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ACLU of Illinois · 2 months ago

Senior Supervising Policy Counsel

Chicago,IL,US

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$135K/yr - $150K/yr

15+ years exp

The ACLU of Illinois is dedicated to advancing civil liberties and rights, and they are seeking a Senior Supervising Policy Counsel to lead policy and advocacy efforts. This role involves developing and implementing legislative priorities, supervising staff, and engaging with community stakeholders to promote civil rights initiatives.

Legal Services

Responsibilities

Identify opportunities to advance civil liberties and civil rights in complex policy areas using a variety of non-litigation methods at the state and local levels

Monitor, research, analyze, and advise on legal, legislative, political, technological, and other developments in assigned issue areas; identify other areas that warrant the organization’s attention

Provide tactical suggestions, policy, legislative, and legal analysis, and expertise to internal and external stakeholders

Independently analyze and draft bills, administrative rules/regulations, and comments at the state and local levels

Lobby elected officials, their staff, and other public officials to support ACLU of Illinois positions on pending legislation and policy initiatives

Prepare and provide expert-level guidance and testimony on pending legislation before state and local legislative committees, administrative agencies, and other regulatory bodies

Conduct in-depth civil liberties briefings for government officials to advance priority ACLU of Illinois positions

Work with the Advocacy Team and community stakeholders to ensure that the program approach is informed by the voices, perspectives, and experiences of people who are directly impacted by the issues we address

Work with other ACLU affiliates on advocacy efforts in furtherance of policy outcomes, as needed

Participate as an ACLU of Illinois representative in meetings, task forces, working groups, and coalitions

Provide expert commentary to media, participate in media briefings, and contribute to op-eds and other publications

Build and maintain trusted, respectful, and collaborative relationships with stakeholders, including but not limited to: people impacted by our work, community members and leaders, coalitions, allied organizations, issue experts, legislative staff, government officials, and elected officials

The Senior Supervising Policy Counsel will provide effective senior-level guidance, supervision, and management to early and mid-career attorneys and Advocacy staff, including policy and advocacy strategists, policy counsel, fellows, and interns

Responsible for assigning, directing, and overseeing day-to-day work, transferring or modifying job assignments as needed

Evaluating work performance, overseeing, and directing professional development

Participate in decisions concerning hiring, promotion, discipline, and/or separation of employment

Qualification

Law degreeConstitutional law expertiseLegislative experiencePolicy developmentSupervisory experienceCivil liberties knowledgeResearch skillsAnalytical skillsInterpersonal skillsCommunication skillsTeam playerFlexibility

Required

Law degree required; demonstrated expertise in constitutional law preferred

At least 15 years of legal experience, including a minimum of 12 years of experience working in legislative, policy, legal, or government settings

A minimum of 4 years of experience directly supervising and managing direct reports and others

Demonstrated ability to supervise staff to produce high quality results and help less experienced staff develop their skills

Extensive knowledge of current policy questions related to civil liberties, especially at the intersection of free speech and new technologies, is strongly preferred

High degree of familiarity with public policy, legislative and/or administrative processes preferred

A well-developed interest in a range of civil rights and civil liberties issues and the ability to master areas of law outside of their current expertise

High level, substantive, and extensive experience in policy development, including demonstrated ability to analyze legislative and regulatory policy, experience drafting and analyzing legislative language, and ability to recognize nuances in situations like bill drafting, communication, and negotiations with stakeholders

Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills

Flexibility to navigate dynamic political landscapes and respond to fast-changing policy priorities

In addition to the ability to source existing policy ideas and approaches to civil liberties challenges, the candidate must have ability to think creatively, and independently explore and develop novel approaches to solving problems

Ability to synthesize information, to solicit and integrate feedback and follow through and complete assignments, often under strict deadlines

Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills with a broad range of stakeholders, including but not limited to: people impacted by our work, community members and leaders, coalitions, allied organizations, issue experts, legislative staff, government officials, and elected officials

Strong written and spoken communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex legal and policy issues and translate technical information into everyday language accessible to a wide variety of audiences

Ability to be flexible, responsive, and a team player to meet the needs of the organization, but also to work independently when needed

Highly collaborative with the desire to consult and share information with colleagues; skilled in respectfully resolving differences

Experience giving advice and counsel to leadership, department, and project staff

Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer

Must be able to lift up to ten pounds at times

Preferred

Demonstrated expertise in constitutional law preferred

Extensive knowledge of current policy questions related to civil liberties, especially at the intersection of free speech and new technologies, is strongly preferred

High degree of familiarity with public policy, legislative and/or administrative processes preferred

Benefits

15 days of paid vacation in the first year and 20 days of paid vacation thereafter.

100% employer-paid premiums for medical, vision, and dental insurance for staff and eligible dependents.

6% employer-paid retirement contribution after 1 year without any employee contribution, plus 50% employer retirement match of the first $3,000 the employee contributes.

100% employer-paid life insurance; employee assistance program; short and long-term disability insurance.

Paid parental leave after 1 year.

Flexible spending accounts.