Careers, Fellowships, Internships

The Position
The Vice President and Legal Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) is a thought leader, litigator, and manager who will work collaboratively to lead the organization’s legal program, developing its legal strategy and supervising a team of lawyers to execute that strategy to a high standard. They will identify and develop potential cases and legal strategies; oversee the conduct of litigation, the drafting of amicus briefs, and the handling of legal inquiries; supervise and coordinate with outside law firms acting as co-counsel or providing litigation support to AU; litigate cases; and collaborate with the President & CEO to develop novel and creative strategies that secure and build a broader and more diverse movement around true religious freedom and church-state separation.

The successful candidate will be knowledgeable about First Amendment law and committed to upholding core constitutional values that protect the rights of all people, especially those most marginalized. They will demonstrate a commitment to ensuring religious freedom and incorporating a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal department’s internal and external work. They will also be emotionally intelligent and highly collaborative, with a high degree of empathy and exceptional listening skills.

Background
Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a nonpartisan educational and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure freedom of religion, including the right to believe or not believe, for all of us. Founded in 1947, Americans United is a diverse and dynamic organization composed of people from all walks of life: lawyers and lobbyists, students and activists, religious leaders and impassioned Americans. AU includes people of faith and people who don’t profess any particular faith. It is a community that includes and welcomes people of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions or beliefs, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, classes and abilities. Because we work on a wide variety of issues with many different communities, we value what diversity and diverse perspectives bring to our work.

Americans United uses high-impact litigation, powerful lobbying, visibility raising and grassroots advocacy to ensure that religion does not dictate public policy; the government does not tell Americans what to believe or how to practice their faith; and discrimination is not justified under the guise of religious beliefs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Vice President & Legal Director include:

Strategy and Leadership

• In collaboration with the President & CEO, develop and refine the overall strategic direction for AU’s legal program, tying AU’s legal work to the overarching strategic goals of the organization.
• Develop novel and creative strategies to leverage the law and legal systems to advance and build a broad and diverse movement around religious freedom and church-state separation.
• Serve as a member of the organization’s senior team and a strategic partner to the Chief Program Officer and President & CEO.
• Maintain existing external partnerships and identify and build relationships with potential new partners, coalitions, and allies.
• Resolve strategic issues and questions relating to legal program development and implementation.
• Represent the organization at external events and conferences and in media interviews as needed.

Program Administration and Team Leadership

• Implement a realistic and concrete plan for the execution of the vision for the legal program.
• Oversee a team of seven lawyers and manage a full docket of cases, with support from outside firms.
• Supervise legal department staff, with assistance from the Associate Vice President and Associate Legal Director.
• Provide management, coaching, and mentorship that inspires excellence and promotes a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture; oversee the performance and professional development of the legal team.
• Work with the legal department staff to screen and develop promising cases and manage a substantial docket of cases, including ones protecting students from government-imposed religion in public schools, preventing religion-based discrimination, opposing governmental support for religion, supporting abortion rights, and connecting church-state separation to other progressive issues.
• Supervise outside law firms acting as co-counsel or providing litigation support to AU.
• Interface with AU’s public policy team on litigation involving federal rules and AU’s policy work on Capitol Hill.
• Collaborate with the communications team to develop and deploy creative, sympathetic messaging on our litigation.
• Partner with the outreach team to mobilize local advocates around AU’s litigation.
• Oversee the preparation of amicus curiae briefs and the selection of cases in which to file amicus briefs
• Oversee non-litigation advocacy efforts such as letter-writing, calls, and representation of individuals in non-courtroom settings to remedy First Amendment violations and educate school officials, legislators, and others about constitutional requirements.

Litigation

• Litigate cases in federal and state courts, both at the trial level and on appeal.
• Oversee preparation of briefs, motions, and other filings.
• Oversee or conduct discovery, including depositions.
• Conduct trials and hearings; argue trial-court motions and appeals.
• Communicate with clients and opposing counsel.
• Negotiate settlements.

