Communications Director

Who we are ─ About Jobs to Move America:

Jobs to Move America (JMA) is a national strategic policy center that works to transform public spending and corporate behavior using a comprehensive approach that is rooted in racial and economic justice, and community organizing. We seek to advance a fair and prosperous economy with good jobs and healthier communities for all. To learn more, visit our website: www.jobstomoveamerica.org. 

What You’ll Do ─ Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Communications Director leads JMA’s internal and external communications strategies, ensuring that all JMA team members speak in one voice. They make this happen by working closely with the Co-Executive Directors on messaging and communications strategies on the national level and in the regions we work in, as well as training employees on JMA branding and messaging to be effective spokespersons. They build JMA’s profile with the media and public officials to strengthen the impact of our work. They think deeply about how to communicate our message effectively while advancing our vision of public goods for the most public good. 

About you ─ Required Qualifications: 

• Create a communications work plan and strategy each year that aligns with JMA’s 5-year strategic plan and meets JMA’s annual goals: speaking engagements for our diverse staff board and community partners, extensive media cultivation and a strong social media presence
• Develop comprehensive communications strategies that support successful campaigns/projects that integrate research, organizing, legal and policy strategies
• Develop and manage a staff team and consultants from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, holding them accountable to achieving programmatic goals and providing opportunities for professional development
• Closely follow news on issues relevant to JMA’s work (e.g industrial policy, manufacturing, labor, environment) to generate media coverage and digital content
• Implement communications trainings and develop spokespeople for JMA
• Build substantial relationships and engage high level stakeholders in supporting ou communications work, including journalists, public officials, unions, coalition partners, and funders
• Contribute to JMA’s organizational development by assisting with fundraising, providing peer evaluations, facilitating internal trainings, and participating in JMA staff committees (not to exceed 20% of time)
• Participate in a culture of feedback with a commitment to continually strengthening practice of “courageous conversations,” including: communicating clearly and directly with colleagues; being proactive to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings, especially across differences; giving and receiving positive and constructive feedback to support each other’s learning and personal growth

Qualifications and Work Experience Requirements: 

• 7 years or more of experience leading strategic communications in relevant fields: policy, legislative, labor and/or issue-based campaigns with significant experience doing media cultivation
• Deep understanding of the labor movement and political landscape
• Strategic planning skills: develop and effectively implement a strategic plan to achieve SMARTIE goals (strategic, measurable, ambitious, realistic, time-bound, inclusive and equitable); involve the team in developing and implementing the plan; ensure overall plan is represented in weekly work plans; collaborate with different teams that work on research, organizing, and policy
• Strong Communication: excellent verbal and written communication skills. Developing clear and persuasive messaging on complex issues and policies to target audiences
• Management: manage a diverse, high-performing team; continually assess and thoughtfully develop the leadership of team members through regular meetings and performance evaluations
• Media relations: Proven track record in generating effective press coverage across a range of media, outlet type, and style. Experience developing relationships with reporters regionally and nationally. Experience with writing talking points, op-eds, press releases, media advisories
• Digital Communications: Experience with digital tools, including but not limited to: Google Suite; Wordpress website management; social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Youtube); email newsletters; mass text messaging or peer-to-peer text messaging; customer relationship management (CRM) systems like Salesforce
• Leadership: self-starter with demonstrated ability to work independently and proactively, solve problems, and overcome obstacles to get the work done
• Interpersonal skills: build relationships and engage effectively with a talented, opinionated, and diverse group of team members, as well as external stakeholders. Communicate clearly and compassionately and are flexible and collaborative in your work. Demonstrate self-awareness about how your identities may influence how you show up, interact with, and are perceived by others
• Flexibility: Be ready to take advantage of unexpected opportunities; adapt quickly as things change
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing the interests of people of color, women, formerly incarcerated people, and/or the working class

JMA Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement 

We are an EEO/affirmative action employer and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability. We work to ensure fair treatment of applicants and employees and actively enforce zero-tolerance policies against discrimination and sexual harassment. Those who identify as persons of color, women, veterans, or formerly incarcerated persons, and/or have had experience working with one or more of those groups are strongly encouraged to apply

JMA Diversity and Inclusion Statement

JMA believes that diverse, engaged, and motivated employees are essential to achieving our goals of economic, racial, and social justice. JMA believes that each employee's voice is valuable and that when all employees contribute ideas to the organization’s operation, it enhances the success of the organization overall. 

In order to assist us in achieving our goals as a diverse and inclusive workforce, we ask optional

self-identification questions in the job application.