| Communications Director - ACLU of Montana | |
| Job Type: Regular | |
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Work Location REMOTE, MT U.S.A |
Targeted Salary Not Specified Benefits: |
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Type of organization / Mission Focus: Geographic Scope: None Keywords: Advocacy, Justice, Organizing, |
Organization Website: https://www.aclumontana.org/jobs/ |
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Required Experience: REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES
The following skills and experiences are integral to meeting job responsibilities. Please be sure to identify and highlight these in your application and throughout the hiring process. We deeply value lived experience in addition to any professional, volunteer, or coursework experience related to the items described below. Recognizing that the skills outlined below are varied and encompass the full range of needs for ACLU of Montana’s Communications Department, if a candidate has very strong skills in one area, such as writing, but fewer skills in another area, such as digital communications, they are encouraged to apply. Directly applicable experience in communications, media relations, or related field. Experience in a non-profit environment or political campaigns is a plus. Exceptional writing, analytical, and speaking skills, including copy editing and editing for tone and consistency, with demonstrated strength in clear and precise writing to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences, especially about technical items that fall within the scope of ACLU of Montana’s work (i.e. legislation, policy, litigation, etc.). Knowledge of how to build an effective communications program that combines earned media, digital media, and paid media channels. Strong leadership and collaboration skills; demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively with a varied and wide range of individuals and groups (i.e. staff members, board members, lawyers, clients, volunteers, and coalition partners and diverse communities). Robust project management experience with strong preference for knowledge of, or willingness to use, Asana software. Experience managing, prioritizing, and meeting multiple and simultaneous deadlines and projects in a timely manner, with the ability to pivot and re-prioritize when necessary to meet fast-changing deadlines and organizational needs. Familiarity with the ACLU-MT’s mission and a broad range of civil rights issues and how they impact various communities across Montana. Sophisticated understanding of public advocacy campaigns, the legislative process and Montana’s political dynamics. Experience working with media outlets at the national, regional, and local levels. Demonstrated ability to translate complicated legislative, legal or advocacy issues for a lay audience. Commitment to and passion for social justice and the preservation and advancement of civil rights and liberties. Commitment to equity and inclusion, and respect for differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance and class. Understanding and willingness to engage with the issues of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on underserved and historically marginalized communities. Demonstrated experience engaging and working with and/or on behalf of underserved and historically marginalized communities. Commitment to and understanding of trust-building, ethical storytelling, and trauma-informed communication. Ability to travel and attend events as needed. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS The following experiences are particularly valuable, please be sure to address these in your resume or cover letter. We encourage you to apply even if you do not have all of these skills. Demonstrated ability to create, implement, and manage a strategic communications plan for a campaign or program. Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, marketing, or journalism or related field. Flexibility to accommodate work outside of regular business hours when warranted/necessary. Experience working or volunteering extensively in a social justice or civil rights organization. Ability to travel as needed for rapid response and crisis communications. Desire to work in places where diversity and equity initiatives are forefront. Experience or knowledge of the varied Montanan Tribal Nations and their specific cultures. Familiarity with Microsoft Office suite, internet research, basic HTML or other web content publishing software, and Adobe or other print and online publication tools for web platforms and graphic design. Demonstrated research skills and ability to spend significant time reading, preparing, and analyzing content across formats. Lived experiences including, but not limited to: Being directly impacted by the social and civil rights issues addressed by ACLU of Montana. Living or working in Indigenous communities and/or living or working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. A history of personal work on issues of equity, inclusion, diversity and belonging, particularly on issues of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. Pay: $101,000.00 - $111,000.00 per year Benefits: 401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid parental leave Paid time off Parental leave Relocation assistance Sabbatical Vision insurance Work Location: Remote |
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Duties / Expectations: Communications Director
ACLU of Montana Montana Remote $101,000 - $111,000 a year - Full-time Skills Project leadership (Required) Team management Task prioritization + show more Do you have experience in Project leadership? Benefits Paid parental leave Parental leave 401(k) Health insurance 401(k) matching Paid time off Vision insurance Full job description COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR TO APPLY Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter that best expresses their interest in this position and qualifications aligned with the role. Applicants are particularly encouraged to highlight: Communications leadership that has leveraged planning, creativity, and teamwork to advance advocacy, policy, litigation and/or mission-driven goals. Ability to design and execute multi-channel communications programs, applying strong writing, editing and content creation skills to traditional and digital communications strategies. Cultural competency to effectively communicate about social justice issues, including Indigenous Justice, 2S-LGBTQIA+, and other ACLU of Montana priorities with diverse audiences and impacted communities. