Deputy Director

Overview:

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky is looking for a Deputy Director to join our team. The Deputy Director will be an experienced professional looking for a meaningful opportunity in a proven and vibrant organization that makes profound differences in the lives of individuals. Our mission is timely, our staff is committed to protecting civil liberties, and we are poised to succeed, with a growing community of more than 6,000 donors and members. 

At the ACLU of Kentucky, we take pride in our reputation of more than 65 years of fighting the hard fight for people whose civil liberties are threatened or denied. Two critical components of our work are centering the voices of impacted people and applying a racial justice lens to all aspects of our internal and external functions including but not limited to recruitment and human resources, strategic planning, donor and volunteer relations, Board and committee processes, and deciding what cases to litigate. We are looking for candidates who share our commitment to our values. 

We are currently a team of 17 people that cares deeply about the work we do. We are actively striving to diversify our staff with individuals from underrepresented and marginalized groups who have experience in and share our passion for social justice. 

Position Information:

The Deputy Director will work closely alongside our Executive Director to ensure the organization has the structure necessary to achieve its vision. The Deputy Director will own operationalizing the strategy and delivery of an exceptional employee experience; one that is rooted in transparency, collaboration, equity, integrity, and accountability. 

The Deputy Director is a member of the Management Team and key leader in all aspects of creating systems and controls that promote efficiency and accuracy around the Affiliate’s critical finance, human resources, operations, and administrative needs. Related responsibilities include, but are not limited to, culture building, strategic planning, benefits administration, employee engagement, recruitment, HR administration, employee and labor relations, policy, and compliance.  

The Executive Director is the supervisor for this position. 

Job Responsibilities:

Leadership and Strategy

• Support organization-wide strategic planning and ensure successful implementation process by establishing benchmarks and reporting systems alongside the Executive Director (ED). 
• Counsel ED on large, organizational-wide decision-making to ensure optimal internal success, impact, and adherence to EDIB aspirations. 
• Stand in for the Executive Director as needed/requested. 

Finance and Operations

• Lead point of contact for external accountants, auditors, banks, and other financial institutions to ensure sound management of financial operations. 
• Oversee affiliate finances including budgeting, payroll, internal controls, and financial reporting. 
• Ensure compliance with required reporting and practices of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations. 
• Coordinate with department leaders and the National Office on affiliate financial matters. 
• Along with the ED and Board of Directors, ensure that the organization’s professional liability, property, workers comp, and other insurance policies are maintained with frequent reviews and updates as necessary. 
• Supervise the Executive Administrator to ensure the smooth functioning of the office and organization. 
• Serve as staff liaison to the Board of Directors EDIB and Admin Board Committees. 
• Ensure that operational and administrative systems support the equitable and inclusive treatment of staff, board, volunteers, clients, and members. 

Human Resources

• Lead core HR functions, including management and administration of organization’s benefits: leave time, medical insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance. Coordinate with the National Office on short- and long-term disability insurance and retirement benefits programs. 
• Ensure that the organization’s commitment to equity, inclusion, diversity, and belonging informs all HR decisions, policies, and systems. 
• Serve alongside Executive Director in collective bargaining negotiations. 
• Operationalize and administer resulting labor relations policies and agreements. 
• Lead in all complaint and grievance discussions and investigations, formalizing HR recordkeeping and ensuring legal compliance of all employee files and information. Consult with legal counsel as needed on personnel matters. 
• Maintain awareness and knowledge of labor law and assure organizational compliance including providing training and direction to directors, managers, and staff to ensure they are fully informed of HR requirements, objectives, and plans. 
• Research, develop, and implement organizational policies and procedures, all with an equity lens, including the employee handbook, quarterly performance management system, job descriptions, and other materials. 

Job Qualifications:

While no candidate will possess every quality, the successful candidate will possess many of the following qualifications and attributes:  

• A commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU of Kentucky. 
• Commitment to principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB). 
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with multiple demands, shifting priorities, ambiguity, and rapid change and growth. This includes the ability to problem-solve both collaboratively and independently. 
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion. 
• Have experience with labor unions and managing/HR in a unionized environment. 
• Exceptional analytical, research, writing, and oral advocacy skills, as well as the ability to articulate regulatory labor concepts and complex issues and communicate them appropriately and effectively to a variety of audiences. 
• Display emotional intelligence by being a diplomatic advocate with active listening skills who can connect with people with cultural humility, build relationships across differences, and navigate and resolve conflict in a manner that values and respects relationships with people at all levels, both within and outside of the organization.  
• Management experience supervising professional staff, managing budgets, and effectively handling multiple priorities and projects. 
• Experience with fiscal management, strategic planning, and familiarity with nonprofit financial reports. 
• Proven ability to build and nurture a calm and positive working environment, especially in high-intensity situations. 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, keep organized in a fast-paced environment, manage simultaneous projects, and adjust strategy to changing demands. 
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with colleagues across departments. 

Compensation:

The annual salary for this position is $113,913. 

We understand how vital our work is and at the same time understand the toll engaged activism can take. Our goal is to retain staff and we believe that having a robust benefit offering is vital in meeting that goal. Our benefits include paid vacation in addition to 20 office holidays, a monthly All-Staff Day of Rest, and four floating holidays scheduled at the employee’s discretion; paid sick leave, fully employer-paid medical, vision and dental insurance for staff members, life and long-term disability insurance; 401(k) plan with employer match; and FSA Healthcare savings plan options. 

How to Apply:

To apply, please send the following to savanah@aclu-ky.org (all attachments should be in Word or .pdf format): 

• Letter of interest/cover letter 
• CV/Resume 
• Project Sample: Please share a report, memo, Power Point or other presentation, that summarizes a policy and/or procedure that you created and implemented in a past role. Ideally, the sample submitted would include a description of the project or policy, goals, measures of success, the implementation plan, and outcomes (including lessons learned, successes, areas for future improvement) 
• Three professional references (relationship, email address, and phone numbers) 

The priority deadline for applications is November 30, 2023, though applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. 

Accommodations:

The ACLU of Kentucky is an equal-opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. ACLU-KY 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. 

We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodations in the application process to contact Savanah Taylor at savanah@aclu-ky.org.