Desired Qualifications:
Americans United seeks a candidate with:

• J.D. degree with at least 12 years of litigation experience; preference will be given to applicants with demonstrated experience in constitutional or public interest law.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically about the direction of a legal program.
• Skilled and experienced in managing others in litigation, including lawyers, legal fellows, legal interns, and paralegals.
• High emotional intelligence and cultural competency.
• Excellent legal research, writing, and analytical skills.
• Ability to plan and manage under a tight deadline with the ability to multitask and be flexible and effective in fast-paced and high-pressure situations.
• Ability to collaborate across departments and work effectively with senior colleagues in the organization.
• Understanding of the important role litigation plays in raising visibility and building a movement.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to promote the legal program.
• Demonstrated commitment to religious freedom and civil rights, public interest work, and a willingness to develop an in-depth understanding of the issues that drive AU’s core mission.

Competitive Salary and Generous Benefits
Salary is $180,000-$205,000 commensurate with experience, with a small upward locality adjustment for higher-cost geographic areas. Americans United offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer-paid premiums for health care, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) with match, and commuter subsidy.

Work Location
This role can work remotely from anywhere in the U.S. or locally in our Washington, DC office. Occasional in-person attendance at events and meetings in Washington, DC will be required.

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
Americans United has made the safety of our staff and our surrounding community a top priority. As part of that commitment, we have implemented a mandatory Covid-19 vaccination policy. This policy states that all Americans United employees, fellows, and interns are required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and to have received a recent booster shot. If a candidate selected for hire desires a medical or religious exemption, the candidate should make a request to our human resources personnel, and the request will be considered in accordance with applicable law.

Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. AU is an equal opportunity employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

Apply Today

The Position

The Chief Program Officer (CPO) of Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) will be a key thought partner to the President & CEO in a new position that seeks to foster coordination and cohesion in setting and executing strategy for the organization’s legal, public policy, outreach, and communications programs. The CPO will oversee expert senior leaders to develop and implement the organization’s programmatic strategy for building a movement to protect church-state separation and advance religious freedom. This high-level strategist and manager will forge new synergies across AU, establish systems that increase the impact of the organization’s programmatic work, and ensure that our work focuses on the most critical priorities.

As a member of the executive team, the CPO will report directly to the President & CEO, advising her on key issues, keeping her up-to-date on the organization’s programmatic work, and bringing an innovative perspective on opportunities to advance the organization’s work and mission.

The successful candidate will be an expert manager with a demonstrated ability to manage staff to achieve ambitious results and to develop effective plans to fulfill the organization’s strategic vision, including through high-impact legal, policy, and advocacy programs. They will also bring a deep commitment to the constitutional values that protect the rights of all people, especially those most marginalized, and to ensuring religious freedom and the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Background

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a nonpartisan educational and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure freedom of religion, including the right to believe or not believe, for all of us. Founded in 1947, Americans United is a diverse and dynamic organization composed of people from all walks of life: lawyers and lobbyists, students and activists, religious leaders and impassioned Americans. AU includes people of faith and people who don’t profess any particular faith. It is a community that includes and welcomes people of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions or beliefs, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, classes and abilities. Because we work on a wide variety of issues with many different communities, we value what diversity and diverse perspectives bring to our work.

Americans United uses high-impact litigation, powerful lobbying, visibility raising and grassroots advocacy to ensure that religion does not dictate public policy; the government does not tell Americans what to believe or how to practice their faith; and discrimination is not justified under the guise of religious beliefs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Chief Program Officer will include:

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a key advisor to the President & CEO on crucial questions, including playing a key role in developing and refining the organization’s strategic plan and annual organization-level goals.

• Work with department heads to design strategies for AU’s programmatic work that advance the organization’s mission, including leading strategy and goal-setting processes with department heads, adjusting strategies along the way as needed to produce the greatest impact, developing systems for managing cross-departmental work in a coordinated way, and identifying places where AU could increase its impact through collaboration across teams.

• Serve as a member of the organization’s executive team, including participating in executive team meetings and modeling and fostering a work environment that supports AU’s values of excellence, equity, inclusion, and collaboration. Support the President & CEO and COO in communicating our key programmatic work to the Board of Trustees.

