Communications Director

Organization Overview 

California Latinas for Reproductive Justice (CLRJ) is a statewide organization that centers the experiences of Black, Indigenous and other People of Color within the Latine diaspora to uphold our dignity, our bodies, our sexuality, our diverse families and communities. We build power, shift culture and cultivate leadership through community organizing, policy advocacy, community-informed research, and community healing.

Since its founding in 2004, CLRJ has emerged as an important state-level actor and has a growing profile on the national level. CLRJ is the leading California-based Latina/e Reproductive Justice organization and is the only statewide advocacy organization whose purpose focuses specifically on promoting Latinas’/es’ Reproductive Justice through community organizing, alliance-building, leadership development and long term movement building strategies. At the national level, CLRJ also serves as a recognized leader in promoting a vibrant Reproductive Justice Movement on behalf of the most underserved Latinas/es, low income women of color, immigrant women and their communities. 

Position Overview

The Communications Director (CD) is responsible for advancing the organization’s purpose, core goals and objectives through a dynamic knowledge and utilization of traditional and new media skills. The CD will develop and lead the communications strategies that support our program goals and activities.  They will be the lead staff on the development of culture shift campaigns and the creation of organizational messages, talking points and other written materials.  Additionally, they will lead on the training of staff, board, program participants, and other stakeholders on our messaging, culture shift, and story gathering strategies.  The CD is an essential member of CLRJ’s staff team and plays a critical role in many aspects of the organization.  The Communications Director will report to CLRJ’s Executive Director and will work collaboratively with all members of the CLRJ Team. 

Principal Areas of Responsibility 

Culture Shift & Messaging

• Serve as the lead staff on development of organizational messaging
• Coordinate messages, talking points, and other language for policy proposals, public statements, reports, briefs and other organizational materials
• Work with CLRJ staff on the development and implementation of culture shift strategies, tactics, and campaigns
• Coordinate with partner organizations on shared culture shift efforts
• Provide training to staff, organizational partners and CLRJ program participants around culture shift strategies, tactics and impact

Traditional Media Relations 

• Cultivate relationships with targeted media contacts to and increase the visibility of the Reproductive Justice issues that CLRJ has prioritized;
• Seek strategic media opportunities that elevate CLRJ’s mission and the Reproductive Justice stories of Latinas locally, statewide, and nationally; 
• Work with staff, allies, and outside supporters to draft and place Op-Eds, Letters to the Editor, and blogs on behalf of the organization;
• Conduct strategic media outreach in coordination with community organizing and policy advocacy campaigns;
• Issue press releases and pitch stories to traditional media outlets.

Online Presence

• Supervise and train communications staff in the maintenance and update of CLRJ’s website
• Supervise and train communications staff in the maintenance, administration, and updating of CLRJ’s social media presence, including managing a comprehensive social media calendar and determining ways to expand and/or strengthen community engagement
• Keep abreast of online conversations and developments around Reproductive Justice policy priorities, as well local, state and national RJ news and current events.

Story Gathering, Archiving, and Programming

• Supervise and train communications and other program staff in the gathering of RJ stories for CLRJ’s archives (Speaking Story)
• Lead program staff in planning storytelling events in various regions of the state
• Provide story gathering trainings for partner organizations

Strategic Communications Partnerships

• Support communication activities conducted with allied organizations, coalitions, and/or campaigns;
• Build and maintain relationships with communications leads within key allied organizations.  

Materials Development

• Support CLRJ staff in the creation, editing and dissemination of fact sheets, publications, community education briefs, and other materials;
• Coordinate graphic design for web, large design jobs for organizational digital and printed collateral including research reports, briefs and other CLRJ needs;
• Coordinate design of memes, flyers, email templates, blogs, and smaller design jobs for organizational collateral. 

Development 

• Create materials to support the organization’s fundraising efforts; 
• Apply strategic communications using traditional and new media efforts to increase the base of foundation and individual donors;
• Assist with proposal writing and grant reporting in relation to the Communications strategies and activities of the organization.

Skills and Qualifications 

All CLRJ employees are expected to fully support the organization’s mission in their work. Any

positions or work that runs counter to LGBTQ rights or Reproductive Justice - including the right to

access abortion and contraception, are likely to create a conflict of interest disqualifying an employee from working at CLRJ. All employees regardless of their position are required to support with staffing events, public speaking or disseminating information about people’s right to access legal and safe abortion care and contraception, as assigned. It is also required that all employees use messaging that is developed by CLRJ's Communications Team and that it is factual, evidence-based, and free of judgment or discrimination when talking about all Reproductive Justice issues, including LGBTQ rights, and the right to access abortion or contraception when working or otherwise representing CLRJ.

• Must prioritize and further CLRJ’s purpose in all of their activities. 
• Two to three years experience in the field of Reproductive Justice strongly preferred
• Critical Thinking
• Three to five years of experience with communications, message development, and media relations
• Two to three years experience in managing staff, consultants, interns and volunteers
• Excellent written and verbal communications with a proven ability to target such communications to a range of audiences with cultural, linguistic, age, professional and literacy appropriateness
• Two to three years experience in website design and blog management and development
• Experience with web-based and electronic communications platforms and ability to learn and adapt to new tools as they are developed
• Experience developing social media content and running campaigns through social media.
• Graphic design, photography and video skills and experience highly desired
• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, Canva
• Video and audio editing knowledge a plus
• Basic HTML and CSS skills and experience preferred
• Experience using Powerbase or other CRM systems preferred
• Spanish language proficiency (oral and written) strongly preferred
• Self-initiated, motivated, well-organized, able to work with minimal supervision
• Ability to work flexible hours and some nights and weekends
• Ability to travel regularly throughout the state and nationally
• Demonstrated respect, effectiveness and appropriateness when working with a wide range of cultural communities and intergenerational community groups
• Must demonstrate excellent judgment in all interactions with organizations and individuals when representing CLRJ.
• Computer skills: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, internet and database programs necessary to carry out project objectives
• Creativity, passion for social justice, excellent interpersonal and team-building skills

Location and Classification 

• This position is based in Los Angeles, but may be worked remotely throughout California; some local, state, and national travel may be required 
• All staff currently work remotely with monthly in person meetings.
• The employee must be available to work extended days in the evenings or weekends, as needed 

Compensation and Employee Benefits 

• The salary range for this position is : $70,000 - $80,000 annually
• This is a full-time exempt position, working 40 hours a week 
• Excellent benefits package including: Medical, dental, vision, life, long term and short-term disability insurance
• Paid sick, personal time, and 2-4 weeks of paid vacation depending on the years of employment.
• Paid holidays
• Paid parental and sabbatical leave, in accordance with CLRJ’s employee guidelines.
• Staff wellness and team-building group activities 
• Significant opportunities for professional development and growth

Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

CLRJ is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people and those with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

TO APPLY: Please send cover letter, résumé and one writing and one graphic design sample  to careers@clrj.org with the job title in the subject line.

• Excellent benefits package including: Medical, dental, vision, life, long term and short-term disability insurance
• Paid sick, personal time, and 2-4 weeks of paid vacation depending on the years of employment.
• Paid holidays
• Paid parental and sabbatical leave, in accordance with CLRJ’s employee guidelines.
• Staff wellness and team-building group activities 
• Significant opportunities for professional development and growth