Communications Strategist [COMM-34], ACLUF, Communications Department, NY

Posted On: July 28, 2015

Media-Related Job

Media Organization: American Civil Liberties Union

Company Description

For nearly 100 years, the ACLU has been our nation’s guardian of liberty, working in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBT community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach. With more than a million members, activists, and supporters, the ACLU is a nationwide organization that fights tirelessly in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., for the principle that every individual’s rights must be protected equally under the law, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or national origin.

Job Description

CAREER OPPORTUNITY
Communications Strategist [COMM-34]
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
Communications Department, NY

The Communications Department of the ACLU’s National Office in New York City is seeking applicants for the full-time position of Communications Strategist.

OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Communications, the Communications Strategist will play a critical role in developing and executing communications strategies that advance the ACLU’s work on civil liberties. The strategist will work to advance the agenda of the ACLU through collaboration with Communications colleagues, lawyers, lobbyists and state advocates. The strategist will also engage target audiences about litigation and advocacy; create content for publications and the website; and, plan events such as issue teleconferences.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development of multi-faceted communications strategies on a wide array of civil liberties issues, including criminal and racial justice, immigrants’ rights, voting rights, LGBT, reproductive rights, national security, technology and privacy. Develop and implement general communications strategies to further the ACLU brand as needed. Participate in shaping communications plans for legal cases and initiatives to maximize their communications value and effectiveness, as well as the visibility of the ACLU.
• Develop multi-faceted communications and media plans, which include message development, web presence, advocacy and social media, to educate, motivate, and influence target audiences.
• Work in collaboration with the advocacy team to develop communications strategies and tactics for state legislative and advocacy initiatives.
• Develop, update, and distribute issue talking points (in the form of message grids); work with lawyers and advocates to develop messaging on sensitive and/or controversial issues.
• Prepare clients, litigators, state advocates, and other spokespeople for media appearances.
• Collaborating with the senior writer/editor, , conceptualize, draft and edit blog posts for the ACLU’s blog, Speak Freely.
• Write and edit website text, reports and other communications materials.
• Strategize to determine the most effective spokespeople for disseminating the ACLU messages and brand.
• Provide guidance to affiliates in the development of communications materials and strategy, when necessary.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications or a related field required.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in a combination of the following areas: media, strategic communications, digital communications, and public relations.
• Experience working on issue-based advocacy campaigns and/or political campaigns.
• Experience in communicating complex issues to varied audiences.
• Must possess strong organizational skills, be detail-oriented and possess the ability to follow projects through to completion.
• Ability to communicate persuasively and professionally, in writing through op-eds and blog posts, and to communicate verbally to a wide variety of media, political, stakeholder and influencer audiences.
• Experience working with the media and cultivating relationships with print, radio, television and online journalists.
• Experience crafting social media messages, and promoting issues through social media required.
• Familiarity with online news, social media and digital advocacy tactics.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively with others in a team environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Associated Press style required. Familiarity with Cision/Vocus public relations software a plus.
• A demonstrated interest in civil liberties and passion for the work of the ACLU is essential.
Possessing these skills is a plus:
• Basic proficiency with HTML; experience using a CMS to publish and update website content.
• Experience using Photoshop to edit basic graphics.
• Understanding of trends and best practices for online campaigning, and best practices for communicating via email, Facebook and Twitter.
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COMPENSATION

The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.

To Apply

Please submit a letter of interest (with salary requirements), a resume and a writing sample (no more than three pages in length) to hrjobsCOMM@aclu.org - reference [COMM-34/ACLU-W] in the subject line. Please indicate in your letter where you learned of this career opportunity.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU reserves the right to change the description and/or posting at any time without advance notice.
The ACLU is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, and veteran status.

The ACLU undertakes affirmative action strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to assure that persons with disabilities have full opportunities for employment in all positions.

We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodations in the application process to contact:hrjobsincl@aclu.org. Correspondence sent to this email address that is not related to requests for accommodations will not be reviewed. Applicants should follow the instructions above regarding how to apply.

The ACLU comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation. Both the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation are national organizations with the same overall mission, and share office space and employees. The ACLU has two separate corporate entities in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU.”