Program and People Management

• Directly manage our highly talented programmatic leaders: our Vice President & Legal Director, Vice President of Public Policy, Vice President of Outreach & Engagement, Vice President of Communications and External Affairs, and Senior Director of the Legal Academy. Ensure alignment and coordination across teams.
• Work with programmatic leaders to develop detailed plans for the execution of the work, check in on progress, and adjust plans as needed.
• Guide implementation of AU’s programmatic strategies, including identifying key priorities and leading processes to define useful goals.
• Serve as an effective communicator of the organization’s strategic vision and goals, ensuring open lines of communication between leadership and staff and clarity in understanding how each department’s work fits into the larger goals.
• Support the department heads in developing their skills as managers, including leading processes to help them set and track progress to individual goals with their team members and working with human resources to identify other needed development areas and useful training opportunities.
• Ensure that the organization’s programmatic work aligns with its values of excellence, equity, inclusion, and collaboration, including by embedding a DEI lens in the annual goals and working with team members to ensure AU meets those goals
• Build trusting and collaborative relationships with senior leaders within the organization, and collaborate to improve communication and other processes and systems wherever possible.
• Support department heads in developing their annual budgets, and work with finance and development teams to ensure that programming is in compliance with funding obligations and that staff time is aligned with project budgets.
• Demonstrate impeccable integrity and sound judgment, including the ability to exercise appropriate discretion when dealing with sensitive matters.

Skills and Experience

Americans United seeks a candidate with:

• A minimum of 15 years’ experience, including with litigation, public policy, outreach, and/or communications programs and initiatives.
• Significant success managing teams toward ambitious results, including managing managers, managing highly talented and experienced staff, and building strong and cohesive teams.
• Collaborative and inclusive  leadership style that recognizes the value of divergent perspectives and regularly involves others in planning and decision-making.
• Experience weighing complex factors, making trade-offs, and adjusting strategy as needed to adapt to changing realities.
• Ability to build strong, trusting relationships with staff and peers, across departments, and across a range of identities.
• Demonstrated ability to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, including identifying concrete ways to mitigate the negative effects of implicit bias and white supremacy in program management and strategy and building equity and inclusion into strategies, goals, and work plans.
• Strong orientation toward getting results and driving projects to completion. Ability to anticipate problems and leverage resources creatively to solve them. Skilled at taking a concept from idea to implementation, keeping the ball rolling while carefully considering the ideas and perspectives of colleagues.
• Strong support for AU’s mission of defending religious freedom by upholding the separation of church and state and a willingness to develop an in-depth understanding of the issues that drive AU’s core mission.

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

Competitive Salary and Generous Benefits

The salary range is $180,000 to $205,000 for a candidate with 15-30+ years of experience, with a small upward locality adjustment for higher-cost geographic areas. The successful candidate’s salary will be determined by the number of years of relevant experience they bring to the role and their qualifications. Americans United offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer-paid premiums for health care, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) with match, and commuter subsidy.

Work Location

This role can work remotely from anywhere in the U.S. or locally in our Washington, DC office. In-person attendance at events and meetings in the Washington, DC area will be required several times per year at a minimum.

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

Americans United has made the safety of our staff and our surrounding community a top priority. As part of that commitment, we have implemented a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy. This policy states that all Americans United employees, fellows, and interns are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to have received a bivalent booster shot. If a candidate selected for hire desires a medical or religious exemption, the candidate should make a request to our human resources personnel, and the request will be considered in accordance with applicable law.

How to Apply

Please submit a resume and a thoughtful, relevant cover letter. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. AU is an equal opportunity employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

Apply Today

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a nonpartisan educational and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure freedom of religion, including the right to believe or not believe, for all people in the United States. Founded in 1947, Americans United is a diverse and dynamic organization composed of people from all walks of life: lawyers and lobbyists, students and activists, religious leaders and impassioned Americans.

The organization includes people of faith and people who don’t profess any particular faith. It is a community that includes and welcomes people of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions or beliefs, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, classes and abilities. Because it works on a wide variety of issues with many different communities, Americans United values what diversity and diverse perspectives bring to its work.

