Education & Youth Policy Program Director

EDUCATION & YOUTH POLICY PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Position Opened Until Filled
First Review of Applicants Scheduled for July 29, 2025

The ACLU of Washington (ACLU-WA) advances liberty and justice in the courts, in the legislatures, in the streets, and at the ballot box. Our work is rooted in belief in a future where everyone in Washington, particularly those who have been historically and systematically denied full enjoyment of their promised civil rights and liberties, are finally free to do so without barriers. Defending and advancing these fundamental rights and core values relies on the contributions of exceptional staff.

ACLU-WA is seeking a passionate and strategic advocate to lead its efforts to protect and promote the rights of K-12 students with a focus on upholding and strengthening protections for LGBTQ+ students and families, and promoting racial and disability justice, to ensure all youth in Washington have access to an equitable public education. In addition to providing strategic leadership on education issues, the Education and Youth Policy Program Director will work as a member of the Policy Advocacy Department (PAD), collaborating with PAD team members and other organizational leaders to develop additional policy priorities consistent with ACLU-WA’s strategic plan. The Education and Youth Policy Program Director will work collaboratively across departments, and reports to the Director, Policy Advocacy.

The Policy Advocacy Department works to effectuate change through state and local legislation, rulemaking, institutional policy change, community-driven advocacy, public education, coalition building, and media work. Through our engagement with community stakeholders, we strive to center and amplify the voices, perspectives, and experiences of directly impacted communities and individuals. Within the ACLU-WA, PAD uses an integrated advocacy approach, working collaboratively with the Legal, Political Strategies, and Communications teams to further its goals.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Participation in ACLU-WA’s race equity work. This may include utilizing ACLU-WA race equity tools and adopting ACLU-WA race equity practices.
• Lead the development of the ACLU-WA’s strategic goals in ensuring that local and state education policies uphold student rights with a focus on LGBTQ+ students and race and disability justice, in collaboration with ACLU-WA team members and community partners. This work will include policy advocacy in local school districts across the state, conducting analysis and policy research, and drafting legislative and other policy proposals defending and strengthening rights for K-12 students in education and youth justice.
• Collaborate with other ACLU-WA team members, including the Legislative Affairs Department, Communications Department, and Legal Department to identify tactics, structure campaigns, and respond to emerging issues to defend the rights of K-12 students and ensure students receive an equitable public education.
• Serve as a strategic advisor and participant to ACLU-WA litigation teams and ACLU-WA attorneys working on amicus briefs.
• Collaborate with National ACLU and other ACLU affiliates to advance shared goals related to student rights and education equity.
• Build trusted relationships with students, families, and community partners to advance shared goals, including actively supporting community coalitions, and cultivating student and family activism.
• Stay current on federal, state, and local policy changes that impact students and their families and track community driven solutions to address systemic issues that exacerbate education inequities.
• Convey technical policies and legal jargon into accessible language and concepts for students, families, legislators, and community members.
• Work with the PAD Director and PAD team members to define additional policy needs consistent with the ACLU-WA strategic plan. This will include regular leadership on projects outside of education and youth policy issues.
• Support the ACLU-WA in lobbying for organizational priorities.
• Represent the ACLU-WA in community coalitions, the state legislative process, and before school boards and other local decision makers.
• Advance the ACLU-WA’s goal to conduct its work through a racial equity lens.
• Conduct public education through training, presentations, drafting and publishing reports, and know your rights guides.
• Speak regularly with reporters and represent the ACLU-WA on various media platforms.
• Supervise interns, fellows, volunteers, and other staff as needed.
• Travel throughout the state; attend ACLU-WA events, including some work on nights and weekends.

• 2+ years of significant policy advocacy experience, with a strong understanding of legal concepts and a demonstrated ability to develop and lead policy initiatives.
• 2+ years of significant experience in civil rights policy, specifically in the rights of students in K-12 schools. Strong familiarity with student special education law, anti-discrimination policies, and public education funding. Willingness and ability to develop expertise in these or other policy areas.
• Understanding of Washington public school funding and regulatory landscape.
• Strong writing, research, and communications skills in presenting to students and the public. The ability to distill complex information.
• A track record of successfully directing and completing long-term projects. Strong leadership and organizational skills; the ability to independently manage one’s own work as well as others.
• Experience working with LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities, people with disabilities, young people and parents. The ability to bring diverse people together and to cultivate leadership of students and families to address multifaceted issues at the local or state level.
• A high degree of emotional intelligence; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance.
• A demonstrated commitment to racial equity; experience developing and implementing advocacy strategies that center the voices and lived experiences of directly impacted communities.
• J.D. or relevant degree preferred.

• Be committed to advancing the mission, vision and values of the ACLU.
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives.
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts.

• Able to input information into a computer for long periods of time.
• Able to assess information communicated through a computer.
• Able to work some evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Able to periodically work long and extended hours.
• Able to travel locally/regionally/across the state as needed.

TOTAL COMPENSATION: The ACLU-WA seeks to provide equitable and competitive compensation for attracting and retaining staff with the skill, judgment, and perseverance to confront challenges to civil rights and civil liberties and build a state where all people live with dignity and equity, enjoying freedoms unimpeded by racial and economic injustice and other forms of oppression. We provide a mix of compensation for staff that is intended to address today’s needs and allow planning for tomorrow and into retirement. As such, the ACLU-WA has adopted a salary scale for measuring how to best compensate its employees.

The salary for this position is $132,959 - $159,250. A range indicates the intention to accommodate those with varying years of relevant experience, as determined by the salary scale.

BENEFITS: Generous benefits include three weeks of vacation, twenty-three sick days, eleven holidays and 2 weeks paid office closure, employer-paid professional development, fully paid employee medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance, an employer contributed retirement plan, student loan reimbursement, family care and adoption assistance, life insurance, and an ORCA card, the regional transportation pass.

ACLU-WA provides laptops, cell phone, home office supplies, certain equipment, and technology support. You will need an effective Wi-Fi connection. This position is eligible for a $150 stipend each month to help cover any additional costs while working from home.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: To apply, please submit a cover letter, writing sample, and résumé on our online job portal. In your cover letter, please explain the ways in which you satisfy the skills and qualifications specified above. We also invite applicants to include how their background and/or experience could contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and advocacy work in their cover letter.

HIRING TIMELINE: This position is open until filled with the first review of candidates scheduled for July 29, 2025. We will schedule interviews with qualified candidates after the first review of candidates.

REFERENCES: Please submit with your application three (3) professional references who can provide feedback about and have direct knowledge of your work experience. Note that there may be outreach to other references that fall outside of your designated list. We will extend a conditional offer of employment before conducting reference checks.

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 identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, socio-economic circumstance, or record of arrest or conviction. We do not conduct criminal background checks on our candidates. People of color, women, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.