Vice President of Communications

NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE

In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda

Position Description – Based in Washington, D.C.

TITLE: Vice President of Communications

SCALE LEVEL: Management

PROGRAM: Communications Division

SUPERVISOR: President & CEO

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION: In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda is the only national Black women’s reproductive justice organization. Our goal is to highlight the leadership of Black women on reproductive health, rights and justice issues. In Our Own Voice is a national-state partnership with eight Black women’s organizations: Black Women for Wellness, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, SisterLove, Inc., SisterReach, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW, The Afiya Center, and Women With a Vision. In Our Own Voice focuses on an intersectional approach to abortion rights and access, contraceptive equity, and comprehensive sex education as our key reproductive policy issues. As a Reproductive Justice organization, we approach these issues from a human rights perspective, incorporating the intersections of race, gender, class, sexual orientation and gender identity with the situational impacts of economics, politics and culture that make up the lived experiences of Black women in America.

Our major goals are:

1. To establish a leadership voice for Black women on reproductive rights, health and justice policy at the national level;
2. To build a coordinated grassroots movement of Black women in support of abortion rights and access, including ending the onerous funding restrictions, contraceptive equity and comprehensive sex education;
3. To lay the foundation for ongoing policy change at the national and state levels that impacts the lives and wellbeing of Black women and their families; and
4. To engage and motivate Black women as a traditionally underrepresented group to use their voting power in the American electorate.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Vice President of Communications is a member of the management team, reporting directly to the President & CEO, and is responsible for supervising and coordinating the development and implementation, and evaluation of In Our Own Voice’s strategic communications work. The Vice President will be responsible for elevating a vision for In Our Own Voice’s communication strategy, collaborating with communications consultants to activate that vision, and adding a distinct, vital perspective to the senior leadership team of In Our Own Voice.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Communications:

• Define and execute the department’s overall communications strategy and plans in alignment with the organization’s larger vision, mission, values and strategic plan priorities.
• Create campaigns that effectively reach new audiences, build our base of supporters, raise Reproductive Justice visibility and ignite action (e.g. narrative shifting, storytelling, education, recruitment, and issue-specific advocacy campaigns).
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with relevant journalists, outlets, and consultants, consistently growing the organization’s media list
• Inform and support the strategic partners of In Our Own Voice in lifting up their leadership voices.
• Inform and support the department of Government Affairs communications outreach to members of Congress, state legislators, elected and appointment officials, and government agencies.
• Working with the President/CEO, oversee rapid-response protocols, campaigns, and messaging while empowering the entire team to pursue proactive communications projects.
• Grow and innovate the organizations digital strategy and presence (e.g. social media, blogs, YouTube, website).
• Provides comprehensive direction, management, coordination, supervision, and performance evaluation of staff involved in strategic communications.
• Oversee press releases, op-eds, pitching, and other media strategies to prompt coverage on Reproductive Justice issues, utilizing In Our Own Voice spokespeople, strategic partners, and Next Generation Fellows.
• Oversea the tracking, measuring, and reporting of communications, media, and social media metrics.

Strengthen the brand identity and visibility of In Our Own Voice:

• Sharpen the brand positioning of In Our Own Voice at the intersections of Reproductive Justice and human rights both internally and externally to key audiences.
• Serve as the executive editor for communications, channels and materials, including the websites and digital communications, print and online publications, and other marketing to ensure the In Our Own Voice vision resonates for our different key audience segments.

Manage a team and foster collaboration:

• Participate as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team in order to build plans for the organization’s strategic mission, and vision-driven growth.
• Manage and support the growth of the department staff.
• Establish well-defined systems to collaborate smartly with the Government Affairs department, Programs & Training department, strategic partners and movement partners.
• Hire and manage consultants to support specific communications activities as needed.
• Oversee the communications department budget.
• Contribute to a healthy, collaborative and values-aligned organizational culture.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree in communications, journalism or relevant area of study
• 8 years’ experience working in communications
• Substantive track record of nonprofit leadership
• Experience serving as media spokesperson, plus an ability to train others
• Experience in providing media training to a diverse audience
• Extensive commitment and knowledge of Reproductive Justice and the empowerment of Black women
• Commitment to advancing In Our Own Voice’s core strategies to build leadership of Black women in pursuit of Reproductive Justice
• Strong ability to execute communications strategies with an intersectional lens
• Excellent written and oral communications skills
• Financial acumen regarding efficient use of budget and resources
• Superior strategic thinking, problem-solving, and organizational skills
• Ability to travel occasionally throughout the year

SALARY: $110K-$130K

START DATE: We hope to have this position filled by late 2024.

TO APPLY: Please apply at hr@blackrj.org

Please submit materials as one PDF document:

• Cover letter with salary requirements
• Resume
• 2 writing sample (no more than 4 pages each). You may include links to the writing examples
• 3 professional references

In Our Own Voice: National Black Reproductive Justice Agenda is an equal opportunity

organization.