Spelman Johnson
Remote in Florida or Hybrid (Miami or Tallahassee)
ACLU of Florida
$160,000 to $180,000
Managing Budget: $1.3 million
Reports to: Bacardi Jackson, Executive Director
Deputy Executive Director and Strategy Officer Jim Norfleet
Social Impact Practice Leader and Senior Consultant
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida (ACLU of Florida) seeks a mission-focused, strategic, and results-oriented leader for the newly created position of Deputy Executive Director and Strategy Officer.
This inaugural executive leadership role will provide dedicated, high-level support for Executive Director Bacardi Jackson, who has led the organization since May 2024. The successful candidate will serve as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to this dynamic, forward-thinking leader, driving strategic alignment and operational excellence across the state’s largest organization dedicated to protecting and strengthening the civil liberties and civil rights of all Floridians.
The organization is conducting an accelerated search with the goal of the new Deputy Executive Director and Strategy Officer assuming their role in the first quarter of 2026.
About the ACLU of Florida The ACLU of Florida is one of 54 affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union, the preeminent defender of civil liberties and civil rights in this country since 1920. Chartered in 1965, the ACLU of Florida operates with two offices in the state and 39 full-time staff members as well as fellows, interns and externs. In addition to the Miami headquarters, there is a regional office located in Tallahassee.
With more than 60,000 members and supporters across Florida, the ACLU of Florida is funded entirely with private donations, foundation grants, court-awarded legal fees, and membership dues. It does not receive any government funding.
The affiliate consists of two separate, nonprofit corporate entities: the ACLU of Florida, a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, and the ACLU Foundation of Florida, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charity. Both entities are tax-exempt, share the same overall mission, and use common office space and employees.
The ACLU of Florida uses an integrated advocacy model—including litigation, legislative lobbying, strategic communications and narrative change, and people-centered engagement and mobilization—to pursue strategic campaigns that protect and expand fundamental rights and freedoms. The affiliate works proactively to pursue policies, practices, and laws that protect Floridians against unfair and unequal treatment.
Current priority issues:
First Amendment Freedoms
Freedom of Speech
Right to Assemble and Protest
Freedom of Press
Religious Liberty
Equality, Justice, and Dignity
Racial Justice
Immigrants’ Rights
LGBTQ Rights
Economic Justice
Reproductive Rights
Democracy and Accountability
Voting Rights
Local Sovereignty, Community Rights & Power Building
Constitutional State Governance, Checks and Balances, Transparency and the Rule of Law
The ACLU of Florida is part of the ACLU’s first regional initiative for Southern states, the Southern Collective, a transformational initiative to build the power and impact of the ACLU’s thirteen Southern state affiliates—Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia—and strengthen the fight for civil rights and liberties in the South. The Southern Collective was created to address the challenges in the South that are rooted in its unique history of racial oppression and violence, and equally remarkable history of civil rights struggles and victories.
For more information on the ACLU of Florida, please visit their website.
Role of the Deputy Executive Director and Strategy Officer Serving as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to the Executive Director, the Deputy Executive Director and Strategy Officer (DEDSO) provides essential executive leadership, strategic direction, and management oversight for the organization. This pivotal role oversees the day-to-day management of the Executive Department and guides implementation of the strategic vision for the ACLU of Florida, whose mission is to protect, defend, strengthen, and promote the constitutional rights and liberties of all individuals across the state.
Key Responsibilities: Strategic Planning and Execution
Drive and shape the organization’s strategic vision in concert with the Executive Director, staff, and board members.
Oversee the entire strategic planning lifecycle, from development to implementation, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission and vision.
Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure impact, drive accountability, and ensure continuous improvement.
Implement a robust performance analysis of affiliate impact and learning cycle, using structured reflection and data-driven insights to inform future strategies and foster an adaptive culture.
Lead agile organizational pivots as needed in response to changes in the external environment, performance metrics, and emerging opportunities to maximize mission impact and achieve desired outcomes.
Operational Excellence and Cross-Functional Integration
Provide executive leadership across the organization to drive strategic cohesion, operational effectiveness, and measurable outcomes.
