Position: Communications Strategist

Department: Communications

Terms of Employment: Regular Full-Time/ Exempt/Local Union 2320 Position (NYCLU staff is currently working in a hybrid model, a number of in person days will be required). May require travel outside of normal work hours and evening or weekend meetings.

Location: 55 Broadway New York, NY 10006

Salary: $65,000 - $79,000

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) advances civil rights and civil liberties so that all New Yorkers can live with dignity, liberty, justice, and equality Founded in 1951 as the New York state affiliate of the national ACLU, we are informed by the insights of our communities and coalitions and powered by our supporters. Our work is rooted in the unrealized promise of the Bill of Rights and the U.S. and New York State Constitutions.

With eight offices across the state and more than 90,000 member-donors, we fight for liberty and justice across New York like no one else. We’ve overhauled stop-and-frisk, curtailed solitary confinement in state jails, updated New York’s abortion law, mandated disclosure of police misconduct, enacted the nation’s leading state voting rights protections, ensured farmworkers’ right to organize – and so much more.

We don’t see single causes; we see connected movements. That’s why we work across a range of complex issues to defend the rights and liberties we hold dear, fight for ones yet to be realized, and hold those in power accountable. We advance rights through an expert mix of litigation, policy advocacy, field organizing, and strategic communications, going directly to the courts, the state house, and local leaders to challenge power.

Systemic change is complex, so the NYCLU is too: A dynamic force spanning movements to create more liberty and justice for more people. For more information, please visit our website: www.nyclu.org.

DEI VISION STATEMENT

The NYCLU is committed to building an equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist workplace that centers the voices of marginalized and directly impacted communities. This commitment strengthens our mission to protect civil liberties and advance justice across New York. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, and others whose experiences reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

The Communications Department is responsible for the NYCLU’s external communications strategy to advance the NYCLU’s civil liberties and civil rights priorities: criminal justice and policing issues, immigrants’ rights, racial justice, education, voting rights, privacy and technology, LGBTQ rights, reproductive rights, and economic justice. We accomplish this by working with high-impact media, launching multimedia advocacy campaigns, releasing reports and research, and running the organization’s website and digital channels.

The Communications Strategist works closely with colleagues across the Communications, Legal, Policy, Field, and regional departments to create media strategy and support digital strategy. This person should have a keen sense of how media relations works, expert writing skills, and a deep understanding of social justice issues.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Create and execute integrated communications campaign strategy in concert with program staff and across the media, digital, and editorial teams.
Proactively leads production of communications content, including talking points, press releases, op-eds, letters to the editor, blog posts, interested parties' memos, remarks and quotes, in addition to providing digital content support.

Media Strategy + Editorial Support

Create and execute media plans for issue areas, litigation, legislative advocacy, reports, and special projects.
Lead media relations work for policing, criminal legal system, and gender and sexuality issue area portfolios. Cultivate relationships with reporters, secure media coverage and respond to incoming media requests; develop and pitch feature stories.
Respond to breaking news and lead rapid response, often requiring sensitive judgment calls in emerging civil liberties and civil rights crises including occasionally after hours and on weekends.
Identify opportunities for NYCLU involvement and amplification through media monitoring.
Support spokespeople, including clients and colleagues, through media prep and trainings.
Plan, staff, and manage events with media, including press conferences, rallies and reporter briefings.
Draft collateral for media, including press releases and advisories.
Draft letters to the editor and op-eds as needed.

Digital Support

Support the execution of digital strategy across campaigns, litigation, legislative advocacy, reports, and special projects.
Ensure the Communications Department’s digital team is aware of key moments, messages, and updates for your assigned issue areas.
Identify digital opportunities and work in coordination with digital colleagues to conceptualize, script and produce content relating to civil liberties and civil rights issues.
Help flags social media developments requiring press or social media response for colleagues during rapid response moments.
Propose and/or co-develop digital collateral, including multimedia products, blog posts, website and social media copy, reports, and one-pagers.

QUALIFICATIONS

Demonstrated commitment to social justice and the mission and strategic priorities of the NYCLU.
Demonstrated commitment to ensuring a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
At least 4 years of experience in advocacy communications, public relations, or journalism.
Strong news judgment and a demonstrated ability to secure media coverage and cultivate relationships. with journalists. Direct media relations experience liaising with reporters is a plus.
Strong writing and storytelling skills, with a demonstrated track record of pitching stories to the media.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
An understanding of digital communications channels and tools.
Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate complex legal and advocacy material into accurate, accessible, and compelling messaging.
Ability to work effectively across multiple issue areas.
Attention to detail and accuracy.
Prior communications experience in policing, criminal legal system, or gender and sexuality grounded advocacy organizations a plus.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your resume and cover letter that includes your unique qualifications for this position, and where or how you learned of this job posting via https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/4081759/New-York-Civil-Liberties-Union-Foundation/Communications-Strategist

If feasible, please submit these materials as a single PDF.

NYCLU is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, religion, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and having a workforce that reflects the communities that we serve.

NYCLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please e-mail ldecicco@nyclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

This position may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

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Communications Strategist

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