Associate Director of Strategic Communications

ABOUT THE JOB
The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of
Associate Director of Strategic Communications
in the
Communications & Marketing Department
of the ACLU's National office in
New York, NY
or
Washington, DC . This is a
hybrid role
that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.
The ACLU Communications & Marketing department creates, maintains, and expands message narratives to engage our supporters and other target audiences, to help protect and expand civil liberties and civil rights, and illustrate the value and impact of the ACLU's transformational work. Through our messaging, engagement with newsmakers, our written content, creative branding, and visual identity, we encourage support for the ACLU and help to build a more perfect union.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Reporting to the
Director of Strategic Communications , the
Associate Director of Strategic Communications
will advance communications initiatives in collaboration with a team of communications professionals, and other members of ACLU's digital, legal, advocacy, fundraising, and affiliate support teams. The Associate Director will support the development and execution of integrated communications strategies and manage communications strategists that advance key programmatic areas including reproductive freedom and LGBTQ rights.
YOUR DAY TO DAY
Managing communications strategists whose portfolios align with top organizational priorities including reproductive freedom and LGBTQ rights, including directing and mobilizing communications staff to take an integrated communications campaign approach to organizational responses to the news of the day, along with the proactive identification of opportunities to advance the organization's communications priorities
Design and implement integrated communications campaigns that involve earned media, paid advertising, social media, multimedia, email/SMS and website/blog tactics in partnership with relevant communications strategists, channel owners, content creators and issue experts
Direct rapid response communications - including during off hours - in partnership with relevant communications strategists. Support the Director and other department leadership team members in crisis comms response
Manage the development of integrated communications strategies for cross-organizational working groups on select priority issues and priority moments, ensuring key domain and subject-matter experts are engaged to help create integrated communications strategies on key civil liberties and civil rights projects
In partnership with the Earned Media and Strategic Engagement team, devise and execute a strategy to strengthen and maintain relationship building with key news editors and broadcast bookers including the create media kits and providing support for ACLU spokespersons including conducting media trainings
In coordination with department leaders and communication strategists, support the development of and execution of brand awareness, thought leadership and advocacy campaigns associated with key issue areas
Partner with the department's operations unit and team leads to regularly evaluate and improve department-wide workflows
Oversight of media/communications vendors, consultants, and freelancers within allocated budget for the department
Contributing to department-wide measurement and evaluation efforts regarding the influence and impact achieved by the communications strategies of the ACLU
Engaging in special projects and other duties as assigned
FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL
Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts
WHAT YOU'LL BRING
Demonstrated years of experience with integrated communications strategies, with demonstrated experience in advocacy communications, along with a working knowledge of paid, earned, shared and owned media relations tactics, platforms and strategies
Prior experience managing large projects, vendors or staff with the ability to establish priorities that will effectively utilize the staff's time and the department's resources
The ability to implement integrated communications strategies for a large, complex organization
Broad experience with public policy issues, as well as a solid understanding of how communications may be used to promote a legislative agenda
Exceptional writing and editing skills
Demonstrated ability to communicate complex and controversial issues and to convey information about the issues to both narrow and broad audiences
Ability to effectively operate in a large, multi-office national organization and with state-based affiliates and active volunteers
Management and team-building skills that inspire staff to work collaboratively in pursuit of a common mission and the ability to manage staff on the successful execution of objectives
A management style that is accessible, flexible, decisive, and supportive with the ability to provide clear direction and delegate where appropriate
Strong personal diplomacy, including a highly professional temperament and the ability to work in a collaborative team environment
COMPENSATION
The ACLU values equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. Consistent with the ACLU's compensation philosophy there is a set salary for this role. The ACLU also has a locality adjustment policy that applies to salaries. The annual salary for this position is $155,674 (Level E), reflecting the salary of a position based in New York, NY. This position is subject to a hybrid schedule of 2 days/week or 8 days/month in-office.
WHY THE ACLU
For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it's ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.
We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being.
At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:
Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid-time off policy
Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops
OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization - one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we're in the courts or in the office, we believe 'We the People' means all of us.
With this commitment in mind, we strongly 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, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email [redacted]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

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