Lead initiatives and foster cross-functional collaboration to drive integrated advocacy, major campaigns, and operational excellence across all departments.
Institute rigorous evaluation metrics for continuous improvement and optimize the implementation and coordination of strategic initiatives among senior leadership.
Strengthen the internal culture and embed core principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) throughout all organizational policies and practices.
Act as an early warning system for issues growing in priority from all parts of the organization.
Drive key internal infrastructure projects, including the management and optimization of the organizational intranet, file structures, and cross-team workflow protocols.
Finalize, maintain and update safety, security, and defense strategies as needed.
Manage the agenda for and convene critical meetings (all-staff, senior staff, leadership meetings), ensuring clear communication channels and alignment across departments.
Plan and facilitate key organizational gatherings, including weekly director meetings, monthly all-staff meetings, staff/board retreats, holiday and other in-person programs.
Serve as a primary thought partner to the Executive Director and senior staff on organizational strategy and programmatic direction, identifying risks and trade-offs while helping to resolve key challenges.
Collaborate with the Executive Director and other leaders to support and foster executive relationships with key external stakeholders, including donor and high-level supporter engagements.
Provide high-level analytical support, gathering information and completing analyses to prepare fully vetted solutions and specific recommendations for the Executive Director’s consideration.
Act with agility and urgency, keeping the Executive Director informed on progress and challenges related to priority issues and rapid response scenarios.
Serve as a proxy for the Executive Director during absences or emergencies, including representing the organization before the public, the media and governing bodies in the Executive Director’s absence, ensuring seamless continuity by interpreting and implementing strategic intent across all staff.
Prepare and oversee the Executive Department’s budget and manage executive staffing; lead key initiatives as directed, and optimize the executive team’s time, assets, skills, and relationships to advance the organization’s mission and goals.
Assist the Executive Director and the Employee Resources, Equity, and Relations Director (ERERD) in managing the collective bargaining agreement.
Facilitate the retention of outside counsel for the ACLU of Florida.
Board Governance and Affiliate Relations
Board Governance:
Serve as a key liaison to the Board of Directors, facilitating board operations and providing support in collaboration with the Executive Director.
Oversee all facets of board training, election, and communication processes.
Staff board committees (nominating, governance) and serve as a thought partner to committee chairs.
Coordinate the drafting and maintenance of affiliate policies and quarterly board reports.
Prepare and deliver periodic reports to the board incorporating reports of departmental directors, keeping the board informed of programmatic outcomes, strategic progress, and relevant policy issues.
Facilitate efficient relationships between the affiliate and national staff and committees.
Coordinate the affiliate’s responses to national reports and surveys, disseminating important updates and resources to appropriate affiliate staff and board members.
Work with the ERERD and the Affiliate Equity Officer to facilitate joint affiliate/national training opportunities.
Measures of Success In the short term, the DEDSO’s success will be measured by the ability to navigate the organization’s culture and complexities, establish trust and positive working relationships with staff and board members, become an integral part of the executive leadership team, and demonstrate early traction in driving strategic cohesion and operational effectiveness.
Long-term success will be measured by the achievement of specific goals and objectives related to the core functions of the position.
Qualifications and Characteristics The ACLU of Florida seeks an exceptional individual for this inaugural role—someone with the passion, skills, and experience necessary to shape and thrive in this critical position. The following outlines the ideal candidate profile; applicants from a wide range of backgrounds are encouraged.
Strategic Leadership and Vision:
Ability to spearhead the development and implementation of a shared vision and strategic plan, hold the organization accountable for measurable results, and manage financial, budgeting, and related administrative operations effectively.
Management Style:
A collaborative management style; an accessible, flexible, decisive, and inclusive team builder who inspires staff toward a common mission. Experience in a unionized environment is a plus.
Commitment to Core Values:
Deep commitment to civil liberties and civil rights and a demonstrated commitment to building organizational equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
Project Management:
Ability to oversee special projects, initiatives, and cross-functional teams; capacity to gather, analyze, and summarize complex data and reports to inform executive decision-making.
Integrated Policy/Advocacy:
Ability to address priority issues and drive the strategic integration of various advocacy tools—from litigation and lobbying to community organizing and communications—to achieve unified campaign goals and maximize impact.
