Technology and Liberty Project Advocate at the ACLU of Washington

The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU-WA) is seeking a multi-disciplinary and innovative Technology and Liberty Project Advocate who thrives in a collaborative organization and can skillfully handle diverse approaches to issues at the intersection of technology and the full spectrum of civil liberties. This position joins our Technology and Liberty Project (one of three at ACLU affiliates), which leads cutting-edge advocacy, organizing, and litigation strategies to protect constitutional rights in the face of game-changing advancements in technology. Our innovative approach centers race equity, fairness, accountability, and transparency, with a particular focus on disproportionately impacted communities.

This is a two-year position based at the ACLU of Washington office in Seattle and reports to the Technology and Liberty Project Director.

Overview

The ACLU of Washington is a leader among state affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union, the country's premier guardian of liberty. We work in courts, legislatures, and communities to protect and extend American rights to freedom, fairness and equality. The ACLU is both nonprofit and nonpartisan. The ACLU-WA’s staff of 40+ employees and numerous volunteers work in a fast-paced, friendly and professional office in downtown Seattle. We are supported by more than 80,000 members, activists, and donors.

As Technology and Liberty Project Advocate you will help defend and promote civil rights and civil liberties in the digital age, pushing back on the creation of a surveillance infrastructure and helping ensure that technology deployments are fair, accountable, and transparent. You are a technologist who understands the disproportionate impacts of technology on vulnerable communities and work in close collaboration with them. You are responsible for implementing proactive projects and responding to immediate civil liberties threats in the areas of surveillance, privacy, data, algorithms, and automated decision-making. Your work may include, but is not limited to, policy and technical research and testing; developing technical analysis and projects; legislative and corporate advocacy; building and maintaining relationships with key private and public sector decision-makers; coalition and relationship building with community partners; public education; managing public disclosure requests and other litigation-related work; and clear, strategic communications. You bring a strong equity lens to the work and understand the critical importance of engaging and centering the perspectives of impacted communities.

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, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, socio-economic circumstance, or record of arrest or conviction.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary responsibilities of the position will include all or some portion of the below:

• Collaboratively or independently conduct policy, technical, and applied research and/or testing about the civil liberties and civil rights impact of emerging technologies, including how those technologies are created in the private sector, and how they are disseminated, particularly in the government space.

• Participate in our engagement with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to receive input and develop policy positions, keeping in mind the goals of the Project.

• Produce top-notch written materials, including policy background materials, local and state advocacy letters, white papers and other research documents, and public education pieces including blog posts and articles that focus on empowering community members to advocate in this space.

• Forge and maintain relationships with technology companies and experts, public interest groups, government officials, community stakeholders, and academics to engage them in our work and implement collaborative projects, and foster positive working relationships and opportunities to collaborate with state and national ACLU staff.

• Participate in the implementation of local and statewide campaigns to defend and promote rights, including developing policy positions and working on public education and strategic communication materials.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in a field such as information science, computer science, political science, public policy, law, or other field relevant to the Project. Must bring a flexible, creative, multi-disciplinary approach regardless of primary field of training.

• Significant experience in legal, policy, or technical analysis in areas at the intersection of technology and civil rights. Experience working directly in the creation or regulation of technology and/or ability to write code a plus. Applicants with at least 6 years of directly relevant experience preferred.

• Excellent analysis, writing, and research skills.

• Excellent relationship-building skills and ability to inspire collaboration, including success working as a member of a team and/or with community organizations and leading projects and people towards action.

• Demonstrated experience and success simplifying and communicating technical issues to general audiences, including effective oral communication skills.

• Strong project and time management skills, including a high level of organization, attention to detail, and follow-through, while balancing and prioritizing multiple activities and responsibilities.

• Demonstrated experience engaging in creative problem solving and taking initiative while exhibiting flexibility and good judgement.

• Strong equity focus and demonstrated experience engaging and working with and/or on behalf of disproportionately impacted communities, particularly communities of color. A demonstrable understanding of systemic issues of racism and bias, preferably in the field of technology, and experience in breaking down those systems.

• Willingness to travel within Washington, with possible travel to other parts of the country for meetings, events, and conferences.

• A demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance.

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 description and/or posting at any time without advance notice. This position is “exempt” under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary is based on experience and qualifications. Benefits include three weeks of vacation to start, medical and disability insurance, a retirement plan, and an ORCA card.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

To apply, email a letter of application and resume to Jobs@aclu-wa.org and include in the subject line of the email: your last name and Technology and Liberty Project Advocate. In your letter, please indicate where you learned of the posting. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, at which time the job announcement will be removed from our website at www.aclu-wa.org/careers.

The ACLU of Washington comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, Inc. and the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Foundation. The two corporations share the same overall mission, office space, and employees. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU of Washington.”