass legislation. Work will also include strategic targeting of decision makers, submitting testimonies, setting up meetings with legislators, and using advocacy toolkits to email/call/and create social media posts.
- In collaboration with local coalitions, help design and implement strategic campaigns to engage the community in advocacy for winning policies on local, city, and county level.
- Work with advocacy technology tools, including implementing the best use of volunteer management software, social media, and digital outreach tools including text messaging & phone-banking software to increase engagement.
- Support strategic coalition partners and directly impacted individuals in work tasks and leadership development related to a campaign.
- The individual in this position is expected to perform work assigned and outlined in the annual organizational strategic operating plan, departmental operational plans, and/or in project/programmatic area workplans in addition to the position’s other work.
- This position may be required to speak at public events and represent the organization as a spokesperson upon request.
- This position is expected to maintain and manage regular communications channels with immediate supervisors, management, and coworkers to ensure the smooth and efficient operations of the organization. Communications include but are not limited to email, telephone inquiries, letters of correspondence, video conferencing, other organizational meetings, etc.
Management & Supervisory Responsibility
This position is designated as a non-management position and does not encompass supervisory responsibility. The position may function as a team leader and monitor interns and volunteer work assignments as directed by their immediate supervisor.
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Entry Requirements
The following are the primary entry qualifications required for this position.
Values Agreement:
- Demonstrated personal commitment to advancing the ACLU’s values, mission, goals and programs, with an understanding of the range of civil rights and civil liberties issues and their implications through previous experiences.
Race Equity Commitment:
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Demonstrated commitment to racial equity, dismantling white supremacy, and incorporating a structural power analysis into work. Must have knowledge and understanding of how power is manifested in matters of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstances.
Typical Education & Work Experience:
(Relevant education/experience may substitute for required education/experience at a rate of one-year relevant education/experience per year of required education/experience.)
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent.
- A minimum of 3 to 7 years of experience in a similar position or equivalent combination of education and experience including a minimum of 3 years of experience working with political campaigns, direct action organizing, community development, or advocacy in a non-profit, advocacy, or political organization.
- Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of and commitment to civil liberties, civil rights, and the ACLU of Maryland’s mission.
- Strong ability to contribute legal knowledge and expertise in support of community-generated initiatives and help make the law accessible and useful to disenfranchised communities.
- Demonstrate initiative, including pro-actively identifying and addressing issues and making recommendations.
- Working knowledge of advocacy campaigns, including legislative advocacy, coalition building, and community outreach.
- Ability to be proactive, understand the political landscape, and be able to work effectively on issues that require bipartisan support.
- Experience with statutory and legislative analysis; legal research and writing; legislative processes in Maryland; advocacy and policy change tools; awareness of the local political landscape.
- Creative, self-starting, willingness to learn; ability to handle and prioritize multiple activities and responsibilities with deliberate time management skills and the ability to work under pressure.
- Analytic, negotiation, and writing and oral advocacy skills; ability to articulate complex issues and communicate them respectfully and effectively to a variety of audiences.
- Ability to think strategically and conceptually with an unbiased approach to solutions using a race equity lens.
- Recognize and define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions in the context of a variety of situations with multiple variables, both predictable and unpredictable
- Make sound and timely informed decisions in complex situations.
- Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and effectively with coalitions and community groups, motivate volunteers, and work across the political spectrum.
- Willingness to take direction from directly impacted people and to contribute legal knowledge and expertise in support of community-based initiatives with the purpose of empowering community members and making the law accessible and useful to disenfranchised communities.
- Ability to give presentations and engage diverse audiences.
- Ability to work independently while also working as part of a team and collaborating with others; ability to keep organized in a fast-paced environment, manage several projects simultaneously, and to adjust strategy to frequently changing demands.
- A strong commitment to racial equity, dismantling white supremacy and incorporating a structural power analysis into work.
- Knowledge of office-related software, including Apple and Microsoft office products and any industry-specific technology.
Certification or License Requirements:
- None.
- Willing to complete a weeklong “Direct Action Organizing 101” training through Midwest Academy or a similar organization depending on availability.
Bonus Considerations:
The following are the desired competencies, characteristics, or traits for this position:
- Master’s Degree or equivalent post-Secondary credentials acceptable
- Direct Action Organizing training or certification.
- Ability to communicate (speak, interpret, translate) fluently in English and Spanish or French is preferred, but not required.
Work Schedule & Travel Obligation:
- The ability to work occasional evening, weekend, and irregular hours, and to travel within the state as needed.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Starting salary for this position $ 71,840.5- $75,846.15 which per the agreement between ACLU Maryland and OPEIU Local 2, correlates to Category B, Step 1 – Step 3 on the approved compensation scale for base salary. Actual starting salary is a set calculation based on the individual candidate’s prior relevant work experience (including full-time and part-time internships and volunteer work), education, certification, and required foreign language skills (if applicable) per the agreed upon OPEIU Local 2 Union Compensation Scale, and therefore is not negotiable upon hire. For any questions, please reach out to the HR team.
This is a position that is non-exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Excellent benefits include:
- 3 weeks paid vacation at time of hire (increasing to four weeks after two years);
- 13 paid office holidays;
- 12 paid sick days, telework and flex-time;
- Generous medical insurance including two health, dental, and vision insurance options for staff members, their dependents and spouse/domestic partner;
- Flexible spending accounts employee assistance plan;
- 6 weeks of paid medical leave;
- Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance;
- Short- and long-term disability insurance;
- 401(k) defined contribution retirement plan with employer match;
- Free on-site parking;
- Additional commuter benefits with access to commuter rail station; and
- Direct exposure to cutting-edge civil liberties and civil rights work.
DEADLINE & START DATE
The position will remain open until filled. Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis.
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