Staff Engagement and Workplace Culture:
Capacity to engage with staff in ways that afford them voice and visibility; ability to foster a culture of psychological safety and collaborate with senior leaders to address staff concerns and enhance well-being, engagement, and performance.
Communication, Interpersonal Skills, and Emotional Intelligence:
Superior written and verbal skills, adept at crafting executive-level reports and updates. A superb listener who inspires trust and confidence, manages conflict constructively, and demonstrates strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
Executive Partnership and Counsel:
Ability to act as a strategic partner, trusted advisor, and sounding board to the Executive Director; proven capacity to anticipate executive needs, identify potential issues, and proactively provide solutions before they escalated.
Governance Experience:
Knowledge or experience with the management of non-profit organizations, including experience working with or serving on a volunteer board of directors or a similar governing body.
Personal Attributes:
Engaging, optimistic, intellectually curious; a results-oriented, self-starting leader who is adaptable, resilient under pressure, demonstrates unimpeachable integrity, superb judgment, and a sense of humor.
Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree and seven years of management experience are required, preferably with a track record of increasing leadership or strategic operating responsibility and accomplishment. An advanced degree is preferred. Experience in any sector is welcome.
Application The ACLU of Florida has exclusively retained Spelman Johnson, a national executive search firm, as its partner in this search.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; interested individuals are encouraged to apply early. Strong applicants will be evaluated and interviewed as their materials are received. For optimal consideration, please apply by
January 16, 2026 .
A resume with a cover letter addressing the themes and requirements outlined in this position specification may be submitted via the Spelman Johnson website at www.spelmanjohnson.com/open-positions.
Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson by phone at 413‑529‑2895 or email at info@spelmanjohnson.com.
This will be a fully confidential search, with no public announcement of finalist names. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates.
Confidential inquiries and nominations should be directed to:
Social Impact Practice Leader and Senior Consultant
The ACLU of Florida is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU of Florida encourages 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, or veteran status.
This job specification provides a descriptive but not exhaustive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU of Florida reserves the right to change the job description and/or posting at any time without advance notice. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
ACLU of Florida
$160,000 to $180,000
Managing Budget: $1.3 million
Reports to: Bacardi Jackson, Executive Director
Deputy Executive Director and Strategy Officer Jim Norfleet
Social Impact Practice Leader and Senior Consultant
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida (ACLU of Florida) seeks a mission-focused, strategic, and results-oriented leader for the newly created position of Deputy Executive Director and Strategy Officer.
This inaugural executive leadership role will provide dedicated, high-level support for Executive Director Bacardi Jackson, who has led the organization since May 2024. The successful candidate will serve as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to this dynamic, forward-thinking leader, driving strategic alignment and operational excellence across the state’s largest organization dedicated to protecting and strengthening the civil liberties and civil rights of all Floridians.
The organization is conducting an accelerated search with the goal of the new Deputy Executive Director and Strategy Officer assuming their role in the first quarter of 2026.
About the ACLU of Florida The ACLU of Florida is one of 54 affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union, the preeminent defender of civil liberties and civil rights in this country since 1920. Chartered in 1965, the ACLU of Florida operates with two offices in the state and 39 full-time staff members as well as fellows, interns and externs. In addition to the Miami headquarters, there is a regional office located in Tallahassee.
With more than 60,000 members and supporters across Florida, the ACLU of Florida is funded entirely with private donations, foundation grants, court-awarded legal fees, and membership dues. It does not receive any government funding.
The affiliate consists of two separate, nonprofit corporate entities: the ACLU of Florida, a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, and the ACLU Foundation of Florida, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charity. Both entities are tax-exempt, share the same overall mission, and use common office space and employees.
The ACLU of Florida uses an integrated advocacy model—including litigation, legislative lobbying, strategic communications and narrative change, and people-centered engagement and mobilization—to pursue strategic campaigns that protect and expand fundamental rights and freedoms. The affiliate works proactively to pursue policies, practices, and laws that protect Floridians against unfair and unequal treatment.
