Project Manager, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the term-limited, full-time position of Project Manager (Two-Year) in the Executive Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.

The Executive Department is led by ACLU’s Executive Director and provides leadership for the organization as a whole. It is integral in promoting a cohesive vision across departments and affiliates working to ensure alignment that is in support of the ACLU's common mission of preserving civil liberties and civil rights. The Executive Department is also responsible for the ACLU’s national board and several special projects including the Advocacy Institute and Research Program.

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer (CEIO), the Project Manager will support the work of the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) team by providing project oversight and coordination of cross-departmental work. This position will be responsible for supporting projects related to new and existing EDIB programs. This is a two-year term-limited position.

This position will participate in meetings and discussions of a highly strategic and confidential nature (including personnel matters), will liaise with staff regarding team and organizational initiatives, and will manage the structure, schedule and internal communication plans for related projects to drive their successful completion.

Our ideal candidate is a problem solver with a high level of integrity and discretion, excellent judgement, and a service-oriented, can-do attitude, who takes pride in anticipating the needs of others.

This position requires handling and safeguarding highly sensitive and confidential information related to both organizational operations and employee matters. The Project Manager must exercise exceptional discretion, sound judgment, and a deep understanding of the importance of privacy and trust in all aspects of the role.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

Project Management

• Serve as lead for a wide range of initiatives, projects and special assignments tasked by the CEIO, including establishing objectives, determining priorities, identifying risks, managing progress, gaining cooperation of others, assisting in resolving potential conflicts, and managing communications
• Work with EDIB team members to determine priorities, evaluate org-wide needs, and drive project completion
• Develop project plans including detailed steps for implementation, process definition, user roll out, training, and communications
• Facilitate the definition of project scope, goals, and deliverables, managing project schedule to ensure project is on time, in scope, and within budget
• Design and implement methods for tracking deliverables, schedules, and metrics for projects, providing clear tasks and accountability for project workstream leaders and team members to ensure deliverables adhere to internal quality standards
• Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation, providing a clear historical record of decisions, systems, procedures and communications involved in each project’s completion
• Execute specific tasks within projects, including drafting communications, systems build-out and testing, and creating project evaluation and presentation materials
• Provide the CEIO and other leadership regular updates on the progress of projects; manage project close out steps and post-mortems
• Serve as the EDIB team’s main point of contact for external vendors and consultants on projects; oversee vendor and consultant procurement process, gather and submit financial documentation, and work with counsel to generate contracts, all with accuracy and timeliness
• Manage the seamless transition of completed projects to long-term owners of related workstreams, including creating and implementing effective roll-out plans, conducting post-completion evaluations to determine successful/unsuccessful project elements, and training of long-term workstream owners

Communications

• Manage systems for communication so National staff have the most up-to-date information, feel connected to the larger team and mission
• Serve as a clearinghouse for EDIB communications and correspondence, including internal program documents – editing, standardizing, and consolidating all internal and external messages to ensure consistency of voice and perspective
• Draft regular organization-wide communication(s) from EDIB including newsletters; liaise with Communications, Tech, and Internal Communications counterparts as necessary
• Leverage the interconnectedness of projects and work cross-departmentally to ensure projects are realized
• Create content for, manage, and update intranet pages for the EDIB team
• Collect and prepare information for meetings with staff and external stakeholders

Special Projects

• Designing and producing documents, reports, and presentations for special projects as needed
• Prepare ad hoc reports that may require researching, gathering, and organizing information from a variety of sources including confidential sources such as the staff engagement survey and staffing trends data
• Conduct research and analyses, at the direction of CEIO; topics may include people management, organizational design, culture, learning and development, recruiting, retention, staff engagement, professional development, and others related to EDIB initiatives
• Support directors, associate directors, and other staff working under the CEIO with special projects as assigned

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL 

• Be committed to advancing the mission 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

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Exceptional organizational, planning, and project management skills with demonstrated ability to manage large, complex projects and coordinate collaborative work processes involving multiple stakeholders preferred
• Excellent judgement with ability to maintain a high level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Flexibility to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously from a variety of sources, ability to switch gears at a moment’s notice
• Highly organized with above-average attention to detail
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; ability to design and edit graphic presentations and materials at an intermediate level using Microsoft Office applications
• Willingness to conquer the “small tasks” with an understanding of their vital importance in the success of the team
• Ability to complete a high volume of tasks and projects with little or no guidance
• Extensive experience in a project management role, including supporting a team in a fast-paced environment at a large non-profit organization preferred

COMPENSATION

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage 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, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.    

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

 

The Department of Education has determined that employment in this position at the ACLU does not qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.