Director of Strategy & Innovation
aclu
New York, New York, United States; Washington, District of Columbia, United States · New York · United States
Posted Aug 11, 2026
- Full-time
- Hybrid
- Exec
aclu
New York, New York, United States; Washington, District of Columbia, United States · New York · United States
Posted Aug 11, 2026
The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Director of Strategy & Innovation in the Strategy Office of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY or Washington, DC. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.
The ACLU works on some of the most pressing civil rights and civil liberties issues facing American society today. The Strategy Office supports the ACLU to advance civil rights and liberties for all through the development and delivery of a bold strategy with shared goals that maximizes our impact today and in the long-term. The office resides within the Executive Department, which drives strategic direction, governance partnership, and a values-driven and inclusive culture.
The Director of Strategy & Innovation will report to the Chief Strategy Officer and work collaboratively with other members of the Strategy Office and stakeholders across the organization.
The Strategy Office sets strategy at multiple levels within the organization, that sync with and reinforce the others. The ACLU's 2030 Strategy is the result of a national strategic planning process that aligns the organization around a set of strategic priorities – some are related to how we advance fundamental civil rights and liberties issues while others are focused on more internal aspects of our theory of change. The Strategy Office facilitates this strategy setting process every four years in close partnership with organizational leadership and then serves as the central engine to drive implementation. Each year, departments create annual plans that define their priorities and translate them into coherent, executable strategies to advance the 2030 Strategy, utilizing the frameworks, tools, and guidance provided by the Strategy Office. These plans form the foundation for resource allocation decisions. The Strategy Office also works with cross-functional experts (Legal, Communications, and Advocacy) to create clear actionable strategies for the ACLU’s leading 5-7 issues (e.g., immigration, voting rights, LGBTQ rights). The Strategy Office works deeply with cross-departmental issue teams to develop issue-based strategic plans that align shared goals and tactics.
The Director will work with organizational leadership and subject matter experts to set strategy across these levels and will identify, incubate, promote and advance bold innovative shifts that will take the ACLU to the next level. The Director will support the organization in successful strategy delivery, driving priority initiatives and monitoring progress and capturing learnings along the way. The Director of Strategy & Innovation serves as an internal convener, steward, and integrator of the ACLU’s work – creating strategic alignment and coordinated execution across many departments within the organization.
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:
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 complete the Accommodation Request Form
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.