Current priority issues:
First Amendment Freedoms
Freedom of Speech
Right to Assemble and Protest
Freedom of Press
Religious Liberty
Equality, Justice, and Dignity
Racial Justice
Immigrants’ Rights
LGBTQ Rights
Economic Justice
Reproductive Rights
Democracy and Accountability
Voting Rights
Local Sovereignty, Community Rights & Power Building
Constitutional State Governance, Checks and Balances, Transparency and the Rule of Law
The ACLU of Florida is part of the ACLU’s first regional initiative for Southern states, the Southern Collective, a transformational initiative to build the power and impact of the ACLU’s thirteen Southern state affiliates—Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia—and strengthen the fight for civil rights and liberties in the South. The Southern Collective was created to address the challenges in the South that are rooted in its unique history of racial oppression and violence, and equally remarkable history of civil rights struggles and victories.
For more information on the ACLU of Florida, please visit their website.
Role of the Deputy Executive Director and Strategy Officer Serving as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to the Executive Director, the Deputy Executive Director and Strategy Officer (DEDSO) provides essential executive leadership, strategic direction, and management oversight for the organization. This pivotal role oversees the day-to-day management of the Executive Department and guides implementation of the strategic vision for the ACLU of Florida, whose mission is to protect, defend, strengthen, and promote the constitutional rights and liberties of all individuals across the state.
Key Responsibilities: Strategic Planning and Execution
Drive and shape the organization’s strategic vision in concert with the Executive Director, staff, and board members.
Oversee the entire strategic planning lifecycle, from development to implementation, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission and vision.
Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure impact, drive accountability, and ensure continuous improvement.
Implement a robust performance analysis of affiliate impact and learning cycle, using structured reflection and data-driven insights to inform future strategies and foster an adaptive culture.
Lead agile organizational pivots as needed in response to changes in the external environment, performance metrics, and emerging opportunities to maximize mission impact and achieve desired outcomes.
Operational Excellence and Cross-Functional Integration
Provide executive leadership across the organization to drive strategic cohesion, operational effectiveness, and measurable outcomes.
Lead initiatives and foster cross-functional collaboration to drive integrated advocacy, major campaigns, and operational excellence across all departments.
Institute rigorous evaluation metrics for continuous improvement and optimize the implementation and coordination of strategic initiatives among senior leadership.
Strengthen the internal culture and embed core principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) throughout all organizational policies and practices.
Act as an early warning system for issues growing in priority from all parts of the organization.
Drive key internal infrastructure projects, including the management and optimization of the organizational intranet, file structures, and cross-team workflow protocols.
Finalize, maintain and update safety, security, and defense strategies as needed.
Manage the agenda for and convene critical meetings (all-staff, senior staff, leadership meetings), ensuring clear communication channels and alignment across departments.
Plan and facilitate key organizational gatherings, including weekly director meetings, monthly all-staff meetings, staff/board retreats, holiday and other in-person programs.
Serve as a primary thought partner to the Executive Director and senior staff on organizational strategy and programmatic direction, identifying risks and trade-offs while helping to resolve key challenges.
Collaborate with the Executive Director and other leaders to support and foster executive relationships with key external stakeholders, including donor and high-level supporter engagements.
Provide high-level analytical support, gathering information and completing analyses to prepare fully vetted solutions and specific recommendations for the Executive Director’s consideration.
Act with agility and urgency, keeping the Executive Director informed on progress and challenges related to priority issues and rapid response scenarios.
Serve as a proxy for the Executive Director during absences or emergencies, including representing the organization before the public, the media and governing bodies in the Executive Director’s absence, ensuring seamless continuity by interpreting and implementing strategic intent across all staff.
Prepare and oversee the Executive Department’s budget and manage executive staffing; lead key initiatives as directed, and optimize the executive team’s time, assets, skills, and relationships to advance the organization’s mission and goals.
Assist the Executive Director and the Employee Resources, Equity, and Relations Director (ERERD) in managing the collective bargaining agreement.
Facilitate the retention of outside counsel for the ACLU of Florida.
Board Governance and Affiliate Relations
Board Governance:
Serve as a key liaison to the Board of Directors, facilitating board operations and providing support in collaboration with the Executive Director.
Oversee all facets of board training, election, and communication processes.
