Communications Director

JOB SUMMARY

The Communications Director will craft and execute the communications strategy behind the programmatic work the ACLU-VA does to protect Virginians’ civil rights and civil liberties. This role is crucial to building and engaging a strong supporter base, amplifying our advocacy, and driving impactful messages that resonate with diverse audiences. To support the ACLU-VA's integrated advocacy model – which includes litigation, legislation, grassroots organizing, and public education – a successful Communications Director will leverage digital, editorial and traditional media to expand ACLU-VA's impact in the fight for a more just Virginia.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Communications Strategy

• Develop and execute communications strategy for the affiliate’s programmatic work to advance immigrants’ rights, LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights, reproductive rights, First Amendment rights, and criminal legal reform in the Commonwealth.
• Conduct opposition research, polling, focus groups, and other analysis to assess public opinion and the landscape in which the ACLU-VA does its work.
• Develop and assess the efficacy of key messages, talking points, and messaging grids to move diverse audiences and targeted audiences to effectuate the ACLU-VA's advocacy goals.
• Innovate to cut through the noise in crowded media markets and worsening social media algorithms through proactive campaigns and rapid response.
• Assist the Chief Communications Officer in developing and reinforcing the ACLU’s brand and heightening the ACLU-VA's visibility to our supporters and partners

Project Management

• Lead ACLU-VA's digital, editorial, and traditional media work, focusing on organic growth and engagement across social media and press, as well as supporting paid campaigns.
• Manage ACLU-VA's comprehensive editorial calendar for website content, social presence, email communications, and press engagement across litigation, legislation, and grassroots organizing.
• Review work product and deliverables produced by members of the Communications team, ensuring strategic alignment, quality assurance, and brand consistency.
• Write press releases and statements, pitch stories to targeted reporters, arrange interviews with ACLU-VA spokespeople, ghostwrite op-eds and speeches, and lead public relations as needed.
• Design graphics, produce video, and produce editorial content for ACLU-VA social media and website, leading editorial and digital production as needed.
• Use data, insights, and listening to track growth and identify risks and areas for improvement across all digital platforms.

Base Building

• Establish metrics for success and target audience profiles to ensure strategic growth of the ACLU-VA's supporter base, setting strategy for public education on the issues the affiliate advocates on and acting on opportunities for growth.
• Collaborate with partner organizations, affiliate staff, and staff at the National ACLU to align messaging, advance campaign work, and accomplish the ACLU-VA's programmatic goals.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local, regional, and national news media outlets to demonstrate and grow ACLU-VA impact across the affiliate’s media market.
• Ensure that all external communications adhere to the ACLU-VA and National ACLU brand guidelines and voice.

Staff Supervision

• Act as department lead in the absence of the Chief Communications Officer.
• Oversee day-to-day supervision and operations of full-time Communications staff.
• Evaluate members of the Communications team, including developing work plans, facilitating a positive team culture, setting key performance indicators, supporting staff growth and professional development, and managing difficult personnel situations as needed.
• Facilitate collaboration across functional teams and collaborate with other members of the leadership team to advance programmatic work and build culture across the affiliate.
• Train and coach internal and external spokespeople to speak on programmatic work and priorities.
• Assist the Chief Communications Officer in managing the Communications team’s budget to support the affiliate's campaigns and programmatic work.

SALARY RANGE: The salary range for this position is $69,774 to $109,890, with a midpoint of $89,832. Compensation offers will generally be somewhere between the starting point and the midpoint of the range and are based on a candidate's specific experience and current market factors at the time of the offer. To preserve the opportunity for advancement, we do not typically hire above the midpoint of the range.

In addition to salary, we offer excellent benefits including paid time off, generous paid holidays, a 401k plan with employer contribution, flexible spending account, paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, 50% employer-paid dependent medical coverage, life insurance, wi-fi stipend, wellness stipend, student loan assistance, annual sick leave, short-term and long-term disability insurance, and professional development allowances.

Due to COVID-19 and our desire to keep our employees safe, our organization is currently following a long-term hybrid work policy. All ACLU-VA staff must reside within the Commonwealth of Virginia or within a 150-mile radius of our downtown Richmond office.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• A commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU, including to racial justice and civil rights issues and a passion for the role communications plays in achieving it.
• 7+ years of experience in public relations, communications, social media and digital, marketing, or a related field.
• 2+ years of experience with advocacy communications, including experience developing and executing communications campaigns.
• Experience managing and executing public relations strategies, including track record of building strong media relationships and using paid public relations tools and metrics.
• Experience managing and executing digital strategies, including track record of measurable success on social and digital platforms (Meta, TikTok, X, etc).
• Experience creating and producing editorial content, including hands-on experience as a photographer, videographer, writer, or other creator.
• Proven ability to manage and coach a high-performing team.
• Willingness and availability to work beyond the normal workday, on weekends, and/or more than 40 hours a week as necessary.
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout Virginia, and occasionally to other states.
• A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, to refrain from unlawful discrimination and to comply fully with all applicable laws; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity and national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance, and ability to work with diverse individuals within the organization and broader community.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Experience proactively building relationships with diverse audiences, including reporters and editors, community leaders, coalition partners and the public.
• Experience serving as a spokesperson for campaigns or organizations.
• Understanding of best practices and emerging trends within communications landscapes.
• Curious and ambitious brand thinker and storyteller.
• Strong multi-tasker with the ability to prioritize and provide clear direction for staff on how to meet competing, simultaneous deadlines.
• Diplomatic collaborator with strong interpersonal communications skills, emotional intelligence, and the ability to have constructive conversations about difficult issues.
• Team-player with a “yes, and” approach who enjoys working with diverse communities and people, and influences through the power of ideas, not force.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and detail-obsessed.
• Excellent judgment, written and oral communication, and presentation skills.
• Comfort with and even excitement about ambiguity, nuance, and finding opportunity without all the answers.
• Deep enthusiasm for learning, growing, and finding better ways to do things.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Strong media relationships in Virginia.
• Experience with legislative sessions in Virginia.
• Experience working at an organization with an integrated advocacy model where legal, legislative, education and advocacy tactics are used collaboratively and cohesively to achieve results.
• Experience working with design software like Adobe Creative Cloud and CMS systems like Drupal, Wordpress, etc.
• Experience in managing and coaching staff in a diverse workforce.
• Experience in the non-profit sector.
• Experience with audio, video, and digital production.
• Ability to speak and/or write in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Arabic or other language spoken by a language minority in Virginia.
• Access to reliable transportation.

EQUIPMENT USED

• Computer, phone, copier, printer

DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this job description restricts the Executive Director's right to assign other duties or responsibilities to this job at any time.

The ACLU of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, bi- or multi-lingual (including Indigenous languages) speakers, multi-cultural individuals, members of the LGBTQ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated or are currently under supervision, and other people from underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. We seek to build a diverse team and an inclusive organizational culture. All qualified applicants who share our vision and who have a desire to contribute to our mission are encouraged to apply.