Application Guide

How to Apply for Policy Strategist

at American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey

🏢 About American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey

The ACLU of New Jersey has been the state's leading defender of civil liberties for over 60 years, combining litigation, lobbying, and grassroots organizing to protect the rights of all New Jerseyans. Unlike many nonprofits, it operates as both a legal powerhouse and a policy advocate, giving staff the unique ability to fight for change in courts, the legislature, and communities simultaneously. Working here means joining a legacy of impact—from criminal legal reform to voting rights—while pushing bold, progressive solutions in a state that often serves as a national bellwether.

About This Role

As a Policy Strategist, you'll be the architect of ACLU-NJ's legislative and policy campaigns, turning research and community input into concrete strategies that influence lawmakers at the federal, state, city, and county levels. You'll work across departments—legal, communications, organizing—and with allied partners to advance priorities like privacy and technology protection, racial justice, criminal legal reform, democracy and voting rights, and immigration. This is a hands-on role where your analysis and advocacy tactics directly shape laws and policies that affect millions of New Jerseyans.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve researching a pending bill, drafting a policy brief or testimony, and then meeting with coalition partners to coordinate lobbying efforts. You could also be on a call with legislators or their staff, strategizing with the communications team on a press release, or attending a community event to gather input. The pace is fast, the issues are complex, and every day brings a chance to make a tangible difference in people's lives.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey Is Looking For

  • Proven experience in policy research and analysis, with a track record of translating complex laws and data into actionable advocacy strategies—ideally in civil rights, civil liberties, or social justice.
  • Deep knowledge of legislative processes and advocacy tactics at multiple levels of government (state, local, federal), including direct lobbying, coalition building, and grassroots mobilization.
  • Strong commitment to ACLU-NJ's mission and a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse communities, especially those historically marginalized, and to center their voices in policy campaigns.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear policy briefs, testimony, and strategic plans, and to represent the organization in public forums and with policymakers.

📝 Tips for Applying to American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey

1

Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight specific policy wins or campaigns you've led, especially those related to ACLU-NJ's priority areas (e.g., privacy, racial justice, criminal legal reform, voting rights, immigration).

2

Demonstrate familiarity with New Jersey's political landscape and key legislative players—mention specific bills, coalitions, or local advocates you've worked with or followed.

3

Show your ability to work across teams by describing past collaborations with legal, organizing, or communications staff, and how you integrated community partners into policy strategy.

4

Use the cover letter to articulate why you're drawn to ACLU-NJ's unique dual approach of litigation and policy advocacy, and give an example of how you've used both inside and outside tactics to influence decision-makers.

5

If you have experience in any of the five priority areas, lead with that—but also show adaptability and willingness to learn other issue areas, as the role may shift with emerging threats.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific policy advocacy experience: describe a campaign you helped design and execute, including the research, coalition-building, and lobbying tactics used, and the outcome achieved.', "Your understanding of ACLU-NJ's mission and how you've advanced civil rights and liberties in previous roles—be concrete about issues and communities impacted.", 'Your ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including community partners, legislators, and internal teams, and how you navigate disagreements to build consensus.', "Why you want to work at ACLU-NJ specifically: mention the organization's legacy, its integrated advocacy model, and your commitment to New Jersey or similar political contexts."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review ACLU-NJ's recent policy victories and active campaigns on their website, annual reports, and press releases to understand their current priorities and tone.
  • → Study New Jersey's legislative process, key committees, and influential legislators on civil rights issues, as well as recent state laws related to privacy, criminal justice, voting, and immigration.
  • → Follow ACLU-NJ on social media and read op-eds or testimony from their staff to get a sense of their public messaging and advocacy style.
  • → Identify local coalition partners and community organizations that ACLU-NJ frequently collaborates with, and understand the dynamics of those partnerships.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you develop a policy strategy for one of ACLU-NJ's priority areas (e.g., privacy and technology protection) in New Jersey, given the current political landscape?
2 Describe a time you had to adapt your advocacy tactics in response to legislative opposition or a shifting political environment. What was the result?
3 How do you ensure community voices, especially those directly affected by policies, are centered in your policy work? Give an example.
4 What is your experience working with coalitions that include organizations with different agendas? How do you manage those relationships to advance a shared goal?
5 Why do you want to work at ACLU-NJ, and how do you see this role contributing to the broader civil liberties movement?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that could apply to any policy role—showing no specific knowledge of ACLU-NJ's work or New Jersey's political context.
  • Focusing only on national policy experience without demonstrating ability to navigate state and local legislative processes, which are central to this role.
  • Neglecting to mention collaboration with community partners or affected communities, which is a core value of ACLU-NJ's advocacy approach.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey!

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