Chapter Relations Administrator jobs in Mcallen, TX

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks an experienced, strategic and visionary full-time Chapter Director, ACLU of Puerto Rico to lead it’s work in the ACLU’s National Chapter office in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

The American Civil liberties Union Foundation (ACLU), founded in 1920, is a nationwide, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with more than 1,200,000 members and is dedicated to the principles of liberty and equality embodied in the Constitution.  The ACLU of Puerto Rico chapter was founded in 1994 and staffed its first office in 2002 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ACLU of Puerto Rico, however, has a long and rich history in Puerto Rico, dating back to the 1937 Ponce Massacre in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. 

WHAT YOU'LL DO

The Chapter Director balances many different interests of various constituent groups and individuals while grounded in a strong knowledge of Puerto Rico’s history and culture, political landscape, geopolitical relationships, and powers within its status as a U.S. territory. The position requires a collaborative and driven leader with a broad range of knowledge and contacts, a deep understanding of Puerto Rico’s complexities and their implications for advancing the work and goals of the ACLU. The ideal candidate will possess strong organizational and leadership acumen, fundraising, communications, critical thinking and interpersonal skills, and outstanding judgment.

The Chapter Director is responsible for providing direction and leadership toward achieving the organization’s philosophy, mission, strategies and annual goals and objectives. The Chapter Director is responsible for ensuring that the organization is fiscally sound and harnessing its resources to best meet the current and emergent needs and interests of its constituents in programming, development, advocacy, and internal and external communications.  As a Chapter of the ACLU, the ACLU of Puerto Rico is funded by the National Office and the Chapter Director reports to the Director, Affiliate Support and Nationwide Initiatives. 

YOUR DAY TO DAY

The Chapter Director will be adept at balancing internal management with external impact and visibility. The individual must be an outstanding communicator who is able to advance the ACLU's mission and goals in Puerto Rico through adept leadership that builds programs, the chapter's financial health and stability, important partnerships that maximize the organization’s influence, and effectively conveys the mission and activities of the ACLU to a variety of constituencies and broader public. The Chapter Director is adept at creating high-performing teams and operates from a collaborative mindset. 

Executive Leadership and Vision

• Lead the organization’s staff to a shared vision, goals, and strategies that advance and align with the ACLU’s mission and program goals
• Operate strategically in a political and social environment where success depends on the ability to work effectively with individuals and organizations across the political spectrum
• Serve as the chief marketer, fundraiser, communicator, and spokesperson
• Grow and expand the ACLU’s reputation, developing and maintaining key relationships of influence
• Exhibit courage and clarity when addressing highly controversial and complex issues
• Collaborate with National Office staff and programs to advance opportunities for collaboration and aligned efforts
• Motivate and maintain a cohesive staff, ensuring strong internal communication and collaboration and where independent and innovative thinking is encouraged, and staff act with clarity of mission, purpose, and kindness; Promote an environment of continuous improvement, learning, and effectiveness
• Guard the organization’s integrity, credibility, and non-partisanship
• Champion and value diversity, equity, and inclusion at every level of the organization; strive towards a culture of belonging
• Ensure the smooth functioning of the office and operations. 

Program Management

• Set and drive, in collaboration with staff and advisors, the organization’s issue priorities with clear vision and strategies that build organizational power and influence, leveraging past successes and adapting effectively to the external environment
• Ensure disciplined prioritization of the work within a respectful culture of accountability, with clear program goals, strategies to accomplish goals, and regular feedback
• Ensure strong relationships with national program staff that leverage the full weight of the organization

Strategic Financial Management

• Lead and oversee long-term financial planning activities that balance a future vision with financial and legal risk considerations, ensuring use of best practices that meet the highest standards
• Anticipate funding needs and seek out opportunities to meet those needs
• Lead strategies to expand financial resources available to the organization in coordination with the National Office, pursuing opportunities to seek new sources of funds including grants, individual donations, and in-kind support
• Collaborate with national staff to implement the national fundraising model, participate in nationwide convenings, and ensure that fundraising platforms are used well in the affiliate
• Produce transparent financial reports, audits, and budgets as required by the National Office

External Relations and Public Representation

• Increase the organization’s visibility and public’s understanding by clearly articulating and communicating to diverse audiences in Spanish and in English, as required, the organization’s positions, rationale, and work on a broad array of complex issues
• Maintain strong relationships with the local and national media, guiding organizational strategy, and working effectively with the national communications staff to maximize nationwide messaging and amplify local priorities
• Convey an inspiring vision and communicate with intention and clarity about decisions and rationale
• Communicate with a wide range of stakeholders with empathy, emotional intelligence, transparency, and respect; work effectively in cross-cultural settings
• Value a diverse set of voices to represent the organization’s positions on its work
• Initiate and strengthen relationships and collaborations with organizations and leaders who are connected to ACLU’s mission and purpose

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

While no one person will embody them all, strong candidates will have many of the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics:

• A minimum of ten years of professional experience in ACLU priority areas, and a Bachelor’s degree. An advanced degree and prior nonprofit experience are preferred.
• Full bilingual (Spanish/English) speaking and writing abilities and deep understanding of Puerto Rico’s history and culture, and political landscape. Experience in delivering both formal and extemporaneous presentations.
• Firm commitment to the mission and principles of the ACLU, with an understanding of the range of civil liberties issues and their implications, particularly in reference to Puerto Rico
• Unquestionable professional integrity and commitment to advancing civil rights and liberties universally.
• Professional and personal connections to Puerto Rico
• Capacity to inspire and conceptualize, express ideas, and anticipate and act on events which may create opportunities for the ACLU.
• An entrepreneur who is creative, strategic, resourceful, and politically astute; someone who understands the value of creating partnerships with other organizations as a way of accomplishing the ACLU’s goals.
• Proven fundraising and financial management experience with a solid track-record of success
• Proven managerial, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and human resource experience in the private, not-for-profit, or public sectors.
• Ability to see opportunity ahead and lead the organization to a shared vision of its future and be able to translate vision into action.
• Ability to advance equity and inclusiveness when analyzing issues and making decisions.
• Use of data to make decisions.
• Ability to build and nurture a positive working environment, even in high intensity situations.
• Proven and successful track record in creating and implementing programs.
• Demonstrated experience creating partnerships and collaborations with diverse personalities and talents.
• Experience working with volunteers.
• Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills, and ability to work independently and as a member of a team. A team player that inspires collaboration and functions decisively
• Creative, result-oriented, self-starting, willing to learn, and able to manage an aggressive schedule, working beyond 9-5 as needed.
• A highly effective networker
• An energetic person who can work in a high-pressure environment, handle and prioritize multiple activities and responsibilities.
• Outgoing and straightforward; one who shares information easily, listens as well as gives advice, and respects and enhances the abilities of others.
• Emotionally mature and self-confident, with a sense of humor to maintain balance and perspective.
• Proficiency with computers: Windows and Microsoft Office in particular

COMPENSATION

HOW TO APPLY 

Candidates are encouraged to apply electronically by March 15, 2024 by sending the following materials to Janice Petrovich at Petrovich.search@gmail.com:

Please submit the following, addressed to the American Civil Liberties Union Search Committee:

• Cover letter describing your interest in ACLU of Puerto Rico and its mission, how your skills and experiences relate to the desired Chapter Director profile, and your connection to Puerto Rico and understanding of its unique history, politics, and culture.
• Resume
• The names and contact information of three references.
• Referrals, letters, and application materials submitted will be held in strict confidence.

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 (up to xx) days off per year)
• 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 COMMITTMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION 

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. 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 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.

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, 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. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people; women; people with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply.

The ACLU makes every effort to assure that its recruitment and employment provide all qualified persons, including persons with disabilities, with full opportunities for employment in all positions.

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.