Americans United uses high-impact litigation, lobbying, and grassroots advocacy to ensure that religion does not dictate public policy; the government does not tell Americans what to believe or how to practice their faith; and discrimination is not justified under the guise of religious beliefs.

Americans United is a 501(c)(3) organization and is headquartered in Washington, DC. This role can work remotely from anywhere in the U.S. or locally in our Washington, DC office. Occasional in-person attendance at events and meetings will be required.

Job Summary

Under the guidance of the VP of Communications and the Chief Development Officer, the Director of Marketing will develop, initiate, and manage a marketing strategy for a national nonprofit, with a particular focus on digital marketing and emerging marketing tactics (podcasts, texting, etc.), that will complement our existing direct mail and email programs. The Director will prepare effective advertising campaigns based on market research that emphasizes data analytics to make strategic and data-driven decisions to ensure positive returns on investment. The Director will oversee strategy execution, propose and manage the marketing budget, and track and report on the progress of these campaigns.

Essential Functions

• Devise an effective nonprofit marketing and promotion strategy.
  • Define company and marketing goals in collaboration with other departments.
  • Oversee the planning, development and implementation of the marketing strategy that includes ads on social media, digital content, and other marketing.
  • Research the core issues and challenges on the target market and identify the best strategic marketing practices relevant to our industry.
  • Run regular campaigns (Giving Tuesday, year end, etc.), that integrate with direct mail and email campaigns.
• Oversee content production to ensure messaging consistency.
• Oversee the development and production of all marketing materials and collateral.
• Plan, allocate, and manage the marketing budget with VP of Communications.
• Prospect growth opportunities through market research and target audience analysis; determine how the organization can grow its audience in the short and long terms.
• Market for the Summit for Religious Freedom (annual conference held in Washington, D.C., organized by AU).
• Coordinate with and manage outside marketing vendors needed.
• Track advertising campaigns’ progress and present the VP of Communications with marketing performance reports.

Skills & Knowledge

• Portfolio of successful marketing/branding projects
• Fluency with current nonprofit marketing and fundraising practices.
• Knowledge of emerging marketing channels and current with online marketing techniques and best practices.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Thorough understanding of marketing strategies and practices.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong data-analysis skills.
• Experience working with CRMs.

Experience & Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or related field; or equivalent experience
• Minimum of 8 years of marketing experience, especially in fields outside of direct mail and email.
  • Experience in or working with nonprofit organizations preferred.

Compensation

The anticipated salary will be $110,000 to $130,000, with a small upward locality adjustment for higher-cost geographic areas. AU offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health insurance for the employee and all dependents.

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

Americans United has made the safety of our staff and our surrounding community a top priority. As part of that commitment, we have implemented a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy. This policy states that all Americans United employees, fellows, and interns are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to have received a bivalent booster shot. If a candidate selected for hire desires a medical or religious exemption, the candidate should make a request to our human resources personnel, and the request will be considered in accordance with applicable law.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please submit a thoughtful, relevant cover letter and resume.

Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Americans United is an equal opportunity employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

Apply Today

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a nonpartisan educational and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure freedom of religion, including the right to believe or not believe, for all people in the United States. Founded in 1947, Americans United is a diverse and dynamic organization composed of people from all walks of life: lawyers and lobbyists, students and activists, religious leaders and impassioned Americans.

The organization includes people of faith and people who don’t profess any particular faith. It is a community that includes and welcomes people of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions or beliefs, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, classes and abilities. Because it works on a wide variety of issues with many different communities, Americans United values what diversity and diverse perspectives bring to its work.

Americans United uses high-impact litigation, lobbying, and grassroots advocacy to ensure that religion does not dictate public policy; the government does not tell Americans what to believe or how to practice their faith; and discrimination is not justified under the guise of religious beliefs.

Americans United is a 501(c)(3) organization and is headquartered in Washington, DC. This role can work remotely from anywhere in the U.S. or locally in our Washington, DC office. Occasional in-person attendance at events and meetings will be required.

