The Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer of the ACLU and is responsible for giving direction and leadership toward achieving the organization’s philosophy, mission, strategies and annual goals and objectives. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director ensures that the organization is fiscally sound and that its internal and external communications, fund development, and programs are meeting the current and emergent needs and interests of its constituents.

Full Description
With about 12 board members, staff of 15 and budget of $2.1 million, the ACLU of Alaska is a dynamic, not-for-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization that engages in litigation, lobbying, public education, and multi-platform communications and field organizing to protect and promote civil liberties/civil rights throughout Alaska. The ACLU of Alaska is headquartered in Anchorage.

The ACLU of Alaska, founded in 1971, is one of 54 affiliates of the national ACLU, an organization that has served as the preeminent defender of civil liberties/civil rights in this country since 1920. In addition to partnering with staff members from our national offices and other affiliates on specific issues and projects, the ACLU of Alaska frequently joins forces with other organizations to maximize its impact in Alaska and beyond.

The ACLU’s national reputation is built on nearly a century of effective advocacy at every level of the justice system. While the organization undertakes exceptional work out of its headquarters, the ACLU’s greatest strength is its network of state affiliates, and the more than 1100 staff who work out of the state offices. The state affiliates and their staff constitute an unparalleled bulwark in the defending and advancing civil liberties and civil rights. While each of the state affiliates enjoys significant autonomy in determining programs and priorities appropriate to each state, the organization has increasingly operated as one nationwide organization rather than a federation of loosely-affiliated organizations

The ACLU of Alaska comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska and the ACLU Foundation of Alaska. Both entities have the same overall mission and share office space and employees. The ACLU Alaska has two separate corporate entities in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties.
The ACLU of Alaska operates in accordance with the following principles:

• We are equitable, knowing that the strength of Alaska’s justice ecosystem lies in reciprocity and relationship
• We are generational, building strong, integrated systems that sustain organizational wellness and longevity
• We are transparent, remaining accountable to our community, our staff, and our constitutions
• We are place based, rooting our work in the strengths of the communities and lands we serve

Position Overview
The ACLU of Alaska seeks an experienced, strategic, and visionary chief executive to lead the organization’s statewide advocacy agenda during this important moment when civil liberties and civil rights are front and center across the nation and in Alaska. The Executive Director will possess strong vision, organizational acumen, fundraising and interpersonal skills, outstanding judgment and be a critical thinker. The Executive Director is able to lead the work and assimilate and balance many different interests of various constituent groups and individuals. The Executive Director will champion the organization’s mission and values and lead the development of strategies on the organization’s core priority areas, ensuring that the national office and affiliates together achieve shared performance outcomes.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is adept at balancing internal management with external impact and visibility. The individual must be an outstanding communicator who is able to develop and maintain relationships that ensure financial health and stability, build important partnerships that maximize the organization’s influence, and effectively convey the mission and activities of the ACLU to a variety of constituencies and broader public. The position requires a collaborative and driven leader with a broad range of knowledge and contacts, and significant commitment to the furtherance of civil liberties/civil rights.

Key Responsibilities
The Executive Director provides the leadership, vision, and strategic planning necessary to address civil liberties/civil rights issues in Alaska and to possess the leadership skills and vision to ensure that the affiliate is well positioned to meet the challenges of the future. The Executive Director should possess a proven track-record as a leader in diverse nonprofit organizations, including a strong track record in fundraising, management, and external relations. Key elements of the role include:

Leadership and Vision

• Lead the organization’s lay leaders and staff to a shared vision of goals and strategies that advance the ACLU’s mission.
• Lead effective management practices, ensuring use of best practices.
• Serve as the chief marketer, fundraiser, communicator and spokesperson.
• Grow and expand the ACLU’s reputation, developing and maintaining key relationships of influence.
• Ensure strong relationships with national staff to advance program, communications, and operational priorities.
• Exhibit courage and clarity when addressing highly controversial and complex issues.
• Lead collaboratively with a Board of Directors to implement a model of strategic governance.
• Guard the organization’s integrity, credibility and non-partisanship and champion and value diversity, equity and inclusion at every level of the organization, including lay leadership, to strive towards a culture of belonging.
• Motivate and maintain a cohesive staff, ensuring strong internal communication and collaboration. Foster a supportive team-oriented environment where independent and innovative thinking is encouraged and staff act with clarity of mission and purpose.
• Drive a culture of accountability with clear program goals, strategies to accomplish, and regular feedback. Ensure staff have the resources they need to accomplish the work.
• Foster an environment of continuous improvement, learning and effectiveness.

