Managing Editor

The ACLU seeks a full-time position of Managing Editorin the Communications and Marketing Department of the ACLU's National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

The ACLU Communications and Marketing Department creates, maintains, and amplifies messages and narratives to engage our supporters and other target audiences, to help protect and expand civil liberties and civil rights, and illustrate the value and impact of the ACLU's transformational work. Through our messaging, engagement with newsmakers, written content, creative branding, cultivation of celebrity and influencer talent and visual identity, we encourage support for the ACLU and help to build a more perfect union.

Reporting to the Director of Storytelling, the Managing Editorwill play a critical role in strategizing, writing and overseeing the generation of content for the ACLU's blog. The Managing Editor will ensure the blog's alignment to the overall audience engagement strategies and issue-based communications strategies that advance the ACLU's work on civil liberties and civil rights. The role will partner with colleagues in the communications and marketing departments, as well as organizers, lawyers, lobbyists, state advocates, affiliates, and partner organizations to produce written content for ACLU channels and external news publications. The position will help shape the content strategy to engage target audiences about ACLU as a nationwide institution, including its litigation, advocacy, and organizational efforts.

• Establish, manage and maintain the highest editorial standards across the ACLU in the creation and production of short- and long-form content
  • Produce and keep updated style guide for all written ACLU content
• Manage daily workflow and production of written content, including setting and managing deadlines that take into account reviews from stakeholders
• Actively contribute to the blog content & solicit blog posts and other written content from ACLU national and affiliate staff, allies, and external contributors and manage the editing process for the blog
• Manage and oversee editorial staff, including writers, copyeditors and editorial interns
• Lead proactive strategic thinking and material development around written content needs on priority issues, campaigns, and projects to ensure strong, on-message, compelling writing
• Partner with content creators to uncover and pursue story outreach opportunities and contribute written assignments to the content calendar that includes articles, blog posts, op-eds, long-form pieces, reports, and special projects. Content on calendar will both anticipate media moments and react to breaking news
• Build and cultivate a stable of external contributors for ACLU content that includes known, respected writers, partner organizations and thought leaders whose expertise and stature will grow our audience and reach.
  • Manage freelance writers and editors and assign content generation when appropriate
• Liaise with Brand Studio colleagues, particularly the creative services, to ensure content is leveraged effectively, creatively, and collaboratively across platforms; work across departments and functions to ensure that all written material reflects the organization's positions and branding
• Partner with digital production, social, paid and digital campaigns colleagues to collect, analyze, and react to content metrics to ensure quality and identify opportunities for improving content viewership and engagement
• Work closely with senior staff and communications team members as appropriate, to develop or revise messaging for consistency and maximum impact for written products and content
• Write and/or edit major reports and long-form content, in partnership with colleagues, author(s), outside partners/vendors, and the Communications department staff
• Provide copy writing assistance, support for products including video scripts, editorial guidance, and editing on other editorial products to ACLU national and affiliate staff as needed, including op-eds, research reports, podcast, and more
• Manage rapid-response content needs

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

• Demonstrated experience writing and editing, some of which was for nonprofit/advocacy purposes
• Outstanding writing and editing skills, with command of AP style and proven record of publication
• An adaptable and collaborative work style with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet project timelines
• Familiarity with political, legal, and news media landscapes
• Experience working with digital content and blogs
• Excellent Microsoft Office Suite skills
• You've successfully navigated and thrive in multi-faceted environments and can skillfully balance established priority issues as well as of-the-moment priorities
• A demonstrated interest in and commitment to civil rights and/or civil liberties advocacy
• Experience exercising judgment in breaking news and rapid response environments

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in a related field (e.g. journalism) 
• Experience working on issue-based advocacy and public awareness campaigns, and in communicating complex issues to a variety of targeted audiences
• Experience in a nonprofit organization of comparable complexity and scale, a news outlet, or a communications agency 

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
• 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

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 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 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 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.