Special Assistant, Privacy and Counsel

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Special Assistant in the Administration and Finance Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY . The Special Assistant will provide support to both the Privacy & Data Governance (P&DG) unit and the Office of Corporate Counsel (Counsel). This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.

The Privacy & Data Governance (P&DG) unit works to enable the ACLU to honor individual privacy and choice, protect data in our possession, and be a leader in non-profit privacy and data governance practices. The unit is responsible for a cross-departmental Privacy & Data Governance program that provides centralized governance for organizational data policies and internal controls and works with National and Affiliate staff on an ongoing basis to establish and document consistent practices that meet evolving regulatory and organizational expectations for data protection and privacy.

The Office of Corporate Counsel (Counsel) provides primary support for the ACLU to contract outside vendors and protect the organization’s tax-exempt status and its fundraising, advocacy, and litigation capabilities. Counsel drafts and negotiate contracts that enable the ACLU to leverage third-party resources to supplement the talents of its own staff and maximize its impact. The office also creates compliance programs, trains staff, and provides compliance advice, all with the goal of maintaining the highest standards of professional and business impact.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

The deadline to apply to this role is August 12, 2026.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Reporting to the Chief Privacy Officer and the Co-Chief Corporate Counsels, the Special Assistant, Privacy and Counsel will be responsible for providing administrative, logistical, and operational support to the P&DG and Counsel units. The Special Assistant will facilitate the progression of priority projects and initiatives; manage and triage requests from Nationwide colleagues and the public; and create and manage internal resource libraries to enable effective operations across P&DG and Counsel. The role will also help translate complex information into clear guidance, procedures, and other practical resources for staff . Priority projects and initiatives may include supporting the development of a Nationwide Privacy Strategy; researching privacy trends and leading practices; and strengthening the systems, resources, and processes that support the units’ work. This position will handle information that is highly sensitive and confidential.

The ideal candidate is a problem solver and critical thinker with unquestionable integrity and discretion, excellent judgment, and a service-oriented, can-do attitude. They are highly organized, comfortable learning complex subject matter, and able to communicate information clearly to different audiences. They can navigate ambiguity, build strong working relationships, and persistently move work forward, while taking pride in anticipating the needs of others.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Complete a broad variety of administrative and logistical tasks that enable the P&DG and Counsel units to operate effectively and efficiently, including scheduling for the Chief Privacy Officer and Co-Chief Corporate Counsels; designing and producing documents, reports, and presentations; and assisting with special projec