ACLU OF NEVADA ANNOUNCES AN
OPENING FOR A PUBLIC ADVOCATE

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada announces an opening for a Public Advocate to be based in the organization’s Reno office. The ACLU is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing civil liberties throughout Nevada and the United States through legislative advocacy, public education, and litigation.

The position of Public Advocate is a senior programmatic one. The successful applicant will be part of a three-person full-time staff advancing the ACLU of Nevada’s civil liberties agenda in the organization’s Reno office, with responsibility for helping to implement that office’s day-to-day programmatic activities and operations and for assisting with the supervision of volunteers.

The Public Advocate will be expected to perform some limited administrative tasks to ensure that proper records are kept and reports are timely made. He or she will work with the professional and volunteer staff under the direct supervision of the ACLU of Nevada’s Northern Coordinator and will serve as a spokesperson for the ACLU in the north. The Public Advocate will also serve as one of the organization’s lead legislative advocates, helping to develop a pro-active legislative agenda and lobbying to advance that agenda at the Nevada legislature.

Reporting to the Northern Coordinator and to the organization’s Executive Director, the Public Advocate will help to ensure that the organization’s internal and external communications and programs are meeting the expectations and needs of its Board of Directors and its constituents. The Public Advocate will perform these duties with the assistance of supervised volunteers and interns, and with the support of other northern Nevada ACLU programmatic and administrative staff.

The Public Advocate must have a working knowledge of civil liberties issues and polices and be someone who is adept at enhancing the ACLU of Nevada’s external impact and visibility. The Public Advocate must be an exceptional communicator who is able to convey effectively the mission and activities of the ACLU of Nevada to various constituencies and the broader public.

Specifically, and in accordance with this general description of responsibilities, the Public Advocate will be expected to perform all of the following tasks as part of her job:

• Identify and analyze important civil liberties and civil rights issues that the northern office should get involved in through lobbying, public education, and litigation;
• Advocate for ACLU positions at the Nevada legislature, including helping to identify, analyze, and prioritize important legislative issues, draft proposed bills and policy briefs prior to and during session, meet with legislators and their staffs, testify at hearings, and identify and work with allies on our issues;
• Effectively supervise activities of volunteers and interns in the northern Nevada office, with particular attention to intake, record-keeping, and community relations;
• Help prioritize relevant civil liberties and civil rights issues, and appropriately allocate his or her own time and the time of volunteers and interns to those matters that are deemed most important;
• Assist with identifying and soliciting major gifts from northern donors, identifying grant opportunities and writing applications, and organizing northern Nevada fundraising events that would augment current efforts to raise money;
• Conduct outreach to northern Nevada community organizations and individuals with whom the ACLU can form alliances on civil liberties and civil rights issues of concern;
• Conduct media outreach, including developing and maintaining relationships with print and electronic journalists, drafting op-eds, and speaking to or assigning others to speak for the organization;
• Submit brief monthly reports to the Northern Coordinator and Executive Director concerning own activities and activities of volunteers and interns regarding aforementioned responsibilities;

Able performance of all of these aspects of the job is essential to being the type of programmatic leader that is required of the Public Advocate. Applicants should have a Bachelor’s or advanced degree, preferably in a policy, politics, or law-related field, though relevant employment experience can substitute for this and would be a major plus in any case. The ability to speak Spanish would also be a major plus.

Salary will be commensurate with credentials and experience, and with the compensation structure of the Nevada ACLU. Liberal benefits include paid holidays and one month vacation, free health and dental insurance, and a pension.

The ACLU of Nevada is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, veterans, LGBT individuals, the physically challenged, and seniors. Rolling applications will be accepted until the position is filled, with review of candidates commencing on March 1, 2008. Starting date is flexible.

Applications should include a statement of interest, a resume, a writing sample (preferably an op-ed, policy brief, or some other document that is relevant to the job requirements), and the names of at least three references. Materials should be sent via email to aclunv@aclunv.org, or via the postal service to the:

ACLU of Nevada
732 South Sixth Street - #200A
Las Vegas NV 89101

All applications will be handled confidentially unless and until the applicant instructs us otherwise.