Job Summary

The Media Relations Manager’s primary role is to ensure that  AU’s objectives and achievements are communicated efficiently and effectively to the media. The Media Relations Manager will help plan and direct the organization’s press strategy, coordinate organizational response to media inquiries, schedule interviews, pitch stories about the organization and its work, place op-eds, send press releases, monitor press and report on press hits, build and maintain relationships with the media, assess and research unfamiliar/emerging news outlets and manage press events. The candidate must have extensive media contacts at top-tier outlets, including cable news. This role does not include acting as a spokesperson for the organization; rather, the goal is to elevate the profile of the organization and its President.

Essential Functions

• Builds relationships with local and national reporters to book AU team members for media spots at the top TV, print, radio, podcast and online outlets
• Respond to media inquiries, schedule interviews, help AU team members to prepare for those interviews
• Pitch AU stories to media and AU op-eds to premier outlets
• Distribute press releases to media
• Monitor news to determine how AU is portrayed by the media and compile internal reports and tracking
• Coordinate, with VP of Comms, rapid response to developing news stories that concern AU’s issues (aka, newsjacking)
• Draft press releases, talking points, interview prep documents, and other media- and press-related documents
• Serve as the main point of contact for all media
• Use Cision (or similar media-monitoring software) to track earned media and contact reporters

Skills & Knowledge

• Experience working with the press
• Outstanding attention to detail and the ability to juggle priorities under tight deadlines
• Superior writing, editing and speaking abilities
• Able to produce text quickly and accurately
• Familiar with the press and what reporters require
• The ability to perform extensive research
• Ability to exhibit professional demeanor in fast-paced and high-pressure work environment
• Ability to prioritize and manage a wide array of projects to completion
• Reliable communicator, organized

Experience & Education

• Extensive media contacts at top-tier outlets, including cable news, and ability to manage and prioritize those contacts
• 4 years experience working in or with media in public relations, journalism
• A Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, public relations, communications, or related field; or equivalent experience

Compensation

The anticipated salary will be $72,000 to $92,000, with a small upward locality adjustment for higher-cost geographic areas. AU offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health insurance for the employee and all dependents.

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

Americans United has made the safety of our staff and our surrounding community a top priority. As part of that commitment, we have implemented a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy. This policy states that all Americans United employees, fellows, and interns are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to have received a bivalent booster shot. If a candidate selected for hire desires a medical or religious exemption, the candidate should make a request to our human resources personnel, and the request will be considered in accordance with applicable law.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please submit a thoughtful, relevant cover letter and resume.

Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Americans United is an equal opportunity employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

Apply Today

Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) seeks a Digital Content Intern to assist the Communications Department in a remote role. The Digital Content Intern will report to the Director of Digital Communications and will help manage SEO for AU’s website, execute keyword research, and post-optimize published articles to make them more SEO-friendly.

Interns have the opportunity to meet and learn from staff across the organization, including outreach, policy, and legal departments. They will get to connect with and learn alongside a cohort of summer interns working in various departments at AU. All interns also have the opportunity to be published on AU’s Wall of Separation blog.

Responsibilities:

• Assist communications team in developing SEO strategies to boost website traffic.
• Research and analyze SEO trends and news to find areas for improvement and new ranking opportunities for AU.
• Conduct keyword research.
• Assist communications team in optimizing published website content to make it more SEO-friendly.

Preferred Skillset: The strongest candidates will be able to demonstrate a commitment to the separation of religion and government; be responsible, hard-working, and excited to work with diverse staff and supporters; and have some or all of these skills:

• Writing concisely and persuasively.
• Meeting deadlines and communicating about progress.
• Basic website organization, content curation and HTML.
• Familiarity with Google Analytics, Google Keyword Planner, Google Drive and WordPress.

Time Commitment: The internship is 15 hours/week from Feb 12, 2024 – April 19, 2024 (with some flexibility to accommodate the intern’s academic or other scheduling needs). The intern will attend weekly all-staff meetings and 1:1 meetings with their supervisor.

How to Apply: Submit as attached Word documents or PDFs:

• A resume (one page) outlining your relevant academic, campus, and professional experience.
• A cover letter (one page) describing how your experience relates to the Digital Content Internship and explaining why AU’s mission is important to you.
• A writing sample (no more than three pages) on any topic. A writing sample could be a short paper, op-ed, training outline, memo, or another document relevant to advocacy.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to applications received by January 1, 2024. Interviews will begin being scheduled in January and hiring decisions made by January 31. No calls, please.

