Communications Director

JUSTICE ACTION CENTER•Los Angeles, CA

8d•$130,000 - $160,000•Remote

About The Position

The Communications Director leads and sets the vision for Justice Action Center’s Communications department and its communications and storytelling work. Working with the senior leadership team, communications staff, and external partners, the Director develops, implements, evaluates, and adjusts the organization’s communications plan and creates campaigns that advance JAC’s narrative goals. This senior leadership role provides strategic guidance, holds primary responsibility for the organization’s external engagement, and helps set organizational policy and strategic initiatives. The Director oversees the communications department’s functions, budget, staff development, and day-to-day communications work, including the website, social media, newsletters, announcements, press releases, and litigation tracker. The role also directs media strategies for JAC and its clients, builds relationships with media and external partners, pitches and places stories, and trains spokespeople and plaintiffs for interviews. The Director oversees plaintiff engagement and, when applicable, class communications, and supports attorneys’ efforts to provide legal services to clients. This is a 100% remote position. The employee must reside and work in the United States and travel out of state occasionally, including to key court and other events as needed. The role requires a high degree of responsiveness and availability during nontraditional work hours.

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 success pitching and placing stories and op-eds in major media publications.
Strong record of implementation and ability to manage multiple key initiatives concurrently.
Leadership, maturity, and ability to unify teams and engage at both strategic and tactical levels.
Self-starter who can work independently 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 degree of responsiveness and availability during nontraditional work hours.
Ability to travel to key court and other events as needed.
Exceptional communications and interpersonal skills, with ability to build trusting, productive relationships with 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 and flexibility to manage by influence.
Strong relationships with key members of the media.
Must reside and work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Fluency or proficiency in a language other than English.
Experience overseeing communications research efforts, 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 with senior leaders, communications staff, and external partners as needed.
Create campaigns to 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 that advance JAC’s mission.
Manage staff responsible for day-to-day communications, including the website, social media, newsletters, announcements, press releases, and litigation tracker.
Oversee media strategies for JAC and clients, including preparation of 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.
Work with external partners and media while maintaining positive relationships.
Oversee plaintiff engagement and, when applicable, JAC’s class communications efforts.
Support and facilitate JAC attorneys’ efforts to provide legal services to clients.
Oversee all communications department functions, including budget and staff development.
Build, grow, and develop communications department staff.
Manage the communications team in developing and executing communications strategy.
Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach.
Establish and monitor staff performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives and priorities, and conduct annual performance appraisals.