Public Policy Advocate/Counsel
Maine Civil Liberties Union Foundation
Two-Year Position

AS AN ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL PEOPLE, THE MCLU CONTINUES TO BE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER AND ENCOURAGES WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, TRANSGENDER, BISEXUAL, LESBIAN AND GAY PERSONS, AND PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO APPLY.

The Maine Civil Liberties Union Foundation seeks a Public Policy Advocate/Counsel to advance the MCLU civil liberties agenda before the state legislature and executive branch, Congress, and municipal government bodies.  The MCLU, an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, is a statewide not-for-profit public interest organization committed to advancing and preserving civil liberties in Maine through advocacy, education, and litigation.  The office is in Portland.

Job Description and Responsibilities:
The Public Policy Advocate/Counsel is responsible for advancing the civil liberties agenda of the MCLU before the state legislature and executive branch, Congress, and municipal government bodies.  The top priority is advocacy at the statewide level, lobbying the Legislative and Executive Branches.  The Public Policy Advocate/Counsel also works on related policy projects and works to develop and strengthen coalitions around key policy initiatives.  The Public Policy Advocate/Counsel will report to the Executive Director.

Primary duties of the Public Policy Counsel or Advocate include:

Strategic Planning

• Screening all proposed legislation and identifying troublesome and positive bills for the MCLU
• Working with the Executive Director and the MCLU Legislative Committee to develop legislative goals and pro-active strategies to advance the MCLU agenda;

Lobbying

• Developing relationships with elected officials and political leaders from all parties to secure bi-partisan support for MCLU priorities and lobby specific officials to vote in favor of the MCLU position;
• Using the legislative calendar, process, and procedural rules to achieve legislative goals;
• Researching, drafting and delivering bills, amendments, legislative memoranda, fact sheets, and testimony on pending legislation before policy-making bodies including the state legislature, city councils, county commissions, and town select boards;
• Strategically recruiting, coaching, and deploying experts and individuals to act as spokespeople on  important legislative issues;

Integrated Advocacy

• Building and participating in coalitions around legislative initiatives, attending strategy meetings to educate and collaborate with coalition members;
• Work with MCLU communications and field staff on email action alerts and press releases, setting up in-district meetings to provide an opportunity to bring ACLU members in contact with their elected officials, organizing grasstops and grassroots lobbying visits, and working with local media on ACLU’s legislative priorities;
• Working with the Legal Director to promote integrated advocacy where legislative and litigation strategies intersect and developing legal responses to passage of legislation that negatively affects civil liberties;
• Working with the national ACLU and ACLU affiliates regarding legislative matters, staying abreast of national trends;
• Preparing necessary reports for the public, the membership, the Board and the Executive Director;
• Public speaking, writing articles for the organization’s newsletter, and articulating the ACLU’s views to the public on a broad range of issues as directed by the Executive Director;
• Coordinating the activities of MCLU legislative volunteers and interns;
• Performing other related duties as assigned by Executive Director.

Qualifications:

• Law degree preferred
• Excellent leadership and relationship building skills to develop diverse allies and to facilitate communication and collaboration among them
• Strong strategic and analytical capabilities
• Substantive knowledge and understanding of constitutional law and civil liberties issues
• Firm commitment to the mission and principles of the ACLU
• Experience in advocacy, legislative, political, public relations, or law-related work
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to analyze and articulate legal concepts and other complex issues and to communicate them to a variety of audiences; a “quick study” on a dynamic array of issues
• Ability to keep organized in a fast-paced environment, to manage several projects simultaneously, and to adjust to frequently changing demands
• Experience in supervising and motivating volunteers and working cooperatively with diverse groups
• A commitment to diversity; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of politics, race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance
• Willingness to work beyond the 9 to 5 hours of the normal workday, including evening and weekend meetings and events
• Ability to commute to meetings and events throughout the state
• A positive, confident, and professional presentation style

Salary and Benefits:
Salary is commensurate with experience, within the parameters of the MCLU compensation scale. Generous benefits package includes paid vacation and holidays, employer-paid health, life and disability insurance, and pension plan; optional 401(k).

Application Procedure:
By no later than August 31, interested persons should submit a letter of interest which includes desired salary range, a resume, names and phone numbers of three references and a writing sample to

MCLU Public Policy Advocate/Counsel Search
401 Cumberland Ave. Suite 105
Portland, ME, 04101.