Communications Director

Justice Action Center•Los Angeles, CA

7d•Remote

About The Position

Justice Action Center (JAC) is a start-up social justice organization that combines storytelling with impact litigation to advance justice for immigrant communities. JAC’s work includes Supreme Court campaigns, litigation tracking, and impact litigation. The Communications Director leads the vision and strategy for the Communications department and JAC’s communications and storytelling work, with a focus on centering clients’ experiences alongside litigation work. As a member of the senior leadership team, the Director contributes to strategic initiatives and organizational policy and holds primary responsibility for external engagement, including relationships with funders, media, partners, and other constituencies. The Director develops and oversees a comprehensive communications plan, creates campaigns, selects tactics to distribute JAC news and broaden audiences, and oversees narrative-change strategies. The role manages staff responsible for digital channels and communications materials, media strategies for JAC and its clients, plaintiff engagement, and—when applicable—class communications. The Director also supports attorneys’ efforts to provide legal services to clients and oversees the communications department’s budget, staff development, and performance management. This is a 100% remote position. The employee must reside and work in the United States; occasional out-of-state travel is required. The position requires responsiveness and availability during nontraditional work hours. Compensation is $130,000–$160,000 per year.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field.
At least 10 years of previous communications experience.
At least 3 years of campaign or project management experience.
Demonstrated experience creating engaging digital content and website copy.
Demonstrated experience successfully pitching and placing stories and op-eds in major media publications.
Strong track record of implementing and managing multiple key initiatives concurrently.
Leadership, maturity, and ability to unify teams and address communications at strategic and tactical levels.
Ability to work independently, take initiative, and create and implement new initiatives.
Ability to distill complicated issues into clear, persuasive messaging.
Comfort working with diverse coalitions in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to conceptualize and execute communications plans, including plans with substantial digital components.
High responsiveness and availability during nontraditional work hours.
Ability to travel to key court and other events as needed.
Exceptional communications and interpersonal skills and ability to build trusting, productive relationships with a wide range of partners and stakeholders.
Ability to navigate high-stress or fast-paced environments calmly.
Commitment to JAC’s mission and values.
Experience delegating and managing work.
Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
Relationship-building skills, flexibility, and finesse to manage by influence.
Strong relationships with key members of the media.

Nice To Haves

Fluency or proficiency in a language other than English.
Experience overseeing communications research, such as polling or focus groups.

Responsibilities

Set the overall vision for JAC’s communications and storytelling work.
Provide strategic guidance to the organization as a member of the senior leadership team.
Develop, oversee implementation of, evaluate, and modify a comprehensive communications plan in collaboration with senior leadership, the communications team, and external partners.
Create campaigns that advance JAC’s narrative goals and determine communications tactics to disseminate news, publicize activities, and broaden audiences.
Oversee research and implementation of non-traditional media narrative-change strategies.
Manage staff responsible for JAC’s website, social media, newsletters, announcements, press releases, and litigation tracker.
Oversee media strategies for JAC and clients, including press releases, op-eds, and talking points, and work with East and West Coast media outlets.
Pitch and place strategically relevant stories and train JAC spokespeople and plaintiffs for interviews.
Build and maintain positive relationships with external partners and media.
Oversee plaintiff engagement and, when applicable, JAC’s class communications efforts.
Support and facilitate attorneys’ efforts to provide legal services to clients.
Oversee communications department functions, including budget and staff development.
Build, grow, and develop communications department staff; manage the team’s execution of communications strategy.
Mentor staff, assign accountabilities, set objectives and priorities, monitor performance and development goals, and conduct annual performance appraisals.