Director of Strategic Communications

ACLU • Washington, NY

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time, term-limited position of Director of Strategic Communications in the Communications & Marketing Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY or Washington, DC. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. This is a three-year term-limited position. The ACLU Communications & Marketing department creates, maintains, and expands message narratives to engage our supporters and other target audiences, to help protect and expand civil liberties and civil rights, and illustrate the value and impact of the ACLU’s transformational work. Through our messaging, engagement with newsmakers, our written content, creative branding, and visual identity, we encourage support for the ACLU and help to build a more perfect union.

Requirements

• Demonstrated years of experience with integrated communications strategies, with background in advocacy and legal communications, along with a working knowledge of paid, earned, creator-led, shared and owned media relations tactics, platforms and strategies
• Strong background in personnel management and demonstrated experience effectively developing and supporting employees with ranging experience levels and backgrounds
• Management and team-building skills that inspire staff to work collaboratively in pursuit of a common mission and the ability to manage staff on the successful execution of objectives
• A management style that is accessible, flexible, decisive, and supportive with the ability to provide clear direction and delegate where appropriate
• Prior experience managing large projects, vendors and staff with the ability to establish priorities that will effectively utilize the staff’s time and the department’s resources
• The ability to create and implement integrated communications strategies for a large, complex organization
• Broad experience with legal, political, advocacy and public policy issues, as well as a strong understanding of how communications may be used to promote a legislative agenda, legal strategy and issue advocacy campaign
• Experience and/or strong interest and understanding of the issues areas this role will oversee, including speech, national security, voting rights, privacy, tech, and abuse of power
• Exceptional writing and editing skills across materials and styles, as well as the ability to effectively edit and review other people’s writing to strengthen overall team skills
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex and controversial issues and to convey information about the issues to both narrow and broad audiences
• Media savvy and experience executing communications plans in an evolving media environment, as well as interest in building a communications team that understands how to leverage a range of channels and media verticals
• Excellent interpersonal skills necessary to operate effectively in a large, multi-office national organization and with state-based affiliates and active volunteers
• Strong personal diplomacy, including a highly professional temperament and the ability to work in a collaborative team environment

Responsibilities

• Design and implement integrated communications campaigns for priority projects and initiatives, including multi-issue campaigns, nationwide rallies and other special projects.
• Engage a suite of tactics to develop said plans – including earned media, creator engagement, paid advertising, social media, multimedia, email/SMS and website/blog content – in partnership with relevant communications strategists, channel owners, content creators and issue experts.
• Manage communications strategists by overseeing critical workstreams, offering strategic guidance, informing priorities, directing and mobilizing communications and marketing staff, and troubleshooting as challenges arise across departments.
• Lead and oversee the development of integrated communications strategies for key legal, advocacy, policy and narrative priorities across the core issues you oversee with communications strategists.
• Help identify strategic priorities and plans to help respond to the news of the day and to proactively get ahead of opportunities to advance the organization’s communications goals.
• Write messaging and core materials for issues, campaigns, new filings and more leveraging polling, research and other insights to inform key narratives.
• Establish strong working relationships with legal, advocacy, policy, and development colleagues across the organization, as well as affiliates and partner organizations.
• Work in coalition within and outside of the ACLU to develop a strong understanding of issues and team dynamics to help inform workflows and communications strategy.
• Direct rapid response communications — including during off hours — in partnership with relevant communications strategists.
• Support the Head of Strategic Communications and other department leadership team members in crisis response.
• In partnership with the Earned Media and Strategic Engagement team, devise and execute a strategy to strengthen and maintain relationship building with key news editors, reporters and broadcast bookers including providing support for ACLU spokespersons ahead of media engagements.
• In coordination with department leaders and communication strategists, support the development of and execution of brand awareness, thought leadership and advocacy campaigns associated with key issue areas.
• Partner with the department’s operations unit and team leads to regularly evaluate and improve department-wide workflows and help make decisions about resourcing needs.
• Oversee media and communications vendors, consultants, and freelancers within allocated budget for the department to achieve maximum impact.
• Contribute to department-wide measurement and evaluation efforts regarding the influence and impact achieved by the communications strategies of the ACLU.
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees