Senior Policy Counsel for Artificial Intelligence, Privacy, and Technology

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Senior Policy Counsel for Artificial Intelligence, Privacy, and Technology in the National Political Advocacy Department of the ACLU’s National office in Washington, D.C. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

The National Political Advocacy Department builds power to achieve an accountable, representative democracy. We have ambitious goals across Reproductive Freedom, Speech, Privacy, and Technology, Democracy and Voting Rights, Systemic Equality, Immigration, Trans Justice, Criminal Justice and other core issues in order to protect and expand civil rights and civil liberties, and advance the freedom, equality, ability to prosper, and humanity of all People. 

Our department conducts analysis, develops policy, crafts world class campaigns and situates the ACLU to have impact across legislative, administrative, and electoral levers. We are policy experts, lawyers, community organizers, lobbyists, campaign strategists, electoral specialists, program managers and more. We partner across the ACLU to drive national efforts, and support and amplify the priorities of our affiliates. We work to center principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in our approach

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Director of the Democracy and Technology Division within NPAD, the Senior Policy Counsel for Artificial Intelligence, Privacy, and Technology will lead the ACLU's federal policy work on artificial intelligence, data regulation, and privacy, collaborating with policy experts, litigators, and advocates across the organization to develop and advocate for the ACLU's positions in Congress, with the objective of protecting and advancing civil rights and civil liberties in the digital age. The Senior Policy Counsel will also advise ACLU campaigns on data and technology issues, support policy and legal teams on matters with a data or technology component and collaborate with state affiliates on state policy matters. 

YOUR DAY TO DAY

Advance civil liberties and civil rights in complex policy areas at the federal, state, and local levels, in the areas of artificial intelligence, privacy, and technology: 

• Focus primarily on federal and state and policy, in collaboration with NPAD campaign leadership and staff, ACLU state affiliates, and other NPAD and Legal Department staff working on artificial intelligence, privacy, and technology issues  
• Develop strategic legislative, campaign, and administrative policy options  
• Independently develop novel ideas and approaches to solving problems, in addition to sourcing existing policy ideas and approaches to civil liberties challenges  
• Independently draft bills and/or administrative rules/regulations at the federal, state, or local levels, providing content expertise as well as legislative and regulatory drafting knowledge  
• Prepare, provide guidance on and/or deliver testimony on pending legislation before congressional committees or federal regulatory agencies and draft or provide guidance on testimony to be delivered by ACLU state affiliates before legislative or regulatory bodies at the state and local/municipal levels (or testify directly, if requested by the ACLU state affiliate), in collaboration with an affiliate  
• Lobby elected officials and their staff, Executive Branch officials, and other public officials to support ACLU positions on pending legislation and policy initiatives  
• Support Division and NPAD Policy and Government Affairs leadership and National and State Campaigns staff in preparing written materials, meeting with stakeholders, and advocating policies to internal and external audiences  
• Provide legislative counseling, including policy, legislative or legal analysis, strategic planning guidance, and tactical suggestions, to other NPAD policy counsels and to ACLU state affiliates to support other federal, state, and/or locally-based efforts  
• Coordinate and conduct in-depth civil liberties briefings for government officials and staff as pertinent to advancing priority ACLU positions  
• Help coordinate strategy designed to reach campaign goals or other policy/political outcomes across ACLU departments, ACLU state affiliates, and coalition partners  
• Work with National and State Campaigns and organizers in NPAD to advance campaign goals or other policy and political outcomes  
• Collaborate with other NPAD Policy and Government Affairs staff to ensure effective relationship management, coordination on Capitol Hill and in state policy work, to achieve policy objectives  
• Participate as an ACLU representative in meetings of ad hoc lobbying and policy and/or political coalitions, as relevant  
• In collaboration with ACLU Communications staff and other key stakeholders, provide expert commentary to media, participate in media briefings, and draft and contribute to op-eds and other publications, as relevant  
• Organize, lead, and work with outside groups to bolster support for ACLU policy goals or to minimize opposition to those goals  
• Ensure key ACLU positions and documents are archived, and that vote recommendations on federal legislation are included in the ACLU scorecard  
• Provide subject matter expertise, advice, and support to colleagues in other Divisions as they develop and execute federal or state/local campaigns in overlapping or related issue areas  
• Demonstrate an ability to be flexible and adjust priorities as necessary in order to adapt to changing external environment   
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned  

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

• Law degree, with substantial legal research, writing, and advocacy experience  
• Significant experience working in policy, legal, political, or government settings; high degree of familiarity with public policy and legislative, administrative and/or electoral processes  
• Demonstrated substantive expertise in civil liberties and civil rights law and policy, preferably with an emphasis on artificial intelligence, privacy, data regulation, and other issues at the intersection of technology and civil liberties and civil rights  
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team  
• Experience with media and serving as a spokesperson for an issue, campaign, or cause preferred; with exceptional ability to explain, both in writing and orally, complex policy issues to both the general public and government decisionmakers required  
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills  
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team  
• Exceptional writing and verbal skills with ability to synthesize information  
• Highly organized with excellent time management skills; detail oriented with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and manage multiple projects simultaneously, often under strict deadlines  
• Excellent interpersonal skills and confidence to navigate a large department and complex organization  

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 benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. 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.