Senior Government Relations Specialist

Summary  

The Senior Government Relations Specialist helps advance ACLUM’s civil rights and civil liberties agenda in the Massachusetts state legislature and executive branch, across a broad range of issue areas—including criminal law reform, racial justice, government accountability, freedom of expression, privacy and surveillance, immigrant rights, gender and LGBTQ equality, reproductive rights and voting rights. The focus of this role is to assist in the development and execution of ACLUM’s strategic advocacy campaigns and lobby for law reform in ACLUM priority areas, directly with policy makers and through coalitions. This position reports to the Legislative Director, and collaborates with the organization’s entire advocacy team, including the legal, communications, and field program departments. 

The ideal candidate for this position brings a passion for advancing civil rights and liberties through the political and legislative process; sharp knowledge about the political landscape and processes in Massachusetts; proven capability in advancing policy goals in a political environment; and an interest in all components of this job, including lobbying, campaign development and implementation, political communications, policy analysis, and close coordination with internal and external partners. Strong candidates will have demonstrated success coordinating multi-faceted advocacy campaigns, navigating coalition partnerships, communicating effectively with a range of stakeholders, and working both independently and collaboratively with colleagues across departments in a dynamically paced environment. 

Essential Duties 

Lobbying and Strategic Advocacy 

• Serve as one of ACLUM’s primary lobbyists at the Massachusetts State House. 

• Assist the Legislative Director in developing and implementing legislative strategies to achieve the organization’s advocacy objectives. 

• Develop and nurture relationships with lawmakers in coordination with the Legislative Director, other ACLUM advocates, and consultants engaged in direct lobbying. 

• Engage with legislators and their staff at the State House, and at political events and fundraisers, under the direction of the Legislative Director. 

• Coordinate lobbying activities and write and deliver testimony at legislative hearings with colleagues and partners. 

• Represent ACLUM in legislative and advocacy coalitions as assigned. 

• Collaborate with ACLUM community advocates to build and exercise local political influence to support statewide advocacy goals. 

• Collaborate with the ACLUM communications team to create advocacy materials to educate and influence policymakers and the public on ACLUM’s legislative priorities. 

Policy Advancement 

• Stay abreast of and maintain facility with the National ACLU’s broad range of policy and legislative issues to inform ACLUM’s strategic advocacy efforts. 

• Collaborate with the ACLUM policy team to review and track legislation and state budget proposals for impacts on civil rights and civil liberties. 

• Assist the Legislative Director and broader advocacy team in the coordination and preparation of legislative testimony and other written communication to legislators, including drafting materials as needed, providing input and feedback, and shaping political tone. 

• Work with ACLUM policy counsel and legal colleagues, as well as national ACLU experts, to respond to substantive questions from policymakers and bring ACLUM expertise to policy negotiations. 

Political Analysis and Engagement 

• Maintain deep knowledge and up-to-date awareness of politics in Massachusetts, including Beacon Hill dynamics and the electoral landscape. 

• Analyze political connections, conduct power-mapping, and develop strategies to support the advancement of ACLUM’s agenda and relationships on Beacon Hill. 

• Work with the legislative advocacy team to track and document political relationships and build political power. 

• Engage with National ACLU political staff to support joint initiatives and advance shared priority issues in Massachusetts. 

Other Responsibilities 

Special projects and other tasks, as assigned by the Legislative Director. 

Qualifications, Experience and Attributes  

• Minimum of five years’ experience advancing or managing legislative, policy, or political initiatives. 

• Significant experience with political or advocacy campaigns required. 

• In-depth knowledge of the Massachusetts political ecosystem and legislative process strongly preferred. 

• JD or advanced degree in political science, public policy, government relations or related field a plus. 

• Strong familiarity with how local, state, or national political processes work in the development of policy and passing of legislation. 

• Exceptional verbal communication and persuasive writing skills, adeptness in public speaking, and ability to convey complex legal concepts in simple terms to various audiences. 

• Experience and skill analyzing substantive policy and drafting legislative documents. 

• Keen ability to spot substantive policy and political issues in policy and landscape analyses to inform legislative and field campaign work. 

• Excellent relationship-building skills and ability to cultivate rapport, trust, and willingness among legislators and their staff to support ACLUM advocacy requests. 

• Proven ability to work collaboratively and productively with both internal partners and external stakeholders. 

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively engage people with various levels of expertise, diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. 

• Strong project management skills with the ability to effectively prioritize tasks, manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously, and deliver against tight deadlines. 

• Self-starter, comfortable working in a dynamically paced environment, and capable of working both in partnership and independently to get things done. 

• Ability to learn and achieve proficiency in new issue areas, as assigned. 

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

• Strong belief in the ACLU’s mission and work to defend and strengthen civil rights and civil liberties. 

• Commitment to diversity and inclusion. Respect for differences in race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability, and socio-economic background. 

Key Performance Indicators 

• Effectiveness in prioritization of work and timely completion of assigned tasks and projects. 

• Clarity of written and oral communication. 

• Quality of substantive issue-spotting and policy analysis. 

• Diligence and precision in identifying substantive and political implications of emerging matters. 

• Ability and willingness to integrate information from disparate sources and perspectives, including conflicting views, into decision-making. 

• Proactivity in relationship building and attentiveness to interpersonal and political cues and dynamics. 

• Effectiveness in coordination, communication, and collaboration within the Advocacy department, as well as with other ACLUM colleagues and National ACLU partners, and coalition partners. 

Other Requirements 

• Frequent written and verbal communication. 

• Extensive reading, preparing, and analyzing information, in hard copy and electronic format. 

• Frequent and extended periods of being in a stationary position, in an office environment and outdoor venues. 

• Frequent handling and transport of light packages and bundles of printed materials. 

• Ability to travel independently to various locations across Massachusetts. 

• Flexibility to accommodate work outside of regular business hours when needed, including early mornings, evenings and weekends. 

Compensation 

Salary range for this position is $100,000 to $120,000, with consideration for and commensurate with direct experience. Benefits include 401(k) plan plus employer match, medical and dental insurance, and generous paid vacation and holidays. Reimbursement for mileage may be provided in accordance with ACLUM policies, when applicable. 

About the ACLU of Massachusetts 

The ACLU of Massachusetts (ACLUM) was founded in 1920 and is an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a nationwide, non-profit, non-partisan membership organization that works to preserve and expand the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Through strategies of litigation, advocacy, public education, and grassroots activism, we strengthen and expand public understanding of racial justice, juvenile justice, LGBTQ rights (including equal marriage), women's rights, criminal justice issues, equal opportunity, free speech and assembly, privacy rights, religious liberty, students' rights, voting rights, and reproductive rights. ACLUM staff are unionized and this position will be within the bargaining unit. 

ACLUM is an equal opportunity employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, queer people, and formerly incarcerated people to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

This position will be based in Boston, MA and eligible for a hybrid work schedule, being in-person an average of three days per week, with the ability to be in the office on any given day as needed and assigned. ACLUM has a Covid-19 vaccine mandate, and candidates receiving a job offer will be required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to commencing employment. Exemptions to this requirement will be considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law. Applicants should be aware that fully remote work will not be deemed a reasonable accommodation. 

TO APPLY : Applicants for this position should submit a resume and cover letter that best expresses their interest and unique qualifications, as well as a writing sample and three professional references (see further specifications in the application).