Communications Manager

About Acacia Center for Justice:

The Acacia Center for Justice (“Acacia”) provides legal support and representation to immigrants facing deportation through the development, coordination, and management of national networks of legal services providers serving immigrants across the country. Acacia’s goals are twofold: to support immigrant legal services and defense networks to provide exceptional legal services to immigrants; and to advocate for the expansion of these programs and the infrastructure critical to guaranteeing immigrants access to justice, fairness, and freedom. Acacia ensures accountable, independent, zealous, and person-centered legal services and representation to protect the rights of all immigrants.

Job Summary:

The Communications Manager will support Acacia’s mission by sharing the impact of our programs, research, and advocacy with key audiences while adhering to Acacia’s organizational voice and messaging. The Communications Manager is nimble, adaptable, and eager to take on a portfolio of work that includes a large amount of rapid response work in a challenging and ever-evolving environment.

They will use their robust video editing and production skills to create original content and serve as the primary point person in approving content for Acacia’s digital channels, including website and social media, to build a base of informed supporters of Acacia’s work. The Manager will work in a highly collaborative, cross-departmental team and with stakeholders like Acacia’s network of Legal Service Providers to implement communications strategies and then identify the best tactics to deliver that information. This position reports to the Director of Communications and provides high-level support to the Director by managing simultaneous mid and long-term projects.

The communications manager is a skilled communicator who understands non-profit communications and narrative-building and utilizes the full scope of industry communications tools. This includes developing content for Acacia’s website, slide decks, and annual reports. The Manager, under the leadership of the Communications Director, supports the development and execution of Acacia's strategic communications framework. This framework ensures that both Acacia’s programmatic work and strategic goals are appropriately tailored to target audiences and effectively communicated across Acacia’s public-facing materials. The Manager

also prepares and disseminates internal and external communications that are strategically aligned with Acacia’s mission, vision, and goals

The Manager has a demonstrated commitment to the human rights and immigrants’ rights movement and sufficient fluency and understanding of Acacia’s work to communicate effectively with both members of the public and more specialized actors within the field.

As part of the application process, we ask that candidates include a link to a professional portfolio that shows recent examples of your work. Please ensure that the link is accessible and up to date.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities:

Support Acacia’s Communications Strategy

• Closely collaborate with the External Affairs and Research and Evaluation and Data Analytics teams to craft messaging for policy advocacy, movement campaigns, and other strategic goal
• Support the development of compelling, action-oriented communications strategies for research, publications, press releases, events, and policy advocacy campaigns that defend the rights of all immigrants.
• Continuously elevate our writing to be compelling, concise, and focused
• Assist with preparing reports and decks for the Board of Directors.
• Stay current on immigration news, including big-picture legal and policy developments, and support advising Acacia’s executive management team on responses to breaking news and its implications for our operations and strategic goals.

Support Media Relations

• Support work to shift deep narratives around immigration, including through the creation of positive narratives focused on the strengths and contributions of immigrants and the leveraging of immigrant-friendly American political values and traditions, in collaboration with Acacia teams and stakeholders. · Write press releases, statements, advisories, and other communications materials to support Acacia’s initiatives.
• Media preparation:
• Conduct media training’s for Acacia’s spokespeople.
• Draft talking points for interviews, speaking engagements, press opportunities, etc.
• Track progress and use analytics to assess the effectiveness of communications, make recommendations and improve strategic efforts.

Digital content creation and strategy

• Work closely with the communications associate to identify emerging platforms and trends in the digital space. Develop and execute digital campaigns that broaden Acacia’s audience and deliver measurable results.
• Create compelling original video content to build support for Acacia’s priorities and reach new audiences
• Support organic video content submissions through Acacia’s network of Legal Service Providers and volunteers.
• Create toolkits to explain how to shoot high-quality video
• Support partners in creation of videos
• Edit submissions for clarity, consistency

Preferred Skills, Knowledge, Abilities:

• Experience developing and supporting digital marketing campaigns
• Demonstrable experience in the immigration justice landscape.
• Highly organized, detailed self-starter who can work independently and manage multiple work streams simultaneously.
• A robust understanding of the communications landscape, including emerging trends, technologies, web analytics, and platforms that support Acacia’s communications work.
• Strong ability to identify and share compelling content.
• Strong graphic design skills, including familiarity with Canva or similar software.
• Comfort in supporting leadership in public events, such as rallies, press conferences, or public appearances.
• Working proficiency in Spanish or other languages desired.

Education and Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or 4-6 years of progressive communications-related work

Compensation and Benefits:

Acacia has established an internal compensation philosophy that centers equity and pay transparency. The salary for this position is set at $118,200 The salary listed is just one component of Acacia’s total compensation package for employees. Supporting Acacia staff—both personally and professionally—is our priority.

• Medical/Dental/Vision- Some plans at $0 cost to the employee
• Employee Assistance Program
• 20 days per year of vacation time
• 12 days per year of sick time
• 5 personal days
• 4 organization-wide Wellness Days
• 11 observed holidays, including the last week of December.
• $2000 Professional Development Stipend
• Home office set-up stipend
• Internet Stipend
• 401k with 5% employer contribution, no employee participation required.
• Student loan repayment assistance.
• Gym Reimbursement

People of color and those who have been impacted by the criminal system and immigration system are strongly urged to apply.

To Apply:

Please upload a resume and cover letter at the link provided or email hiring@acaciajustice.org with Subject: ATTN: Human Resources / [Job Title], Acacia Center for Justice

Equal Opportunity Employment:

Acacia is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to recruit persons of diverse backgrounds and support their retention and advancement within the organization. We are committed to fostering a workplace culture inclusive of people with respect to their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, marital status, age, disabilities, political affiliation, religious beliefs, or any other characteristic. Our commitment to justice and diversity also means providing a work environment that is welcoming, respectful, and engaging.

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities and requirements but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function within our organization.

Acacia Center for Justice is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.

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