Deputy Director for Communications

Who we are: 

Situated at the forefront of the national stage in the racial justice movement, Advancement Project is a cutting-edge, no-holds-barred national organization dedicated to building local power in communities of color. Centered on a movement lawyering approach, defined as community-centered racial justice lawyering, Advancement Project supports power building in grassroots organizations working to eliminate oppressive structures in our laws and institutions and shift narratives towards transformative change. From ending the school-to-prison pipeline to the fight to expand the right to vote, from calling for a complete overhaul of how we view the police and carceral state, to fighting for immigrant justice, Advancement Project impacts real change from the ground up. Building on more than 25 years, we continue to evolve our strategic thinking and creativity to imagine a more just world in which people of color can thrive, be safe, and free – and we are excited to bring on new talent to forward our vision.

 The Advancement Project's track record of success includes:

• Pioneering the movement to end the school-to-prison pipeline and winning significant victories in several school districts nationwide to reform disciplinary policies and practices and remove police from schools entirely, including building and nurturing a grassroots movement of parents and youth. This work led to federal guidance on racial discrimination in school discipline.
• Launching the National Police Free Schools Campaign with the Alliance for Education Justice, supporting local youth-led campaigns to end policing in their schools, and calling for national demands for change for safety in public schools.
• Serving as legal counsel in a key 2000 presidential election case in Florida, successfully challenging North Carolina's 2013 voter suppression law, and being a founding member of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition that won the ballot initiative to strike down the state's ban on voting for those with felony convictions. AP supported legislative efforts to pass the Virginia Voting Rights Act, the first state voting rights statute of its kind in the South.
• Supporting the Close the Workhouse Campaign in St. Louis, led by Action St, Louis, and securing an agreement with the city to close a jail and reinvest money into the community.
• Working with survivors of Hurricane Katrina from New Orleans to ensure their voices were heard in the process of reconstructing the city.

Position Overview:

We seek a dynamic Deputy Director of Communications to lead Advancement Project's digital communications strategy and brand execution across our key program areas, including policing and criminalization, power and democracy, and education justice. This role will translate our narrative strategy into high-impact digital programs, strengthen our organizational brand presence, and expand our reach through email strategy, influencer partnerships, and strategic media engagement.

Reporting to the Managing Director of Communications, the Deputy Director will set strategic direction for digital communications, lead our email program from strategy through execution, cultivate relationships with influencers and content creators, position organizational leaders as thought leaders in racial justice discourse, and ensure consistent brand application across all platforms. This role also maintains media relationships that elevate our work, with a focus on digital and online outlets. The Deputy Director will supervise the Senior Digital Strategist, providing strategic direction while the Senior Digital Strategist handles day-to-day content creation and social media management.

This role requires a strategic digital communications leader who can balance big-picture thinking with program implementation, translate complex racial justice issues into compelling digital narratives, and build the systems and partnerships that amplify Advancement Project's impact.

What you'll do: 

Lead Digital Communications Strategy and Email Programs

• Elevate Advancement Project staff, organizational principals, and grassroots partners as thought leaders through strategic positioning, content development, speaking opportunity cultivation, and digital platform building.
• Set strategic direction for social media and digital platforms in collaboration with the Senior Digital Strategist, who handles day-to-day content creation and posting.
• Develop digital campaign strategies that align with organizational priorities, overseeing the Senior Digital Strategist's execution and ensuring campaigns achieve measurable impact.
• Build out Advancement Project's email communications program, including strategy development, content creation, list management, audience segmentation, and performance optimization across advocacy emails, campaign updates, and donor communications.
• Develop and implement influencer and content creation strategies that expand organizational reach and impact, including identifying and building relationships with external social media influencers, content creators, and digital voices aligned with racial justice values.
• Analyze digital metrics and audience insights across all platforms to inform strategy, demonstrate impact, and continuously improve engagement and reach.
• Stay current on digital trends, platform changes, and emerging technologies to position Advancement Project at the forefront of digital advocacy communications.

Steward Brand Consistency and Organizational Positioning

• Oversee Advancement Project's brand identity and positioning, ensuring consistent visual and verbal expression across all communications materials and touchpoints.
• Develop and maintain brand guidelines, templates, and resources that enable staff and partners to represent the organization effectively.
• Work closely with program teams to position Advancement Project's legal expertise, grassroots partnerships, and policy impact in ways that build organizational credibility and influence.
• Create compelling narratives and messaging frameworks that translate complex racial justice issues for diverse audiences.
• Collaborate with the Managing Director of Communications to evolve brand strategy in response to organizational growth and changing landscape.

Build and Maintain Strategic Relationships

• Cultivate and manage relationships with media contacts to secure coverage that amplifies our work, with particular focus on digital and online media outlets.
• Pitch stories, opinion editorials, and experts to media, coordinating with program staff and organizational principals on interview preparation and messaging.
• Develop relationships with audience editors.
• Build partnerships with aligned organizations, coalitions, and networks to coordinate communications efforts and expand collective reach.
• Serve as a communications liaison to grassroots partners, providing guidance and support on joint campaigns and messaging as needed.

Provide Team Leadership and Management

• Directly supervise the Senior Digital Strategist, providing strategic direction, coaching, professional development, and performance management.
• Set priorities and provide guidance on digital content strategy, social media campaigns, website updates, and digital best practices.
• Build digital communications capacity across the organization through training, templates, systems, and accessible resources.
• Manage relationships with external vendors, agencies, and consultants supporting digital work, including email platforms, design services, and website management.
• Contribute to communications team planning, budget management, and strategic development.
• Support the development and implementation of crisis communications and rapid response protocols.
• Participate in recruitment activities for the communications team as needed.
• Other related duties, as assigned.

Skill Profile

The individual in this position is expected to possess and exhibit the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Strong racial justice analysis and commitment to power building in communities of color.
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to craft compelling content for different digital formats, audiences, and purposes, particularly email and thought leadership content.
• Strategic understanding of social media platforms and digital content strategy, with experience working with influencers, content creators, and community members to create content including social media and email campaigns.
• Experience with brand development and management, including creating and enforcing brand guidelines and ensuring consistency across platforms.
• Strategic understanding of media relations, including pitching stories, opinion editorial placement, coordinating interviews, and building media relationships, with particular focus on digital and online outlets.
• Proficiency with digital tools and platforms such as email marketing systems (e.g., EveryAction, Raiser's Edge/Blackbaud), social media management tools, analytics platforms, and content management systems.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret data, identify trends, and translate insights into actionable strategies and measurable improvements.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high attention to detail.
• At least three years of experience managing staff and developing team members.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills with ability to work across teams and with diverse stakeholders, including grassroots partners.
• Proactive problem-solver who can work independently and make sound decisions with minimal supervision while knowing when to escalate issues.
• Understanding of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) compliance requirements for communications.
  
  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 6 years of relevant experience in a similar position and/or performing similar tasks.
• Bachelor's Degree required.
• At least three years' experience managing people Must demonstrate a commitment to racial justice
• Preference for Spanish fluency
• Experience working in advocacy, nonprofit, or social justice communications preferred.
• The ability to travel occasionally for organizational events, partner meetings, and conferences.
• The ability to work evenings and weekends when needed for rapid response or campaign launches.
  

Please submit a writing sample with your cover letter

This position pays between $113,000 and $137,000 depending on experience