Budget and Fund Development

• Oversee fiscal planning and financial oversight, ensuring use of best practices that meet the highest standards.
• Lead a robust fundraising program to protect the affiliate’s long-term financial stability; steward key donor relationships, identify new major donor prospects, and solicit major donations.
• Anticipate funding needs and seek out opportunities to meet those needs including identifying and applying for philanthropic opportunities.
• Collaborate with national staff to implement the national fundraising model, participate in nationwide convenings, and ensure that fundraising platforms are used well in the affiliate.
• Ensure that the Board can meet its fiduciary responsibilities by pro-actively and transparently providing financial reports, conducting regular audits, and engaging the Board in the budgeting process.

Public Representation

• Represent the affiliate’s priorities on key issues, articulating the organization’s positions and communicating its mission to increase the organization’s visibility and public’s understanding of the goals and work.
• Maintain strong relationships with the media, guiding organizational strategy and working effectively with the national communications staff to maximize nationwide messaging and to amplify local priorities.
• Value a diverse set of voices to represent the organization’s positions on its work.

Qualifications:

• Ten years of professional experience and a Bachelor’s degree are minimum requirements. An advanced degree and prior nonprofit experience is preferred.
• Proven fundraising and financial management experience with a solid track-record of success.
• Proven managerial, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and human resource experience in the private, not-for-profit, or public sectors.
• Credibility and experience to connect the ACLU to resources and opportunities outside the organization.
• Proven and successful track record in creating and implementing programs; experience creating partnerships and collaborations.
• A history of communicating effectively in writing and verbally, including excellent public speaking skills for both formal and extemporaneous presentations; ability to represent the ACLU to a broad public.
• A record of success working in partnership with a board and staff of diverse personalities and talents.
• Strong work ethic and the ability to interact effectively with volunteers from divergent geographical and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Experience in working with boards and volunteers.
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team, and to have excellent problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work in a high-pressure environment and to multi-task.
• Proficiency with computers: Microsoft Office in particular.
• Creative, result-oriented, self-starting, willing to learn, and able to manage an aggressive schedule, working beyond 9-5 as needed.
• Firm commitment to the mission and principles of the ACLU and the ACLU of Alaska.

Personal Characteristics

• Personally committed to advancing the ACLU’s values, mission, goals, operational principles, and programs with an understanding of the range of civil liberties issues and their implications.
• A dedicated leader and representative who can translate vision into action.
• Someone who is passionate about networking and representing the organization to critical constituencies, including ACLU members, the public, government, and the media.
• A person who is intelligent and inspiring, able to conceptualize, express ideas and anticipate and act on events which may create opportunities for the ACLU.
• An entrepreneur who is creative, strategic, resourceful and politically astute; someone who understands the value of creating partnerships with other organizations as a way of accomplishing the ACLU’s goals.
• An energetic person who can handle and prioritize multiple activities and responsibilities; a self-starter and finisher.
• A team player that inspires collaboration and functions decisively; flexible and well organized.
• Outgoing and straightforward; one who shares information easily, listens as well as gives advice, and respects and enhances the abilities of others.
• Emotionally mature and self-confident, with a sense of humor in order to maintain balance and perspective.

Compensation
This is an exempt, full-time, at-will position. Salary is between $120,000-160,000, depending on experience, and includes excellent benefits, including health, dental, life, and disability insurance, Wellness benefits and support, a 401(k) plan with an employer-match, and generous vacation, sick, and holiday leave.

Commitment To Equity, Diversity, Belonging, and Inclusion
The ACLU of Alaska is an equitable opportunity employer. We believe that having a board, staff, and volunteer base with diverse personal and professional backgrounds enhances our ability to meet our mission by creating an environment where all community members can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified persons, including people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated, and other members of underrepresented groups.

ACLU of Alaska does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or record of arrest or conviction. We are committed to providing a work environment that practices equitable and inclusive treatment. We work diligently to prevent and address harassment or discrimination of any kind.

How to apply
The ACLU of Alaska’s Board of Directors has hired Nokomis Strategies to assist with a nationwide search for a new Executive Director. Please submit your resume, cover letter, and three references via email to [email protected] with ‘ACLU Executive Director’ in the subject line. Submit any questions to [email protected].

Applications will be accepted until June 30, 2026.