Associate Director of Security, Business Operations

About The Job

The ACLU seeks a full-time position of Associate Director of Security, Business Operations on the Business Operations 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 based in the ACLU's National office in New York, NY with in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.  

The Business Operations team, which falls within the Business Operations and Support Services unit, in the office of the Chief Operating Officer, works to enable organizational and operational effectiveness by partnering with ACLU departments and staff across the enterprise, through vendor management and procurement services, supporting disability, accessibility and inclusion practices and bolstering physical safety and security. Business Operations continually evaluates all of these functions to maximize resources, mitigate risk, ensure accessibility, and achieve the organization’s strategic goals. 

What You'Ll Do

Reporting to the Senior Director of Business Operations, this role will lead the strategic design, implementation, ongoing management, and staff support for the ACLU’s physical security program.  This critical program ensures that all people and places in the ACLU’s network and programs are proactively protected and effectively supported through incidents and threats. The Associate Director of Security, Business Operations works in partnership with stakeholders throughout the ACLU to identify needs and create and refine systems and processes to increase security program effectiveness, mitigate risk, and align ACLU security operations with our core mission and values. The Associate Director of Security, Business Operations will also provide support to team members in managing Business Operations tasks, as needed. 

Your Day To Day

Program Strategy And Management:

• Lead strategic development of the physical security program to meet the evolving needs of the ACLU’s staff and Nationwide network including National and affiliate organizations, including identifying opportunities for improvement and innovation. 
• Oversee day-to-day program management to ensure all security processes and procedures are developed and implemented effectively. Manage projects and facilitate collaboration across departments related to development and implementation of security programs, policies, and procedures. 
• Manage proactive security monitoring and threat detection for individuals, offices, litigation and advocacy events. 
• Lead the ACLU’s Executive Protection management for key ACLU staff, board members and key stakeholders. 

Security Planning And Incident Response:

• Ensure ACLU event security by engaging with event managers and other key stakeholders in security planning and implementation, including on the ground logistical support. 
• Lead incident response for security threats and incidents impacting staff in National and affiliate offices and oversee the completion of reporting and tracking of physical security incidents across the organization. 
• Lead the creation and adoption of Emergency Response protocols ensuring they evolve with the risk landscape. 

Training And Support

• Develop and implement security trainings and supplemental materials. 
• Provide safety and security guidance and direct consultation for ACLU staff. 

Other Role Responsibilities

• Lead the sourcing, identification, onboarding and oversight of all physical security consultants. 
• Manage unit interns, temps, and consultants as needed. 
• Function as a thought partner and collaborator with the Senior Director of Business Operations on various tasks which involve the Business Operations unit. 
• Support Business Operations customer support activities as needed; including management of Gatekeeper and Zendesk platforms. 
• Complete other projects as assigned.

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

• Significant experience developing and managing security programs to ensure the safety of people and places, including creating new programs and initiatives. 
• Significant expertise in physical security logistics and planning. 
• Demonstrated expertise in incident and threat response. Ability to make critical immediate decisions to assess risk, impact, and safety. Proven track record of successful system and process implementation in complex environments.  
• Experience managing vendors. 
• Ability to quickly establish trust and rapport with staff, board members and other key stakeholders impacted by security related concerns.   
• Ability to make independent decisions which have an organizational impact. 
• Strong project management skills, including managing cross functional project teams. 
• Strong business process analysis skills, communication and change management skills, and development and implementation skills.     
• Nuanced understanding of staff’s lived experience with security and law enforcement and the ACLU’s unique program and policy intersections with traditional security approaches.  
• Ability to travel (10% or less/year) to provide physical security support at ACLU in-person engagements. 
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.    
• Strong attention to detail and follow-up, as required. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing operational projects and programs in a large complex nonprofit organization.

Compensation

The ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. Consistent with our compensation philosophy, there is a set salary for each role based on geographic work location. The annual salary for this position is $161,123 (Level E), reflecting the salary of a position based in New York, NY.  Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.     For details on our pay structure, please visit: https://www.aclu.org/careers/ACLU_Geographic_Pay_Structure-July_2024.pdf

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.