Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

Organizational Profile: Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC ("AAJC") is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991. Our mission is to advance the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all. For 30 years, we have served as the leading Asian American voice on civil rights issues in our nation’s capital – fighting for the rights of our communities through policy advocacy, litigation, research, public education, and community engagement.

Based in Washington, DC, Advancing Justice | AAJC is a member of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice) affiliation. With our affiliates in Atlanta, Chicago, and Southern California, we work together as equal and independent partners, operate under one name, and strive to speak with one unified and powerful voice to promote justice, empower our communities, bring local and national constituents together, and strengthen our multiracial democracy.

Title: Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

Reports to: Vice President (VP) of Strategic Communications and External Engagement

Supervises: One (1) full-time staff member

Term: Immediately

Status: Full-time, Exempt Employee, 40 hours/week

Salary: $85,000-$95,000

Location: Washington, D.C.

This is a unionized organization, and this position is not in the collective bargaining unit.

Position Description: The Assistant Director of Strategic Communications and External Engagement will be responsible for aspects of strategic communications, including reframing complex AAJC policy, legal, and advocacy advancements into relatable messages and stories about their transformative effect on the lives of vulnerable people. Through change narrative, the Assistant Director will effectively shift the focus from the process employed to its ultimate impact on the individuals and the communities AAJC and its partners serve.

The Assistant Director will work collaboratively with relevant staff to identify AAJC initiatives to promote, develop messaging and associated story ideas featuring compelling impacted persons’ experiences, and help determine the best format and the most effective media channels through which to convey them.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizational Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Act as a thought partner to the VP of Strategic Communications and External Engagement to support and implement plans and ideas for AAJC and its various initiatives.
• Serve as a senior-level mentor and a bridge-builder for AAJC, ensuring collaboration between departments and strengthening partnerships with affiliates and key external partners.
• In collaboration with the VP of Strategic Communications and External Engagement, coordinate with local partner grantees, affiliate organizations, and coalition partners to effectively raise AAJC’s voice.
• Supervise the Digital Engagement Associate and collaborate with other members of the strategic communications staff to identify tasks and issue messaging through relevant communications channels.
• Advance new ideas and innovations that align with AAJC’s mission and strategic plan.

Direct Responsibilities

Narrative Change/Storytelling:

• Develop strategies and ideas for soliciting stories from impacted individuals and collaborate with Policy & Program teams to develop storyline content for each issue area.
• Craft compelling narratives and editorial content about issues AAJC and its partners are addressing, highlight progress achieved toward them, and issue inspirational calls to action.
• Work with department teams to develop storyline content and products from impacted individuals who share their story with AAJC.
• Conduct narrative training for AAJC staff and partners to utilize with different audiences, including impacted individuals.
• Contribute ideas and craft stories, ways to repurpose existing content through storytelling.
• Develop narrative change press strategy with the Media Relations Associate.

Messaging Development:

• Develop message guidance for AAJC, advocates, and its partner network.
• Lead or assist with research, writing, copy editing, and development of communications content like eblasts, blogs, press releases, newsletters, talking points, and campaign reports.
• Organize virtual webinars or in-person briefings for messaging and storytelling and produce reports for internal and external interested stakeholders as needed.
• Develop communication strategies and multi-channel communication campaigns that optimize engagement with identified audiences.
• Prepare speeches, talking points, executive presentations, press releases, elevator pitches, and other supporting material as needed.

Communications Strategy:

• Assist in identifying, developing, and implementing AAJC reach and brand-building initiatives.
• Assist the VP of Strategic Communications and External Engagement with day-to-day operations including budgeting; staff recruitment, management, and development; and managing consultants and vendors.
• Collaborate with AAJC’s policy and communications teams, and its partner network, to develop persuasive visual and written content, and media-pitch ideas.
• Support and inform the design and development of content, executive and senior-level communications, and events and convenings.
• Develop Key Performance Metrics to track effectiveness of various outreach efforts quarterly with a goal of strengthening and improving them.
• Provide recommendations for new tools, products, or opportunities to present or think about AAJC’s work.
• Collaborate across all AAJC teams to forward AAJC’s various efforts.
• Provide creative solutions to communication challenges raised by AAJC staff and teams.
• Other duties as assigned.

