Deputy Executive Director and Chief Program Officer

ABOUT THE ACLU OF KANSAS

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kansas is a non-profit and non-partisan organization dedicated to preserving and advancing the civil rights and legal freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the Kansas Constitution. The ACLU of Kansas works in the state legislature, the courts, and local communities to protect the rights of all people living in Kansas. The organization’s work includes efforts to strengthen and defend First Amendment rights, voting rights, reproductive rights, racial justice, LGBT rights, immigrants’ rights, stopping government surveillance, and reforming the criminal legal system.

The organization currently uses a campaign model where 80% of our efforts and resources are dedicated to two campaigns: voting rights and immigrants’ rights. The remaining 20% of our efforts are devoted to other civil liberties matters as they arise. The ACLU of Kansas often works in broad-based coalitions made up of individuals and organizations from across the political, partisan, and ideological spectrum. The ACLU of Kansas is an affiliate of the national American Civil Liberties Union, has an annual budget of approximately $4.7 million, and has nearly 40,000 supporters across the state.

The ACLU of Kansas comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the ACLU Foundation of Kansas. Both entities have the same overall mission and share some resources but are separate entities that engage in different types of work to protect civil liberties. The ACLU Foundation of Kansas is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that primarily engages in litigation and public education. The ACLU of Kansas is a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation that primarily engages in lobbying and advocacy. On a contracted basis, the ACLU of Kansas also provides operational support to Kansans United for Civil Liberties, an IRS Section 527 organization that provides non-partisan, non-endorsing voter education about civil liberties issues in elections for public office.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The ACLU of Kansas seeks a dynamic, innovative, and seasoned professional to serve as its inaugural Deputy Executive Director and Chief Program Officer (CPO). The CPO reports directly to the Executive Director and is a member of a senior management team that also includes the Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Development Officer. The CPO will lead the strategic direction, planning, and day-to-day management of the ACLU of Kansas’s programmatic work. The CPO works closely with the Executive Director, other staff, partners, volunteers, and the board to achieve the ambitious goals for civil liberties and civil rights impact that the organization has adopted. The CPO designs and implements monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes to enhance programmatic results and impact. In addition, the CPO will collaborate with other staff in designing and maintaining an organizational culture that centers people impacted by ACLU work and that fosters equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

The CPO will serve as one of the organization’s external representatives, especially for partner relationships, but the role is primarily an internal facing one. The CPO will directly supervise five senior organizational leaders from the ACLU of Kansas’s programmatic departments: the Communications Director, Field Director, Legal Director, Policy & Research Director, and Political Director. These five programmatic departments have a combined staff of 18 FTEs. The CPO will provide leadership of the integrated advocacy campaigns that form the basis of the ACLU of Kansas’s programmatic work.

This position may be based out of the organization’s Overland Park or Wichita office and will require frequent travel throughout Kansas.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a member of the ACLU of Kansas executive team, adopting enterprise leadership principles to help shape organizational strategy, support the growth and culture of the organization, set a bold vision for programmatic work, and execute successful integrated advocacy campaigns.
• Serve as the acting Executive Director and senior-most organizational leader in the Executive Director’s absence.
• Provide strategic direction, leadership, and management of the ACLU of Kansas’s five programmatic departments (Communications, Field, Legal, Policy & Research, and Political) to achieve mission impact, especially the attainment of goals in the organization’s two integrated advocacy campaigns and strategic plan.
• Directly supervise the Communications Director, Field Director, Legal Director, Policy & Research Director, and Political Director.
• Provide support, guidance, mentorship, and coaching to programmatic staff.
• Work collaboratively with the Chief Development Officer and programmatic staff to maintain working relationships with funders, pursue funding opportunities, and report on programmatic impact.
• Provide structure and support for internal collaboration, project management, progress, and outcome tracking in the programmatic departments, especially for the organization’s three priority integrated advocacy campaigns.
• Provide oversight to programmatic department directors in developing and monitoring annual budgets.
• Manage compliance by programmatic departments with legal, regulatory, and internal policy requirements as well as consistency with ACLU values.
• Develop and steward strong, effective strategic relationships and partnerships to achieve programmatic impact.
• Provide programmatic expertise in both substantive civil liberties/civil rights issues and strategic/tactical approaches to achieving meaningful victories in these issues.
• Identify priorities, gaps, and trends in program areas and make recommendations accordingly.
• In collaboration with the Chief Operating Officer, lead learning and evaluation processes to enhance programmatic impact and ensure continuous improvement in organizational effectiveness.
• Create and support a high-performing work culture that centers people directly impacted by ACLU work and that is characterized by equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Although serving primarily in an internal facing role, act as a spokesperson and public face for the ACLU of Kansas, as appropriate.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

While no one candidate may possess all the qualifications listed below, the ideal candidate will be passionate about the mission and values of ACLU of Kansas and will bring many of the following skills and experiences:

• At least five (5) years of senior level experience in non-profit, policy advocacy, advocacy-related communications, political management, civil liberties/civil rights law, or related field. Experience in designing and executing integrated advocacy campaigns is required.
• Applicants must demonstrate experience in/strong familiarity with at least two (2) of the five key programmatic areas – communications, field/organizing, legal, policy/advocacy, and political.
• At least four (4) years of experience supervising staff.
• Bachelor’s degree. This requirement can be substituted for an additional two (2) years of experience.
• A JD/law degree is strongly preferred but not required.
• A history of working collaboratively and successfully with people and organizations from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and a broad range of ideological positions and religious views.
• Strong written and oral communications skills.
• Exceptional organization skills; highly detail-oriented with strong follow-through and the ability to unfailingly meet tight deadlines.
• Experience with and a high degree of comfort working with technology.
• Ability to work independently when necessary and keep organized in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple projects simultaneously and adjust to frequently changing demands.
• Creative, results-oriented, self-starting, and willing to learn.
• Strong task and time management skills.
• Ability to travel across Kansas, as necessary, and participate in regular evening and weekend meetings.
• Unwavering commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU, including a demonstrated commitment to equity and racial justice.
• Willingness to travel across the state with occasional overnight stays.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Compensation: The salary for the Deputy Executive Director and Chief Program Officer is in a range that begins at $150,000 and rises commensurate with experience.

Benefits: A career with the ACLU of Kansas provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. Staff members have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make a career with the ACLU of Kansas very rewarding, including but not limited to:

• Competitive Health Benefits: The ACLU of Kansas pays the full premium for the health care coverage for the employee and approximately 70% for dependents.
• Comprehensive Retirement Package: including automatic enrollment in the organization’s Contribution Plan.
• Longevity Payments paid yearly and gradually increasing based upon the anniversary date of hire.
• Generous Paid Time Off includes 17 paid holidays, vacation, personal, and sick paid time-off.
• Employee Assistance Plan offers support and referrals to help employees and members of the employee’s household to manage everyday life issues.
• Flexibility: ACLU of Kansas follows a hybrid schedule model allowing staff to work remotely for up to three days per week. Our in-office time is primarily used for team meetings and formal and informal collaboration.

TO APPLY

To learn more about the ACLU of Kansas, please visit: www.aclukansas.org.

This search is being led by Katherine Jacobs and Jehivian Hernandez of GDSI Leadership. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume, via GDSI’s applicant portal.

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 of Kansas reserves the right to change the job description and/or posting at any time without advance notice.

The ACLU of Kansas is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU of Kansas 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, criminal record, or veteran status. The ACLU of Kansas undertakes affirmative action strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to assure that persons with disabilities have full opportunities for employment in all positions. The ACLU of Kansas strongly encourages formerly incarcerated individuals to apply.