Grassroots Engagement Manager

Grassroots Engagement Manager

The ACLU of Washington (ACLU-WA) advances liberty and justice in the courts, in the legislatures, in the streets, and at the ballot box. Our work is rooted in the belief of a future where everyone in Washington, particularly those who have been historically and systematically denied full enjoyment of their promised civil rights and liberties, are free to do so without barriers. Defending and advancing these fundamental rights and core values requires exceptional staff.

The Grassroots Engagement Manager develops and manages ACLU-WA grassroots organizing strategy to advance the goals and mission of the affiliate by identifying, training, organizing, and mobilizing supporters to take actions aimed at influencing legislative and executive decision makers to champion and advance ACLU-WA policy priorities. Reporting to the Organizing Director, this role ensures that the grassroots and coalition organizing strategies are integrated to maximize the team's collective impact. The Grassroots Engagement Manager supervises organizing staff and volunteers to accomplish the goal of launching and growing a nimble, decentralized, but strongly connected network of ACLU-WA supporters and activists across the state.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and manage strategy to move grassroots supporters through ACLU-WA's engagement journey, from identification and education to cultivation and mobilization, to build a pipeline of activists ready to engage and mobilize on issue-specific campaigns.
• Support the development of issue-specific campaign organizing plans by serving as a key consultant to ensure grassroots strategies are effective and consistent with overall programmatic goals.
• Manage the implementation of grassroots strategies during session including sequencing, prioritizing, and providing support to other organizers implementing tactics involving grassroots supporters.
• Own development and execution of ACLU-WA's Advocacy Day strategy, including handling, or delegating and supervising, event logistics, scheduling, promotion, recruitment, managing volunteers, developing training materials, presenting to participants, and post-event evaluation.
• Design and oversee implementation of ACLU-WA's volunteer program strategy, including curriculum development and in-person and virtual supporter trainings to equip activists with advocacy and organizing skills.
• Consult on emerging issues that impact supporters and provide strategic organizing guidance on mass mobilization events.
• In consultation with the Legislative Director and Electoral Program Manager, facilitate activist engagement with ACLU-WA's electoral work and build ACLU-WA's reputation as a resource for nonpartisan election information.
• Develop overall strategy for and manage use of ACLU-WA's volunteer management system (VMS) database to support ACLU-WA's organizing strategy, including growing and mobilizing ACLU-WA's base of high-touch grassroots activists. Conduct regular data analysis of ACLU-WA's activist base to inform resource investment and decision-making.
• Supervise, mentor and coach organizing staff and volunteers as needed.
• Ensure organizing staff effectively utilize resources to support the ACLU-WA's mission, vision, values, and programmatic goals.
• Develop systems, structures, and processes to support the work of organizers.
• Foster a culture that promotes the ACLU-WA's values and promotes teamwork and collaboration across the organization.
• Cultivate trusted relationships with ACLU-WA supporters and oversee communication with ACLU-WA activists via one-on-one correspondence, consultation with People Power and ACLU-WA Activist Network groups, and updates to the activist email list.
• Manage development and implementation of mobilization tactics for supporters, such as text banking, phone banking, letter writing, action alerts, and in-person activities (including canvassing, marches, rallies, and protests) to mobilize supporters to take action in support of ACLU-WA's campaign goals.
• Consult on outreach strategy and cultivate trusted relationships with community partners in support of campaign goals.
• Represent ACLU-WA at community events throughout the state in collaboration with the Grassroots Organizer and other staff.
• Stay current on best practices and available technologies to support effective identification, engagement, education, and mobilization of supporters.
• Identify needs and gaps in team processes, research and strategize potential solutions, and collaborate with People Services and others in the Integrated Advocacy Department to implement and support adoption of tools that enhance and amplify impact of cross-team advocacy efforts.
• In consultation with People Services, identify training and processes that support safe engagement of activists and ACLU-WA staff during mobilization and ACLU-WA campaign events.
• Work closely with colleagues across the office to ensure that grassroots organizing messages, strategies and tactics are consistent with overall advocacy plan.
• Train and support colleagues' use of ACLU-WA's volunteer management system (VMS) database.
• Maintain accurate awareness and fluency of the work to facilitate representation of the Organization's integrated advocacy efforts internally and externally.
• Work with grassroots activists to build allyship skills, with particular focus on how non-impacted activists can build political power with and in communities that have been marginalized by systemic oppression.
• Perform other related duties as assigned within the scope of the role.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• At least three (3) years of experience working in grassroots, advocacy or volunteer program management.
• At least one (1) year experience managing volunteers, interns, or staff; the ability to successfully delegate projects or tasks to others, supervise performance, and evaluate impact.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects with competing deadlines.
• Proficient with cross-function team collaboration with different tools, processes, and work styles.
• Skilled at shepherding compromise among conflicting interests and strategies.
• Confidence in analyzing and prioritizing long-term impact when making and contributing to strategic decisions about a project or campaign.
• Consistent consideration of how solutions, strategies, and tactics will impact community members who are directly impacted by the problems or issues the ACLU is working on.
• Ability to communicate and work independently and in collaboration with others from diverse backgrounds.
• Flexibility to respond to rapidly changing information and ability to adapt to new context.
• Ability to leverage established relationships with supporters and mobilize with quick turnaround.
• Good judgement and discretion in decisions about how and when to share sensitive information with external stakeholders.
• Willingness to have difficult conversations with volunteers and/or colleagues when conflict arises, and self-management skills that foster de-escalation, mutual respect, accountability, and deepening of relationship.
• Experience managing volunteers, including recruiting new activists, building and maintaining relationships, identifying and supporting leaders, serving as a consultant to volunteer-led groups, and handling complex interpersonal dynamics.
• Experience providing systems and process trainings to peers.
• Capacity to break complex projects into discreet tasks and delegate effectively.
• Ability to speak in front of groups and communicate complex information to a general audience.
• Demonstrated experience successfully building trust with diverse stakeholders, internal and external, to advance objectives and achieve goals.
• Approach to learning and decision-making that centers communities impacted by systemic oppression.
• Ability to talk about equity and other forms of oppression with volunteers and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
• Openness to receiving constructive feedback and facilitating difficult conversations.
• Experience evaluating priorities and policies through an equity lens.
• Experience working with Microsoft (including Teams), video conferencing, and constituent relationship management software.
• Experience working in legislative, ballot measure, or electoral campaigns preferred.
• Experience working with bill tracking software, voter file information, and data visualization tools preferred.

FUTURE WA ACLU'ERS WILL

• Be committed to advancing the mission, vision, and values of the ACLU-WA.
• 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.

LOCATION: Seattle, Washington CLASSIFICATION: This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. The ACLU-WA reserves the right to change the content of this posting at any time without advance notice. This position is "exempt" under the Fair Labor Standards Act and approved at (1) fulltime equivalent (FTE). MENTAL DEMAND: Decision-making, high emotional intelligence, giving and receiving feedback and building trusting relationships. The nature of this work can be emotionally demanding and requires thoughtful and clear communication and resilience. WORK ENVIRONMENT & CONDITIONS: The ACLU-WA observes a hybrid workstyle, with some staff working primarily remotely while others work in the office several days a week. This position is required to work in the office a minimum of two (2) days per week. Our office is generally open between the hours of