Fundraising

• Collaborate with the development team and provide impactful, meaningful stories and content for donor communications (newsletters, special and annual reports, social/other media, etc.).
• Co-plan and support annual fundraising efforts, including AAJC’s signature fundraising event.
• Attend meetings with and provide ideas for prospects/donors as requested.

General AAJC Roles

• Live and exhibit the Values of AAJC, by contributing to an environment that promotes trust, teamwork, and transparency among staff, board, National Advisory Council, affiliates, and community partners.
• Contribute to, establish, and follow policies and procedures, including maintenance of confidentiality, to ensure that the principles of AAJC are implemented.
• Participate in and lead decision-making processes, understand outcomes, and be accountable for decisions made in or affecting their area.
• Understand the values and principles of AAJC and apply them fully in work responsibilities.
• Participate in other activities and serve on ad hoc committees as requested.
• Attend and contribute to AAJC and Board of Directors’ meetings as requested.
• Be available to travel and work evenings and weekends as requested.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• At least eight years of professional experience in a mission-driven, social impact, non-profit, philanthropy, and/or communications field.
• Ability to meet internal and external deadlines in a fast-paced, rapidly-changing environment is required.
• Experience managing communications resources, including internal and external relationships, vendors, and agencies.
• Demonstrated experience with strategic planning and execution; messaging strategy; public affairs and public relations; content development; writing and editing; project management; presentation development; vendor relations; and budget management.
• Experience supervising and managing staff members.
• Experience with and knowledge of Asian American, civil and/or human rights issues desired.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Possess a passion for storytelling on a multitude of civil rights issues and through a variety of communications products.
• Ability to frame and articulate messages to the media.
• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong outreach, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills across diverse groups and various sectors.
• Strong project and process management, including planning and coordinating skills.
• Ability to train and facilitate conversations with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Excellent attention to detail and follow through.
• Self-starter, able to take initiative and work independently.
• Knowledgeable in communications tools and channels to amplify and promote AAJC.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, G Suite, WordPress, social and other media platforms.

Application Process

Send resume, cover letter, writing sample, and references (we’ll only contact for finalist) to Hiring Manager at hiring@advancingjustice-aajc.org

or 1620 L Street NW, Suite 1050, Washington, DC 20036. Applications with all four items will be considered.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC is an equal opportunity employer.

• Health insurance (AAJC pays premium)
• Vision insurance (AAJC pays premium)
  • OR reimbursed amount of health insurance/vision premiums each month if employee elects coverage through spouse, parent, etc., instead
• Dental insurance (AAJC pays premium)
• Short-term disability insurance (AAJC pays for basic coverage)
• Aflac insurance (AAJC plan, but employee must cover the cost)
• Long-term disability insurance (AAJC pays for basic coverage)
• Long-term care insurance (AAJC pays for basic coverage)
• Life insurance (AAJC pays for basic coverage)
• 401(k) retirement savings plan (plus 3%+ contribution from AAJC after one year)
• Flex Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• 9 federal holidays; day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve off with pay
• Personal days (awarded 3 at the beginning of each calendar year)
• Vacation leave (accrue 2 weeks in year one; 3 weeks in year two, and 4 weeks thereafter)
• Sick leave (accrue one day each month)
• Up to three days of bereavement leave for the passing of specified relations
• Compressed work schedule eligibility after one year, with every other Friday off
• Compressed summer schedule, with every other Friday off, regardless of service length
• Extended lunch break (1.5 hours) three days a week, after one year of service
• Commuter benefit (set aside tax-free funds for commuting)
• Wellness stipend ($1,500 per year; taxable)
• Monthly data reimbursement stipend of $50 (taxable)
• Professional Development funding (about $3,500/year)
• Other days off with pay at the discretion of the President and Executive Director, such as these observed in the past few years are:
  • Juneteenth off
  • August Fridays off