Communications Strategy + Narrative Director

The Youth First Justice Collaborative (YFJC) seeks a dynamic and visionary Communications Strategy + Narrative Director to join our team and support our advocacy efforts for youth prison abolition. The YFJC is a national resource hub and funder offering a wide array of accessible, responsive, and strategic support to build the capacity of statewide youth decarceration campaigns. The initiative has also facilitated over $8M in direct capacity-building support to states through subgrants via a pooled fund. The Director of Communications Strategy at YFJC will play a crucial role in assisting state campaigns to effectively articulate and advocate for the end of youth incarceration and will play a role in assisting with opportunities for communications and messaging at the national level. This position requires a visionary leader with exceptional communication skills, strategic acumen, and a passion for social justice. 

This role involves providing technical expertise to state campaigns, empowering them to create impactful communications strategies aimed at advocating for the transformation of youth justice systems to end youth incarceration and invest in community-based support. As the Communications Strategy + Narrative Director, you will spearhead the development and execution of comprehensive communication plans, leveraging various mediums and platforms to raise awareness, mobilize support, and drive systemic change toward abolition.  

YFJC strongly encourages candidates who are/have been directly impacted by the youth justice system to apply. The Communications Strategy + Narrative Director would be an essential partner and leader in fostering an anti-racist, diverse, inclusive, and supportive organizational culture in line with YFJC’s. For more information on YFJC’s guiding principles and values, please visit our website.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES     

• Provide strategic guidance on messaging, storytelling, and narrative framing to effectively convey the urgency and importance of abolishing youth prisons at the local, regional and national level.
• Collaborate with state campaign teams to understand their communications goals, challenges, and target audiences in advocating to end youth incarceration.
• Support state campaigns to build strong, relevant and well-informed narrative and communications strategies tailored to each state's unique organizing needs, utilizing a multi-platform approach to maximize impact and outreach.
• Offer training, resources, and ongoing support to campaign teams in implementing communication strategies, including building narrative power, media outreach, social media engagement, and content creation.
• Lead the development of short- and long-term narrative and influence strategies, framing, and messaging for the organization.
• Ensure high-quality and relevant digital communications presence and consistent narrative across all our channels and specific to young people
• Cultivate relationships with media outlets, influencers, and strategic partners to amplify campaign messaging and garner support for the cause.
• Stay updated on current trends, policies, and developments in the field of youth justice to inform and enhance communication strategies.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in strategic communications, campaign management, and/or organizing roles, preferably within social justice, youth development, or related fields.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and executing comprehensive communications strategies across various platforms for organizing campaigns.
• Strong understanding of youth justice issues, advocacy, and abolitionist frameworks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling messages and narratives.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a diverse team environment and lead with inclusivity, equity, and empathy.
• Proficiency in leveraging digital tools, social media platforms, and analytics for organizing campaign evaluation and optimization.
• Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Lived experience as a person directly impacted by the justice system
• Knowledge and understanding of change management, a transformative justice framework, and trauma-informed care
• Demonstrated humility, curiosity, nimbleness, and resourcefulness. 

LOCATION AND TRAVEL:

The Youth First Justice Collaborative is a fully virtual team. Travel needs will be evaluated and determined on an ongoing basis with critical consideration for staff safety as we continue navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Director of Communications Strategy is expected to travel both locally and nationally. Domestic travel by plane and/or train is estimated to be approximately 25-30% of the role depending upon where the Director of Communications Strategy is based.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Salary range: $$110,000-$120,000

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in 401k retirement plan and are eligible for a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match on 401k contributions. Employees are also eligible for pre-tax transportation benefits. Employees will receive 160 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually. Employees will also receive 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Employees are eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment. 

START DATE: August 15, 2024

TO APPLY:  Submit a cover letter (no longer than 1 page), resume, and three references to jobs@youthfirstjusticecollaborative.org. References will not be contacted unless the candidate is a finalist and finalists will have the opportunity to notify their references before we make contact.

In your cover letter, please be sure to address how your experiences match the key responsibilities and required skills outlined above. Your cover letter must address the following questions:

• Can you describe your approach to developing narrative power strategies for advocacy or social justice campaigns?
• How do you collaborate with diverse teams or campaign stakeholders to align communication strategies with overall objectives? 

DEADLINE TO APPLY: June 7th, 2024 

HIRING STATEMENT: 

The Youth First Justice Collaborative is a project of New Venture Fund (NVF), a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. NVF is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. NVF’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

E-Verify 

NVF participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Job candidates and employees authorized to work may not be discriminated against on the basis of national origin or citizenship status. 

Comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in 401k retirement plan and are eligible for a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match on 401k contributions. Employees are also eligible for pre-tax transportation benefits. Employees will receive 160 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually. Employees will also receive 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Employees are eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment.

TO APPLY:  Submit a cover letter (no longer than 1 page), resume, and three references to jobs@youthfirstjusticecollaborative.org. References will not be contacted unless the candidate is a finalist and finalists will have the opportunity to notify their references before we make contact.

In your cover letter, please be sure to address how your experiences match the key responsibilities and required skills outlined above. Your cover letter must address the following questions:

• Can you describe your approach to developing narrative power strategies for advocacy or social justice campaigns?
• How do you collaborate with diverse teams or campaign stakeholders to align communication strategies with overall objectives? 

DEADLINE TO APPLY: June 7th, 2024