Associate Director Government Affairs

Associate Director Government Affairs

Newark NJ

Position Overview

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey seeks a Director of Government Affairs to join its growing Political Advocacy Department. This position is a senior member of the ACLU-NJ Political Advocacy team, responsible for developing and maintaining the organization's strategic relationships across local, state, and federal government to advance and protect the ACLU-NJ's civil liberties priorities. Alongside the Executive Director and the Political Director, the Director of Government Affairs serves as a primary external representative of the organization in government-facing contexts, bringing a combination of relationship management, legislative acumen, and advocacy strategy to a broad portfolio of policy campaigns.

Organizational Overview

For more than 60 years, the ACLU of New Jersey has defended liberty and justice guided by the vision of a fair and equitable New Jersey for all. Our mission is to preserve, advance, and extend the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every New Jerseyan by the state and federal constitutions in courts, in the legislature, and in our communities.

We are committed to repairing and transforming spaces where constitutional promises have not been delivered.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Government Relations and External Representation:

• Develop, cultivate, and manage strategic relationships with elected officials, legislative staff, and executive branch officials at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Serve as an external representative of the ACLU-NJ in meetings with legislators, congressional staff, and government agencies.
• Advocate directly on behalf of the ACLU-NJ's positions with legislators, their staff, and executive branch officials, alongside ACLU-NJ subject matter experts.
• Represent the ACLU-NJ at legislative hearings, briefings, press events, lobby days, and other government-facing engagements and serve as a spokesperson in the media.
• Maintain compliance with all applicable lobbying registration and disclosure requirements.

Legislative Strategy:

• Provide strategic counsel to the Political Director, Executive Director and other senior leaders, and the Political Advocacy team on government relations matters and political landscape developments.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to advance ACLU-NJ priorities through legislative, regulatory, and executive action, in partnership with the Political Advocacy team.
• Coordinate with the National ACLU and peer affiliates on federal advocacy priorities, joint campaigns, and legislative strategy alignment.

Internal

Collaboration:

• Partner closely with the Political Advocacy team to ensure government relations work is grounded in policy expertise and aligned with campaign strategies.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts and with the Communications team to develop government-facing messaging, including testimony, briefing materials, and stakeholder one-pagers.
• Supervise, mentor, and provide direction to junior staff and Policy Fellows as assigned.
• Contribute to organizational planning and priority-setting as a senior member of the Political Advocacy team in collaboration with other members of the Political Advocacy team.

Administrative:

• Prepare regular reports on government affairs activities for the Political Director and senior leadership.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Support departmental planning, project management, and administrative functions as needed.

Equity, Inclusion and Belonging:

• Advance ACLU-NJ's commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in advocacy strategies, organizational practices, and community partnerships.
• Contribute to department and organization-wide efforts to ensure programs, policies, and engagement…