Job Description

American Civil Liberties Union of Florida

Executive Director

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of executive director. The ACLU of Florida is one of 54 state affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union, an organization that has served as the preeminent defender of civil liberties/civil rights in this country since 1920. Headquartered in Miami, the ACLU of Florida has 42 employees and four offices throughout the state.

Democracy is in crisis in the state of Florida. The governor and state legislature continue to pass unconstitutional bills and enact devastating policies that assault frontline communities and individuals across the state, stripping Floridians of their civil rights and liberties and turning the state into a testing ground for an anti-democratic agenda.

The attacks have been relentless and on all fronts. In the last year alone, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and First Amendment protections have come under assault. The ACLU of Florida staff has worked vigorously to defend against these attacks and to expand and protect voting rights, protect First Amendment freedoms against censorship of library books and what can be taught in classrooms, reform the deeply flawed criminal justice system, and protect immigrant communities.

This is an extremely important time for the ACLU of Florida that will set its course for the future. It is a moment of great opportunity as the organization is building a new board of directors and positioning the affiliate to resist a wave of unprecedented attacks on the most fundamental civil rights and liberties. While this is a challenging time for the organization, the foundation of work that the ACLU of Florida has built over the past 58 years will enable the affiliate to continue to protect and defend the rights of the people of Florida.

The ACLU of Florida seeks a proven leader who is energized by the challenges of the moment and the many others that will emerge. The next executive director will have strong leadership and management skills, a track record of exceptional accomplishment, and experience leading change. The position requires emotional intelligence and proven experience building high-performing teams, a deep understanding of and commitment to protecting civil liberties/civil rights, and a record of successful problem-solving, strategic planning, fundraising, and financial leadership. A comprehensive position specification, with additional information about the ACLU of Florida and the attributes sought in the next executive director, will be available on the Spelman Johnson website at https://www.spelmanandjohnson.com/position/executive-director-aclu-of-florida/.

The ACLU of Florida has retained Spelman Johnson to assist with this search. While applications will be accepted until a new executive director is selected, interested individuals are encouraged to submit their application materials by January 29, 2024, to assure full consideration. A resume with a cover letter that addresses the responsibilities and requirements outlined in the position specification may be submitted via the Spelman Johnson website at www.spelmanjohnson.com/open-positions.

Confidential inquiries and nominations should be directed to Jim Norfleet, practice leader and senior consultant, at jmn@spelmanjohnson.com. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson by phone at 413-529-2895 or email at info@spelmanjohnson.com.

Visit the ACLU of Florida website at www.aclufl.org.

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, 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.

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