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. A writing sample and three references (including two former or current supervisors) will also be required; additional instructions will be provided to shortlisted candidates. POSITION OVERVIEW The ACLU of Montana (ACLU-MT) seeks a dynamic, strategic, and mission-driven Communications Director to lead its Communication Department and serve as a member of the organization’s leadership/senior management team. The Communications Director reports to the Executive Director and plays a critical role in advancing ACLU-MT’s integrated advocacy efforts, serving as both a strategic advisor and team leader in the development and execution of comprehensive communications initiatives across traditional and digital platforms. The Communications Director is responsible for shaping the public voice and amplifying the visibility of the organization, while ensuring alignment with organization’s mission, values, and programmatic goals. At the ACLU of Montana, we cover the broad waterfront of civil rights issues, including the right to privacy (including reproductive rights), voting rights, criminal-legal reform, and 2S-LGBTQIA+ rights, with a particular emphasis on our strategic priority areas of Indigenous Justice and decriminalization of poverty. The ideal candidate has demonstrated deep commitment to civil rights and liberties, along with sophisticated understanding of how to use strategic communications as a tool in advancing policy, advocacy and litigation outcomes, and uplifting community storytelling, while applying an anti-racist and de-colonial lens to communications work. They will have experience in both internal and external communications, demonstrating fluency across a range of disciplines including media relations, digital and social media strategy, speechwriting, brand and reputation management, and fundraising communications. They will also exhibit strong news judgment, political acumen, and the ability to lead with calm and clarity during periods of crisis or heightened visibility. A background in issue-based or political campaigns is a plus, as is experience working on a team in fast-moving, high-stakes environments. The successful candidate will be highly collaborative and inclusive, while also displaying the ability to work independently. Management experience is also a plus, as we envision an eventual communications department of at least two staff members. The ACLU-MT is a fully remote office with staff working in communities across Montana. The Communications Director can be based anywhere in Montana. Candidates based in other states must be willing to relocate to Montana. To learn more about working for the ACLU-MT, please visit: www.aclumontana.org/careers. ABOUT THE POSITION Although it is not necessary for the Communications Director to have skills in every area related to the comprehensive communications and marketing work outlined below, it is imperative that they have the leadership and strategic skills to guide and manage the affiliate’s communication work and build a team that has the skills to carry out these tasks. As a person with a leadership role in the organization who is also responsible for managing a small team, the Communications Director will balance many critical areas of work as outlined below. ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES Communications Strategy and Execution Analyze and assess the current communications program’s effectiveness. Based on program assessment, create new communications goals and strategies to expand the organization’s efforts to increase organizational visibility, brand recognition, grow our supporter base, expand the public’s understanding of civil rights and knowledge of our work, and invite engagement to support integrated advocacy initiatives. Develop and implement multi-channel and multi-year communications plans and strategies to further the ACLU of Montana’s strategic plan. This includes identifying strategic messaging, channels, and tactics for distributing ACLU of Montana news, engaging with media, promoting advocacy campaigns, and broadening our audiences. Support and lead development of various staff trainings, including media preparation and advocacy resources, such as issue area reports. Strategically design the communication department’s staff composition, including creating a job description and filling the position for a communications staff member who the Communications Director will eventually manage and support. Press and Media Relations Serve as ACLU-MT’s primary point of contact for the press, working closely with staff across departments to coordinate media inquiries and interview requests. Navigate and build sustainable and constructive relationships with a broad array of strategic stakeholders, including key media outlets, donors, activists, and community members by developing communications messaging and content that will resonate with these respective audiences. Reinvigorate and expand the ACLU of Montana’s media list via segmentation by interests, region, etc. Raise the ACLU of Montana’s profile with editorial boards, talk radio, news shows, podcasters and opinion leaders. Where appropriate, pitch feature articles and interviews. Content Creation and Audience Outreach Ensure that the communications team is equipped to write and edit communications and outreach materials, including press releases, op-eds, web content, social media posts, talking points, and other messaging documents, fact sheets, bi-annual newsletters, and emails to supporters. Manage a robust digital presence, guaranteeing that ACLU of Montana’s social media accounts, website, and other digital channels and content are kept up to date, creative and thoughtful in their purpose. Manage and draft email messages and action alerts to engage ACLU supporters in collaboration with the Advocacy team. Support production of engaging events and presentations, including press conferences, town halls, rallies, etc. Collaborate with the Development Department to create appealing marketing materials and offer editing and branding support on other fundraising materials. Prepare summaries, talking points, and speeches for the Executive Director and other staff as needed. Prepare quarterly communications reports to the Board of Directors, highlighting our programmatic work and illustrating our work’s impact. Ethical Storytelling as Advocacy Proactively work with colleagues and allies to connect to impacted community persons and communities to share their stories and voices, from an ethical storytelling orientation, related to our strategic priority issues. Ability to build long term relationships built in mutuality and trust with individuals and communities impacted by our work. Connect and utilize a multitude of communication channels and networks to elevate these stories to the broader public and targeted audiences. Other Responsibilities Oversee the Communications Department budget. Recruit, direct, and supervise communication staff and interns. Attend national, regional, and other training and staff conferences. Model cooperation and collaboration cross-departmentally within the affiliate. Serve as a member of the Leadership Team with responsibilities including, but not limited to, promoting a culture of support, safety, and clear and direct feedback. Attend all mandatory staff meetings and occasional staff retreats. Perform other associated duties as needed and assigned by the Executive Director. |
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Primary Skill Communications/Marketing |
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Critical Skills |
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To respond to this posting, use any of the following methods: Email: Fax: U.S. Mail: Organization Website: https://www.aclumontana.org/jobs/ |
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