The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (ACLU-TN) seeks a creative, strategic champion of civil rights and liberties to join our team as a policy strategist. The policy strategist will work collaboratively across the organization and alongside allied community partners, using strategic policy advocacy tactics to advance bold and impactful change in areas such as free speech and censorship, racial justice, trans justice, democracy and voting rights, and immigration. The ideal candidate has strong policy research and analysis skills, a deep understanding of advocacy tactics to influence policymakers and elected officials, and a commitment to advancing civil rights and liberties for all Tennesseans. The policy strategist reports to the policy director.

Responsibilities

Job responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Legislative Advocacy and Policy Strategy

• Advance ACLU-TN’s legislative and public policy agenda at the state, city, and county levels.
• Research and analyze local, state, and national laws and policies affecting Tennessee communities.
• Help develop and implement lobbying and advocacy strategies that advance ACLU-TN’s strategic priorities before the Tennessee General Assembly, governor’s office, and other governmental bodies.
• Support legislative advocacy efforts during legislative sessions (typically Jan-April) and special legislative sessions, including:

• • Tracking and analyzing legislation;
  • Preparing and delivering testimony, briefing materials, and policy recommendations;
  • Meeting with lawmakers, legislative staff, agency leaders, and other government stakeholders; and
  • Building productive bipartisan relationships to advance policy objectives.

• Gather, analyze, and report on quantitative and qualitative data related to policy goals and priorities.
• Produce policy and advocacy tools, including testimony, memoranda, policy papers and reports, talking points and fact sheets, advocacy letters, know-your-rights guides, and public commentary, collaborating with other departments as appropriate.

Relationship Building and Community Partnerships

• Forge and maintain relationships with government officials, community leaders, allied organizations, legislative staff, agency decision-makers, and lobbyists.
• Represent ACLU-TN in various community settings, working groups, and stakeholder groups; attend and help facilitate coalitions with diverse stakeholders and work in partnership with other organizations to advance shared policy goals.
• Strategically work with the community engagement department to engage ACLU-TN members and volunteers in legislative advocacy.

Communications and External Relations

• Assist ACLU-TN communications staff with their communications with supporters regarding the status of priority legislation during the session and other campaigns, including social media and website updates, action emails to supporters, bill summaries and talking points, and explainer videos.
• Work with ACLU-TN communications staff to occasionally serve as the organization's spokesperson, including through media interviews, op-eds, and articles, and provide support and guidance on communications strategies related to policy issues.
• Represent ACLU-TN at public forums, conferences, meetings, and in other settings with other external stakeholders.

Reporting and Administrative Duties

• Maintain accurate, organized, and up-to-date records, files, and policy resources.
• Track priority legislation and maintain legislative calendars, hearing schedules, and advocacy timelines.
• Prepare timely reports, updates, and analyses regarding advocacy activities, legislative developments, and program outcomes.
• Support departmental planning, project management, and administrative functions as needed.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

• Advance ACLU-TN’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in advocacy strategies, organizational practices, and community partnerships.
• Contribute to department and organization-wide efforts to ensure programs, policies, and engagement practices are inclusive, equitable, and responsive to impacted communities.

Other Duties

• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the policy director

Hybrid Work Environment

ACLU-TN headquarters is in Nashville, Tennessee, and the Policy Strategist position is based in our Nashville office. While we welcome applications from candidates nationwide, the successful candidate must establish and maintain residency in Tennessee and reside within the Nashville-Davidson County Metropolitan Statistical Area.

This role requires a substantial in-person presence to effectively support legislative advocacy, coalition-building, stakeholder engagement, and organizational collaboration. Because legislative activity often requires timely, on-the-ground engagement, the Policy Strategist is expected to work primarily from the Nashville area and be available for frequent in-person meetings, events, and advocacy activities, particularly during the Tennessee General Assembly's legislative session.

ACLU-TN operates under a hybrid work model. Outside of the legislative session, staff are generally expected to work from the Nashville office at least eight (8) days per month; however, additional in-office and in-person participation may be required based on the demands of the role. Candidates residing outside Tennessee at the time of application will be considered but must relocate prior to the start of employment.

Limited travel throughout Tennessee may be required to support advocacy efforts, coalition-building, community engagement, and other organizational priorities. Occasional limited out-of-state travel may also be required.

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Featured

yes

Expirationdate

2026-10-02 00:00:00

Url

https://impactopportunity.org/job/9142/policy-strategist/

Remote

hybrid

Salaryfrom

65000

Salaryto

70000

Companydescription

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (ACLU-TN) is dedicated to translating the guarantees of the Bill of Rights into reality for all Tennesseans. We are an enduring guardian of justice, freedom, fairness and equality, working to protect and advance civil liberties and civil rights for all Tennesseans. Our goal is to preserve the Bill of Rights for future generations.

We also work to extend rights to individuals and communities who have traditionally been denied their rights, including people of color; LGBTQ people; women; prisoners; people with disabilities; and the poor. If the rights of society’s most vulnerable members are denied, everybody’s rights are imperiled.

Companywebsite

https://www.aclu-tn.org/

Companylocation

Nashville, TN, USA