ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Disability Accessibility & Inclusion (DAI) Manager on the Disability Accessibility & Inclusion (DAI) Team within the Business Operations and Support Services unit of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a full-time, hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

The Administration and Finance Department provide operational, financial, technical, and human capital support and services for a 550+ person national non-profit organization. The department is integral in creating and sustaining cohesive systems across departments to ensure all staff have access to the resources they need to support ACLU's mission of advancing civil liberties and civil rights. The DAI team supports this critical work by leading the organization in taking a bold, visionary approach to embedding accessibility and inclusion, dismantling ableism, and cultivating a deep culture of belonging.  

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Senior Director, Disability Accessibility & Inclusion (SDDAI), the DAI Manager will be responsible for managing and sustaining the organization’s DAI program, translating strategy into day-to-day operations and cross-functional initiatives. The role partners closely with departments across the organization to embed DAI practices into policies, practices, and ways of working.  

In addition to program management, the DAI Manager will play a key role in supporting organizational culture change by building trust-based relationships, providing guidance and education, and staff support. The DAI Manager is privy to confidential information, including staff survey results and disability-related staff experience. The position requires strong collaboration and sustained engagement to effectively influence practice and outcomes. Success in this role depends on the ability to manage complex initiatives while fostering long-term commitment to DAI across the organization. 

YOUR DAY TO DAY

Strategic Operations  

• Support the DAI Strategic Plan vision and project management, seeking to align it with the ACLU’s overall strategic direction  
• Support the communication of the DAI team’s projects, initiatives, and accomplishments across the organization, ensuring consistent and transparent messaging that highlights progress, key milestones, and the impact of the DAI team’s leadership  
• Help drive project management for specified large DAI-centered cross-departmental and cross-organizational, multi-team, primarily internal-facing projects and initiatives including DAI Steering Committee, working or project groups  
• Collect, monitor, and report on data regarding disability, accessibility, and inclusion goals as well as recruitment, hiring, and attrition trends in collaboration with the HR team  

Program & Project Management   

• Serve as a primary liaison to the Disability Employee Resource Group (ERG) 
• Manage DAI projects, ensure they meet objectives, engage appropriate stakeholders, and effectively communicate status, risks, and deliverables 
• Serve as the DAI team’s main point of contact for external vendors and consultants on projects; oversee vendor and consultant procurement process, gather and submit financial documentation, and work with counsel to generate contracts, all with accuracy and timeliness  
• Lead and conduct yearly organization-wide audits of ACLU practices to assess gaps in workplace accessibility and inclusion, assessing areas of attention and developing action plans to address  
• Monitor alignment of ACLU’s policies and practices with disability law, regulations, the ACLU’s internal disability affirmative action policy, and industry best practices  
• Develop, lead, and evaluate DAI-focused training curriculum and workshops for national staff on topics including but not limited to ableism, disability justice, and inclusion by design 
• Function as a thought partner and collaborator with the SDDAI on developing direct resources and providing informed, expert consultation to the organization on best practices for workplace accommodations, recruiting and hiring staff with disabilities, creating accessible trainings, and confronting ableism and ableist language, etc. 
• Work in concert with the Affiliate Support & Nationwide Initiatives team to provide support and resources for affiliates to integrate DAI principles and practices 
• Serve as the entry point for internal DAI conflict resolution, and assist in developing and providing resources to promote the successful execution of various conflict resolutions 
• Act as a key DAI partner and advisor in programmatic and departmental initiatives 
• Other projects as assigned 

Communications   

• Manage systems for communication so National staff have the most up-to-date information, feel connected to the larger team and mission 
• Create monthly DAI newsletters to cover a wide range of topics; liaise with other departments as needed 
• Maintain, update, and create contents for the intranet pages for the DAI team 

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL 

• 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

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

Strategic & Program Leadership 

• Proven experience in the DAI field, including successfully operationalizing organizational strategy, set goals, track progress, and support multi-department initiatives 
• Strong organizational skills, be detail-oriented and possess the ability to follow projects through to completion 
• Skilled at collecting and analyzing data to assess program impact, inform decisions, and mitigate risks 
• Experience leading complex, cross-organizational projects from planning through implementation and evaluation 
• Experience managing short-term and long-term projects, vendors, with the ability to establish priorities that will effectively utilize the staff’s time and the department’s resources, and following projects through to completion 
• Strong project management skills including the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, clearly communicate progress, and address issues while still meeting required deadlines 

 DAI Expertise & Advisory Experience 

• Deep knowledge of disability, accessibility & inclusion, ableism, and disability justice in workplace systems and culture 
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively with others including cross departmentally as part of a team 
• Demonstrated ability to advise and support staff and partners on accessibility, disability inclusion, and policy alignment 
• Experience conducting organizational assessments or audits and developing actionable improvement plans 

 Education & Training 

• Skilled in identifying learning needs, developing or overseeing DAI-focused training, facilitating workshops, and evaluating effectiveness 
• Ability to translate complex DAI concepts into practical, accessible guidance for staff and leadership 

 Collaboration & Influence 

• Strong relationship- and team-building and consultative skills; ability to influence outcomes without direct authority 
• Experience engaging cross-functional teams, ERGs, vendors, and consultants to achieve DAI initiatives 
• Comfort working in a complex environment with multiple and at times competing priorities and goals 
• Commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts 

 Communication & Operational Management 

• Critical thinker with demonstrated problem-solving skills and the ability to make independent decisions 
• Excellent communication skills for internal messaging, newsletters, reporting, and advising 
• Strong organizational skills for scheduling, procurement, vendor management, and documentation 

COMPENSATION

WHY THE ACLU

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

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

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 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.

The Department of Education has determined that employment in this position at the ACLU does not qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.