Communications Director

The ACLU of Arizona works to advance equity and dismantle systemic injustice through legal action, policy advocacy, and mobilizing our communities to protect the civil rights, liberties, and dignity of all Arizonans. We are seeking a creative, highly collaborative, goal-driven, accomplished leader experienced in strategic communications to serve as our Communications Director to help advance the ACLU of Arizona’s programmatic and organizational goals.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Communications Director will oversee the communications team and all external communications, including communications planning and strategy, messaging, media relations, digital media, and brand awareness. The Communications Director, who will be part of the senior leadership team, will work with staff to ensure that communications initiatives are integrated in core advocacy areas to achieve maximum impact on programmatic and organizational goals. The Communications Director will co-create affiliate-wide policies and practices that leverage and promote our integrated advocacy model to ​make transformative change in advancing the civil rights, liberties, and dignity of all Arizonans.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Communications Strategy & Planning:

Set and manage short​-​ and long-term goals for achieving communications milestones that are tied to the overall mission of ACLU of Arizona, our strategic plan, and campaign goals. Oversee the organization’s external communications including messaging, media relations, digital media and brand awareness. Develop, review, and update the organization’s communications plan and assess its impact on our overall goals.

Brand & Media Relations:

Strategically raise the visibility of the ACLU of Arizona through national and local media outlets. Lead content creation to advance advocacy goals and identify opportunities and partnerships internally and externally to advance our goals, influence policymakers, mobilize supporters to take action, and increase visibility of organizational philanthropy efforts. Collaborate across departments to ensure that all content is on-brand, consistent in style, quality and tone of voice, and optimized for search and user experience. Support public events that strengthen the ACLU of Arizona’s brand and deepen public understanding of our mission and work. Train staff on delivering messages and ensure speakers have adequate preparation before delivering presentations or speaking in the press. Oversee all media relations activities, including writing press releases, pitching stories, responding to media inquiries, coordinating press conferences, serving as spokesperson when needed, and participating in the development of donor communications.

Digital media:

Develop and drive a clear online strategy, using digital assets and especially social media to influence the conversation around ACLU of Arizona issues and achieve organizational goals. Oversee the drafting/editing of content for social media, email communications and content production of the ACLU’s web site. Evaluate the performance of digital content to refine and optimize the digital communications. ​​

Organizational Leadership and Management:

Manage and mentor members of the communications team. Lead department and team meetings. Collaborate with and serve as a thought-partner with colleagues on the senior leadership team and across the national ACLU network. Serve as a spokesperson for the ACLU of Arizona and represent the ACLU at public functions or speaking engagements. Assess gaps in communications internally or externally and devise solutions to address them. Develop and adhere to annual communications budgets and issue timely reports to the Executive Director, staff, and all stakeholders.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging:

Be an active contributor to the organization and communications department’s efforts to think creatively, ambitiously, and openly about how our program can better integrate equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging into our day-to-day operations.

QUALIFICATIONS:

While no candidate will possess every quality, the successful candidate will possess many of the following qualifications and attributes. Even if you aren’t sure but are excited about the position, we encourage you to apply.

• Demonstrated commitment to civil rights, civil liberties, and the ACLU of Arizona’s mission.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the communications field (marketing, public relations, journalism) with strong skills and experience in developing and implementing strategic, and advocacy-based communications.
• Demonstrated ability to craft messages and produce clear, compelling communications materials for wide audiences.
• Prior management experience with demonstrated ability to establish priorities, time allocations, and resource stewardship
• Experience managing and executing work across several communications channels.
• Exceptional written and spoken communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a management approach that is positive and collaboratively with a team and independently with self-motivation for excellence.
• Demonstrated commitment to the needs and concerns of diverse communities, and ability to work within diverse coalitions.
• Experience with websites, social media, and emerging media platforms, and understanding of communications technology trends.
• Experience with these programs is preferred: Word Press, Adobe Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere)
• Familiarity with media outreach and the news industry overall
• Ability to anticipate needs and plan, problem-solve, coordinate complex activities, prioritize multiple demands, and meet deadlines.
• Working knowledge of Arizona's political, social, and cultural landscapes is a plus.
• Written and spoken proficiency in Spanish is a plus.

Cultural Responsibility: Demonstrated awareness of one’s own cultural identity, views about differences, and the ability to learn and build on varying cultural and community norms. A complex understanding of racial justice and the urgency of confronting institutional racism and inequity. Commitment to equity and inclusion as organizational practice and culture. Proven track record of working across lines of race, immigration status, ethnicity, language, class, gender and other identities and experiences including record of arrest or conviction.

Working Conditions: The ACLU of Arizona offices are generally open between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The physical demands and work environment described below represent those required and encountered by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Inputting information into a computer for long periods of time.

• Work some evenings, weekends, and holidays.

• Periodically work long and extended hours.

• Regular travel across the state of Arizona as needed.

This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. Please note that most ACLU of Arizona staff are based in Phoenix; this position requires in-person work in the Phoenix office, occasionally in the Tucson office, and does permit some remote work.

Why work for the ACLU of Arizona?

Time off: Staff get 15 vacation days their first three years; 20 days after four years. We offer an additional 41 days off for holidays and personal days.

Benefits package: We cover 100% of health, vision, and dental insurance for employees. We provide life and disability insurance, as well as reimbursement of some out-of-pocket healthcare related expenses. Staff are reimbursed for cell phones and home internet if working from home.

401k Plan: We want you to be prepared for retirement We match 100% of the first 1% of your salary deferred to your 401k, plus 50% of the next 5% of your salary contribution. And then, we contribute an additional 2% of your salary contribution each pay period.

Commitment to our staff: We invest in staff growth and professional development opportunities and are committed to providing regular feedback and opportunities for advancement.

Crystal clear focus: Our team focuses on some of the most important and urgent issues of our times – from abortion rights, voting rights and democracy, LGBTQ+ rights, criminal legal reform, immigrant rights, border justice, and racial justice.

Our team is amazing: You will be working with incredibly dedicated, smart, and caring people who know how to have fun while getting a lot done in a low-ego environment.

How to Apply:

Email your resume, cover letter, one writing sample relevant to this position, and two professional references to jobs@acluaz.org. Include “Communications Director” in the subject line and tell us how you heard about the position. In your cover letter, please make sure to answer the following questions:

1. Why you are interested in working at ACLU of Arizona; and
2. How have you demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in your professional work?

No phone calls or walk-ins, please.

Deadline to Apply: Friday August 30, 2024

The ACLU of Arizona undertakes inclusive strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to assure that persons with disabilities have full opportunities for employment in all positions. We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodation in the application process to contact jobs@acluaz.org.

The ACLU of Arizona is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction.