Border Immigration Strategist

Department: Department

Employment Type: Full-time, exempt

Location: Rio Grande Valley (Brownsville, McAllen, Harlingen) and South Texas including San Antonio

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Border and Immigrants’ Rights strategist works with an issue area team within the Policy & Advocacy Department focused on immigrants’ rights across the Texas-Mexico border region. The strategist develops advocacy campaign goals, strategies, and plans to address and improve policies that affect civil liberties in border communities. The team works at the local, state, and federal levels, in close collaboration with other departments within the ACLU of Texas and ACLU National. The position reports to the Policy & Advocacy Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists in developing strategies and executing plans to achieve departmental objectives through a combination of policy knowledge and advocacy skills, with support from the supervisor. Manages projects independently.

• Maintains knowledge of best practices in policy research and writing, with a focus on Border and Immigrant Rights policy issues at the local and state level.

• Exerts influence on policymakers, legislators, and the general public through writing and coalition-based work.

• Drawing on a range of prior experiences, uses good judgement in anticipating risks and opportunities to inform strategy development.

• Produces high-standard written products for internal and external audiences, based on original research and analysis with minimal supervision.

• May represent the organization in coalitions, media, and other forums and the local and regional level.

COMPETENCIES

• Influence: Able to persuade and influence individuals or groups to gain support and build momentum for ideas, proposals, and initiatives, including with skeptical audiences.
• Strategy: Identifies and analyzes options for action, makes recommendations informed by prior experiences, policy knowledge, and relationships.
• Communication. Quickly incorporates feedback to produce high quality written products; conveys ideas clearly and with empathy across different kinds of communication channels.
• Project management. Manages projects of intermediate complexity, including planning and strategy responsibilities, delegating tasks to partners and team members, engaging vendors, managing project budgets, coordinating across internal teams, and overseeing documentation and reporting requirements.
• Analytical skills. Observes, evaluates, and applies quantitative and qualitative data to solving problems. Able to both diagnose problems and offer solutions that are aligned with the organization’s position and role. 

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least three years of experience working in public policy research and advocacy.
• Graduate coursework in a public policy-related field preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to Border and Immigrant Rights, such as through professional or volunteer experiences, or coursework.
• Track record of achieving policy change to improve civil liberties at the local and/or regional level.
• Has existing relationships in the field of public policy broadly that can help inform research methodologies and writing projects.
• Solid computer skills, including proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, and communications tools.
• Flexible schedule and ability to work non-traditional hours as needed.
• Desire for career growth in civil liberties and at the ACLU.

COMPENSATION

The starting salary for this role is $70,000 in alignment with parameters of ACLU of Texas’s salary scale. Excellent benefits include a generous paid time off policy; medical, dental and vision insurance; 401(k) plan with an employer match; life and long-term disability insurance, and generous paid holidays.

This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and   qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU reserves the right to change the job description and/or posting at any time without advance notice.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU encourages 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, previous criminal conviction and veteran status.