Staff board committees (nominating, governance) and serve as a thought partner to committee chairs.
Coordinate the drafting and maintenance of affiliate policies and quarterly board reports.
Prepare and deliver periodic reports to the board incorporating reports of departmental directors, keeping the board informed of programmatic outcomes, strategic progress, and relevant policy issues.
Facilitate efficient relationships between the affiliate and national staff and committees.
Coordinate the affiliate’s responses to national reports and surveys, disseminating important updates and resources to appropriate affiliate staff and board members.
Work with the ERERD and the Affiliate Equity Officer to facilitate joint affiliate/national training opportunities.
Measures of Success In the short term, the DEDSO’s success will be measured by the ability to navigate the organization’s culture and complexities, establish trust and positive working relationships with staff and board members, become an integral part of the executive leadership team, and demonstrate early traction in driving strategic cohesion and operational effectiveness.
Long-term success will be measured by the achievement of specific goals and objectives related to the core functions of the position.
Qualifications and Characteristics The ACLU of Florida seeks an exceptional individual for this inaugural role—someone with the passion, skills, and experience necessary to shape and thrive in this critical position. The following outlines the ideal candidate profile; applicants from a wide range of backgrounds are encouraged.
Strategic Leadership and Vision:
Ability to spearhead the development and implementation of a shared vision and strategic plan, hold the organization accountable for measurable results, and manage financial, budgeting, and related administrative operations effectively.
Management Style:
A collaborative management style; an accessible, flexible, decisive, and inclusive team builder who inspires staff toward a common mission. Experience in a unionized environment is a plus.
Commitment to Core Values:
Deep commitment to civil liberties and civil rights and a demonstrated commitment to building organizational equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
Project Management:
Ability to oversee special projects, initiatives, and cross-functional teams; capacity to gather, analyze, and summarize complex data and reports to inform executive decision-making.
Integrated Policy/Advocacy:
Ability to address priority issues and drive the strategic integration of various advocacy tools—from litigation and lobbying to community organizing and communications—to achieve unified campaign goals and maximize impact.
Staff Engagement and Workplace Culture:
Capacity to engage with staff in ways that afford them voice and visibility; ability to foster a culture of psychological safety and collaborate with senior leaders to address staff concerns and enhance well-being, engagement, and performance.
Communication, Interpersonal Skills, and Emotional Intelligence:
Superior written and verbal skills, adept at crafting executive-level reports and updates. A superb listener who inspires trust and confidence, manages conflict constructively, and demonstrates strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
Executive Partnership and Counsel:
Ability to act as a strategic partner, trusted advisor, and sounding board to the Executive Director; proven capacity to anticipate executive needs, identify potential issues, and proactively provide solutions before they escalated.
Governance Experience:
Knowledge or experience with the management of non-profit organizations, including experience working with or serving on a volunteer board of directors or a similar governing body.
Personal Attributes:
Engaging, optimistic, intellectually curious; a results-oriented, self-starting leader who is adaptable, resilient under pressure, demonstrates unimpeachable integrity, superb judgment, and a sense of humor.
Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree and seven years of management experience are required, preferably with a track record of increasing leadership or strategic operating responsibility and accomplishment. An advanced degree is preferred. Experience in any sector is welcome.
Application The ACLU of Florida has exclusively retained Spelman Johnson, a national executive search firm, as its partner in this search.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; interested individuals are encouraged to apply early. Strong applicants will be evaluated and interviewed as their materials are received. For optimal consideration, please apply by
January 16, 2026 .
A resume with a cover letter addressing the themes and requirements outlined in this position specification may be submitted via the Spelman Johnson website at www.spelmanjohnson.com/open-positions.
Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson by phone at 413‑529‑2895 or email at info@spelmanjohnson.com.
This will be a fully confidential search, with no public announcement of finalist names. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates.
Confidential inquiries and nominations should be directed to:
Social Impact Practice Leader and Senior Consultant
The ACLU of Florida is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU of Florida encourages 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, or veteran status.
This job specification provides a descriptive but not exhaustive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU of Florida reserves the right to change the job description and/or posting at any time without advance notice. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
#J-18808-Ljbffr