ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Deputy Project Director in the Immigrants' Rights Project of the ACLU’s National office. This is a hybrid role based in San Francisco, CA that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

The Immigrants’ Rights Project is a national project of the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation with offices in New York and California. Using targeted impact litigation, advocacy and public outreach, the Project carries on the ACLU’s historic commitment to protecting the civil rights and civil liberties of immigrants. In state and federal trial and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court, the Project conducts the nation’s largest impact litigation program dedicated to defending and expanding the rights of immigrants, enforcing the guarantees of the Constitution, and achieving equal justice under the law. It works with the English and non-English language media, immigrant advocacy organizations, and ACLU affiliates around the country to empower immigrant communities through presentations about their rights and about current and proposed immigration laws.

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Project Director, the Deputy Project Director will conduct impact litigation and advocacy to advance and enforce immigrants’ rights and will assist the Project Director in: supervising staff; helping to set and lead the Project’s strategy; recruiting diverse and excellent candidates; onboarding and mentoring staff; managing internship and fellowship programs; liaising with internal and external partners; conducting and overseeing litigation; and other management and administrative duties as needed.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

Strategy and Management Alignment

Readiness to align with management, including collaborating with and sharing ownership of decisions made by the Project Director, Center Director, and Senior Staff Assist Project Director with strategic planning Participate in IRP management team meetings Work with other members of management team to identify opportunities, troubleshoot problems, and ensure alignment of program with strategy Lead IRP meetings and teams, as directed Manage special projects, as directed

Cross-Departmental Collaboration, and Integrated Advocacy

Assist Project Director in managing relationships and coordinating with other departments and external partners, for example: Represent IRP on a standing, rotating, and/or as-needed basis in meetings with NPAD, Communications, Digital, Development, and other departments and partners Develop and maintain relationships with state affiliates and other partners Assume responsibility for specific collaborative initiatives, issues, and/or relationships, as directed Represent IRP / ACLU in public-facing meetings / speaking events / media opportunities

Administration

Assume responsibility for specified administrative functions such as completion of the time survey; gathering particular data for legal or development departments; and ensuring accuracy of case database, among other work, as directed Assist Project Director with expense tracking and budgeting, as directed Assist Project Director and Development Department with fundraising and donor cultivation, as directed

Supervision and Staffing

Directly supervise specified Staff Attorneys, Legal Fellows, and/or Administrative Staff, including regular check-ins, approval of expense reports, and time off With an eye on developing and maintaining an excellent and diverse staff, collaborate with other members of management team to: Manage process for hiring, onboarding, and managing new staff, fellows, and interns, which includes recruiting excellent candidates and furthering our board-mandated goal to increase the percentage of staff with disabilities and significant disabilities and to work in furtherance of our other announced diversity hiring initiatives Oversee sustained efforts to create and nurture pools of diverse candidates from which to recruit Assist Project Director and management team in making staffing decisions: Ensure balance of work across project staff, including opportunities for writing, arguments, discovery, witness examinations, case development, and other professional growth Ensure that Project staff maintain and foster relationships with media, coalition partners, and other targets and allies Assist Project Director in identifying and executing staff retention, feedback, and professional development efforts for all project staff

Litigation and Advocacy

Assist Project Director with reviewing substantive filings Supervise litigation teams Engage in litigation in federal and state court, including drafting pleadings, briefs, and affidavits; conducting discovery and motion practice; handling hearings and trials; and arguing appeals in both federal and state courts Provide technical assistance and legal advice to ACLU affiliates, cooperating attorneys and others who seek assistance from the Project Travel as required for litigation, conferences, and case and strategy development 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 J.D. degree At least seven years’ litigation experience, including significant immigrants’ rights litigation experience, preferred  Admission to practice in New York or California, depending on office location; if not currently admitted to either, candidate must be admitted to the bar of another state and agree to become admitted to practice in the applicable state within one year of hire Commitment to and familiarity with immigrants’ rights, racial and social justice, and civil liberties issues Superior analytic, research, and writing skills Proven ability to work independently as well as within a team Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and persuasively to non-legal audiences, including via media COMPENSATION The ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. Consistent with our compensation philosophy, there is a set salary for each role based on geographic work location. The annual salary for this position is $212,836 (Level DPD), reflecting the salary of a position based in San Francisco, CA.  Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.     For details on our pay structure, please visit: https://www.aclu.org/careers/ACLU_Geographic_Pay_Structure-July_2024.pdf 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.