Communications Manager

Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (Amica Center)•Washington, DC

4d•$75,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Communications Manager develops and executes communications initiatives that elevate Amica Center for Immigrant Rights’ mission, advocacy priorities, impact, and expertise. The role manages storytelling, narrative development, media relations, litigation communications, and content creation across multiple channels. As part of the Development and Communications department, the manager works closely with program teams, organizational leadership, and external partners to translate complex legal and policy issues into compelling public narratives that engage supporters, influence public discourse, and advance organizational goals. The position leads day-to-day media outreach and engagement, develops communications strategies for litigation advocacy, and coordinates communications around major legal developments and campaign actions. It maintains organizational messaging and brand consistency, develops ethical and client-centered stories, and produces content for websites, donors, advocacy, campaigns, and other audiences. The manager also supports crisis and rapid-response communications, guides digital communications projects, manages communications priorities, and evaluates the performance of media, campaigns, and storytelling initiatives. This is a full-time, exempt position based in either Washington, DC, or Baltimore, MD, with a hybrid work environment requiring at least one in-office day per week. Additional in-person work and travel are required for press briefings, interviews, outreach and fundraising events, and other communications activities. The workweek is 35 to 40 hours, with work after hours and on weekends as needed for breaking news, urgent press inquiries, and media demands. The position reports to the Deputy Director of Communications and has no supervisory responsibility.

Requirements

5–7 years of relevant work experience.
Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills, including experience producing press releases, talking points, media advisories, opinion pieces, FAQs, and website content.
Demonstrated experience managing media relations and proactive press outreach, including pitching reporters, responding to media inquiries, coordinating interviews, and building relationships with journalists.
Ability to translate complex legal, policy, or technical issues into clear, compelling, and accessible language for public audiences.
Experience developing communications strategies and messaging around time-sensitive, high-profile, or rapidly evolving issues.
Experience collaborating across departments and with subject-matter experts, organizational leadership, external partners, and coalitions.
Strong project-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects, competing deadlines, stakeholders, and rapid-response needs simultaneously.
Commitment to ethical and client-centered storytelling, including understanding informed consent, dignity, privacy, trauma-informed practices, and the risks associated with public storytelling.
Experience using communications and digital tools such as media monitoring and PR platforms, Canva and/or Adobe Creative Suite, email marketing or CRM platforms, and analytics tools.
Ability to adapt framing, tone, format, and channel to different audiences, including media, supporters, policymakers, partners, donors, and the public.
Ability to connect communications opportunities to broader organizational, advocacy, fundraising, and narrative goals.
Understanding of the relationship between legal strategy and public communications, and ability to communicate legal developments accurately while managing legal and reputational risk.
Ability to produce accurate, strategic communications quickly during breaking news, court rulings, government actions, crises, and other high-pressure moments.
Ability to help staff and clients communicate clearly and confidently during interviews, briefings, and public appearances.
Ability to maintain consistency in organizational voice, visual identity, positioning, and messaging, and use performance indicators to improve communications strategy.
Must be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 as required by the organization.

Responsibilities

Lead day-to-day media outreach and engagement; build and maintain relationships with reporters, editors, producers, and media outlets.
Draft and distribute press releases, media advisories, statements, and other press materials; coordinate interviews and attend press briefings.
Monitor media coverage, identify opportunities to increase organizational visibility, track media placements, and maintain media lists and outreach systems.
Prepare organizational spokespersons for media engagement through message coaching and preparation.
Develop communications strategies for litigation advocacy in partnership with legal teams, coalition partners, and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment with legal strategy and risk considerations.
Draft litigation communications materials, including press releases, public statements, message guidance, FAQs, talking points, and media responses.
Coordinate communications for major filings, hearings, rulings, settlements, and campaign actions, and connect legal developments to broader public narratives about immigrant justice and due process.
Maintain organizational messaging, narrative frameworks, and communications guidance across key issue areas.
Prepare messaging guidance, talking points, FAQs, briefs, and communications plans for staff and leadership.
Strengthen the organization’s brand identity and reputation and ensure consistent voice, messaging, and positioning across external communications.
Develop client-centered stories and organizational narratives that demonstrate the organization’s mission and outcomes, working with legal, programmatic, and development staff to amplify community voices ethically and responsibly.
Write and edit long-form content, including website stories and features, donor communications, opinion pieces, blog articles, presentations, speaking materials, advocacy materials, and campaign materials.
Maintain an editorial calendar aligned with storytelling, communications, advocacy, and fundraising initiatives.
Create and review communications materials for consistency with organizational messaging, style guidelines, and values.
Partner with programs and leadership on crisis and rapid-response communications when needed.
Provide guidance, editing, feedback, and strategic direction for digital communications projects.
Support communications interns, fellows, contractors, and consultants as needed.
Establish project timelines and communications priorities, and attend or facilitate team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and meetings with program staff as needed.
Track and evaluate communications performance across campaigns, media efforts, and storytelling initiatives.
Analyze media coverage, audience engagement, and content performance to identify trends and opportunities.
Contribute communications metrics and narrative reporting for funders, board reports, and organizational planning.