Description:

Position: Strategist

Department: Racial Justice Center

Terms of Employment: Regular Full-Time/Exempt/Local 2320 Union Position (NYCLU staff is currently working in a Hybrid model; will require work in the office in-person 2 days a week and as needed) 

Location: 55 Broadway, New York, NY 10006 

Salary: $65,000- $79,000 

Application Deadline: Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) is one of the nation's leading advocates on behalf of constitutional rights and liberties. Founded in 1951, as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the NYCLU is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization with more than 90,000 members and supporters, and eight offices statewide. We work in the courts, in the legislatures and on the streets to advocate for racial and economic justice, free speech, freedom of religion, privacy and equality before the law for all New Yorkers. For more information, please visit our website: www.nyclu.org. 

The Racial Justice Center (RJC)was established in 2023 to expand and deepen the NYCLU's racial justice portfolio. The NYCLU Racial Justice Center is in deep collaboration with the NYCLU departments and centers with all of the NYCLU priorities. The RJC also leads its own advocacy, legislation, and litigation docket. Primarily focuses on environmental justice, Indigenous rights, and restorative efforts. 

DEI VISION STATEMENT

The NYCLU is committed to building an equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist workplace that centers the voices of marginalized and directly impacted communities. This commitment strengthens our mission to protect civil liberties and advance justice across New York. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, and others whose experiences reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION 

The Strategist will play a pivotal role in advancing the Racial Justice Center’s mission to achieve the NYCLU priorities with an emphasis on Indigenous Justice for our Tribal and non-Tribal Native people in New York State. This position is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing campaigns to drive strategic change. Specifically, the Strategist will support and expand the NYCLU’s efforts to engage Indigenous communities. The Strategist will work closely with Indigenous communities and allies to build relationships, shape policy, and uplift Indigenous voices and leadership through public education. 

The Strategist will have a particular focus on the NYCLU priorities and the intersectionality of Indigenous Justice within the NYCLU's priority areas, including access to a sound basic education, criminal justice, law enforcement, privacy and technology, reproductive rights, environmental justice, and emerging Sovereignty issues. The Strategist will utilize a range of tools to advance Indigenous justice in New York State, including research, legislative and agency advocacy, civic engagement and public education, coalition development, organizing, and strategic communications. Collaborating closely across departments, specifically our Education Policy Center. The Strategist will work to elevate community-informed priorities, helping to ensure that any litigation strategies are grounded in lived experience and communities’ needs. 

This position is situated in the NYCLU’s Racial Justice Center.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

The major duties and responsibilities for this position include: 

1. Lead our current Indigenous Justice Campaigns such as: Education Equity Campaign, Voting Rights Campaign, Environmental Justice Campaigns, and emerging Native American Immigration issues. 
2. Develop and implement new issue-specific campaigns to expand and protect the civil rights and liberties of Indigenous families in New York State.
3. Support the development and coordination of NYCLU’s growing relationships with Indigenous/Native communities.
4. Keep abreast of developments in the field and urgent threats to Indigenous justice by monitoring community concerns and systemic patterns and make recommendations to senior staff as to appropriate responses by the NYCLU. 
5. Organize community forums, town halls, and related events in support of the mission of the NYCLU and the RJC.
6. Build and maintain relationships with Indigenous justice experts, organizations, community stakeholders, academics, and thought leaders to engage them in our work and implement collaborative projects, and to foster positive working relationships with the affiliate and national ACLU staff.
7. Collaborate with the ACLU Indigenous Justice Working Group.
8. Expand NYCLU’s reach by developing, promoting, and facilitating multimedia workshops and trainings.
9. Lobby for policy change at the state and municipal level; stay abreast of developments in assigned issue areas; In coalition with Tribal leaders, educators, parents, and community partners, engage in direct advocacy with elected officials and policymakers.
10. Develop strategic partnerships with public schools and youth-focused organizations and attend in-person meetings.
11. Support Racial Justice Center and NYCLU priorities and regional efforts as needed. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

1. Graduate degree or JD preferred; Bachelor’s required. 
2. 3+ years of experience in policy advocacy in areas at the intersection of racial justice, civil rights, and civil liberties.
3. A basic understanding of the legal and/or legislative landscape of relevant laws, treaties, and/or leadership on Native regions in New York State.
4. Must have a basic familiarity with legislative advocacy, lobbying, and community organizing.
5. Demonstrated experience working with and alongside Indigenous/Native American communities.
6. Strong facilitation skills and the ability to conduct workshops for both adult and youth learners.
7. Ability to prioritize and complete tasks with minimal supervision, with a proven record to manage and meet deadlines.
8. A commitment to the goals and priorities of the NYCLU. 
9. Ability to thrive in a complex, fast paced, and collaborative working environment.
10. Ability to travel to Sovereign land across New York State for work-related meetings and events.
11. Availability for occasional evening and weekend hours (with notice).
12. A personal commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and in the field, along with the demonstrated ability to build relationships across differences. 

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your resume and cover letter that includes your unique qualifications for this position, and where or how you learned of this job posting via  

https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/3626695/New-York-Civil-Liberties-Union-Foundation/Strategist-Racial-Justice 

If feasible, please submit these materials as a single PDF.

The NYCLU is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, religion, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and having a workforce that reflects the communities that we serve.

The NYCLU 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 e-mail ldecicco@nyclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request accommodation for the interview process.

This position may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.