Compensation & Benefits: The Digital Content Intern will be paid a stipend of $2,550. Interns receive substantive experience with in-depth exposure to some of the most important issues facing the country. Interns are provided and encouraged to take time to learn across the organization.

AU can provide documentation for academic credit upon the successful conclusion of the internship.

About Us

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit educational and advocacy organization that brings together people of all religions and none to protect the right of everyone to believe as they want – and stop anyone from using their beliefs to harm others. We fight in the courts, legislatures, and the public square for freedom without favor and equality without exception.

We envision a nation where we are all free to believe or not believe as we choose, where our laws don’t allow anyone to use their religious beliefs to harm others, and where we can come together as equals to build a stronger democracy.

AU has a staff of over 30 people and 5-10 interns during the summer. Staff communicate via Outlook email, zoom meetings, and Slack.

Apply Today!

Americans United is an equal opportunity employer and places a strong emphasis on a diverse environment in which individuals are valued regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, cultural background, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) seeks a Social Media Intern to assist the Communications Department in a remote role. The Social Media Intern will report to the Director of Digital Communications and will assist in developing video and digital content for TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Interns have the opportunity to meet and learn from staff across the organization including communications, policy, and legal departments. They will get to connect with and learn alongside a cohort of summer interns working in various departments at AU. All interns also have the opportunity to be published on AU’s Wall of Separation blog.

Responsibilities: 

• Track AU’s metrics on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and X
• Provide monthly reporting on what is working and where we can improve.
• Create daily TikTok videos and Instagram Reels.
• Assist with social media graphic and meme designs

Preferred Skillset: The strongest candidates will be able to demonstrate a commitment to the separation of religion and government; be responsible, hard-working, and excited to work with diverse staff and supporters; and have some or all of these skills:

• Have your own social media accounts and love creating videos. You know what works and what doesn’t.
• Knowledge of major social media channels and current standard processes (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, etc.)
• Prior experience preferred in making consistent, engaging content on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter, whether on a personal account or for work, school, or other groups.
• Up to date with the latest TikTok video trends, sounds, and editing features.
• Familiar with content-specific influencers and confidence to reach out to them.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication.
• Ability to collaborate with staff.
• Light-lift graphic design for social media posts.
• Experience in Canva is a plus.

Time Commitment: The internship is 15 hours/week from Feb 12, 2024 – April 19, 2024 (with some flexibility to accommodate the intern’s academic or other scheduling needs). The intern will attend weekly all-staff meetings and 1:1 meetings with their supervisor.

How to Apply: Submit as attached Word documents or PDFs:

• A resume (one page) outlining your relevant academic, campus, and professional experience.
• A cover letter (one page) describing how your experience relates to the Social Media Internship and explaining why AU’s mission is important to you.
• A 1-3 minute social media video sample on a social justice or educational topic.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to applications received by January 1, 2024. Interviews will begin being scheduled in January and hiring decisions made by January 31. No calls, please.

Compensation & Benefits: The Social Media Intern will be paid a stipend of $2,250. Interns receive substantive experience with in-depth exposure to some of the most important issues facing the country. Interns are provided and encouraged to take time to learn across the organization.

AU can provide documentation for academic credit upon the successful conclusion of the internship.

About Us

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit educational and advocacy organization that brings together people of all religions and none to protect the right of everyone to believe as they want – and stop anyone from using their beliefs to harm others. We fight in the courts, legislatures, and the public square for freedom without favor and equality without exception.

We envision a nation where we are all free to believe or not believe as we choose, where our laws don’t allow anyone to use their religious beliefs to harm others, and where we can come together as equals to build a stronger democracy.

AU has a staff of over 30 people and 5-10 interns during the summer. Staff communicate via Outlook email, zoom meetings, and Slack.

Apply Today!

Americans United is an equal opportunity employer and places a strong emphasis on a diverse environment in which individuals are valued regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, cultural background, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic.