The ACLU of Illinois is one of the largest state affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union, a nationwide, non-partisan membership organization dedicated to the defense and expansion of civil rights and civil liberties. The ACLU has been at the forefront of every major battle for civil liberties and social justice in this country and continues to work through integrated advocacy to advance equality, fairness, and freedom, especially for the most vulnerable in our society.

Job Description

Reporting to the Advocacy and Intergovernmental Affairs Director and working closely with the Advocacy team, the Legislative Operations Associate will play a vital role in supporting the ACLU of Illinois's legislative advocacy initiatives. This position provides crucial administrative and logistical support, ensuring the accuracy and operational excellence of legislative activities. The Legislative Operations Associate will also collaborate with colleagues in the Legal, Communications, and Philanthropy & Engagement Departments to promote change using an integrated advocacy approach.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive administrative support to the Advocacy and Intergovernmental Affairs Director and the Advocacy Department.
• Lead the bill tracking and monitoring process, including identifying bills and amendments of interest and tracking organizational positions throughout the legislative cycle.
• Manage the process for submitting legislative analysis, including coordinating with and supporting Advocacy and relevant Legal staff to ensure timely substantive analysis of all bills and amendments of interest.
• Develop and distribute schedules for state and local legislative and administrative hearings, meetings, and related events.
• Coordinate and schedule legislative events.
• Manage legislative documents and databases, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information.
• Prepare and distribute legislative updates, reports, and other relevant materials.
• Assist in the preparation of fact sheets, legislative and policy presentations, and other advocacy materials as needed.
• Maintain effective communication with legislators, staff, coalition partners, and community stakeholders.
• Handle confidential information with discretion and maintain strict confidentiality.
• Assist with special projects and other duties as assigned to support the Advocacy Department's goals.
• Liaise with vendors that provide services for legislative needs (e.g., FastDemocracy and Blueroom Stream), including attending training on function updates, communicating system malfunctions, and training team members.
• Serve as the point of contact for general legislative inquiries and triage them to appropriate team members.
• Manage mandatory reporting for lobbying activities, including lobbyist registration and lobbying expense reporting.
• Coordinate, support, and provide advocacy training to allied organizations and supporters.
• Participate in speaking engagements that advance and support the work of the Advocacy Department and the organization.

• At least 3 years continuous, proven effective, administrative experience, preferably in a legislative or advocacy setting.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.   
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).   
• Proficiency with Canva.
• Proficiency, or the ability to learn, the use of video-based meeting systems (e.g., Zoom, Teams).
• Familiarity with the Illinois legislative process is highly desirable.
• Commitment to the ACLU's mission of protecting and advancing civil liberties and civil rights.
• Experience working with individuals and communities with diverse identities.

Salary and Benefits

The salary for the Legislative Operations Associate is within the collective bargaining contract Classification III-Strategist 1. The minimum salary for this classification is $53,000 annually; depending on the nature of an applicant’s experience and qualifications, the position may pay as much as $62,000. 

Benefits include:

• Vacation: 15 days of paid vacation in the first year and 20 days of paid vacation thereafter. 
• Health benefits: 100% employer-paid premiums for medical, vision, and dental insurance for staff and eligible dependents. 
• Retirement benefits: 6% employer-paid retirement contribution after 1 year without any employee contribution, plus 50% employer retirement match of the first $3000 the employee contributes.
• Other benefits: 100% employer-paid life insurance; employee assistance program; short and long-term disability insurance.  Paid parental leave after 1 year.  Flexible spending account.

The Legislative Operations Associate is an exempt union position that is part of a bargaining unit represented by the National Organization of Legal Services Workers / United Auto Workers Local 2320. ACLU-IL staff are based in Chicago, IL and are currently working on a hybrid in-office / remote work schedule. Staff members will be expected to work in our Chicago office on in-office days.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit the following materials:

• A current resume.
• A cover letter that explains (1) your interest in working for the ACLU of Illinois in this role, and (2) how you meet the qualifications listed above, particularly with the Illinois legislative process, and your commitment to civil rights and liberties.

Applications are due by June 1, 2025, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

ACLU Employment Statement

The ACLU of Illinois is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and 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, criminal record, or veteran status.

The ACLU of Illinois is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance with the online application process, please email our Human Resources Manager at jalicea@aclu-il.org, including the position you are applying for in the subject line. You will receive additional information regarding how to request accommodation for the interview process.