Communications Director

Job Description:

The Center for Protest Law & Litigation, a project of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, is seeking a skilled and creative Communications Director ready to help elevate the voices of social justice, constitutional and civil rights struggles, and to bring legal resources to affected communities, empowering movements for social change.

The Communications Director will use a variety of media to tell the stories of our courageous clients, their fights for justice, and the impactful and often groundbreaking legal issues undergirding those fights. The Communications Director will facilitate the organization’s ability to impact and inform national discourse in response to breaking events.

We are looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, team-centric environment and is a self-starter. The Communications Director’s work includes: content production, explainer videos, graphics, social media management, media outreach, fundraising and public relations. A key member of our team, the Communications Director will serve as a point person with news media.

About the Organization

As leaders in bringing high impact civil rights and constitutional rights litigation for over 25 years, the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund has brought groundbreaking cases, changed laws and policies, and won millions in damages for persons whose rights have been violated. Our litigation work is integrated with outreach, education and advocacy with affected groups, communities, activists and organizations in racial, social and environmental justice movements. Our work is focused ultimately on creating meaningful social, political and legal changes and dismantling systems of repression.

Our new Center for Protest Law & Litigation works to protect and advance the rights of protestors to organize, assemble and demand justice around the country. We defend free speech rights through affirmative civil litigation, including against the mechanisms of police violence, as well as criminal defense of protestors swept up in political arrests.

This is a full-time position based in Washington, DC.

Key Responsibilities:

• Understand the organization’s unique voice and identity and develop impactful messaging advancing our mission and priorities. Develop innovative ways to tell the stories of the organization’s cases and clients.

• Create and implement a Communications Plan, working closely with leadership to identify and develop medium and long-term strategies to advance programmatic goals.

• Draft and post concise and effective communications to web site and social media platforms for audiences including activists, constituents, and the general public.

• Manage organizational websites; work with website contractors where appropriate.

• Produce compelling narrative work under the supervision of the Executive Director to share the organization’s work with activists, the general public, and funders including through newsletters, e-mails, websites, social media, donor updates, brochures, annual reports, press packets, mailers, etc.

• Quickly seize coverage opportunities and issue press and public statements, briefs, op-eds, alerts, articles, reports, and quotes related to current developments or breaking events in law, policy, case developments, and politics.

• Field journalist inquiries and serve as a point of contact for press, assist with coordination of interviews, and provide statements as needed.

• Create and manage email and donation campaigns using the organization’s online fundraising and marketing platform, including CRM and CMS data and list management. Assess communications effectiveness and recommend strategies for enhancing engagement.

• Create and execute online campaigns and action events, toolkits and other educational, engagement, and outreach efforts.

• Create short explainer videos; plan (collaboratively with our staff) and facilitate informational and issue webinars; plan in-person and virtual events.

• Chronicle organization and social justice movement activities with visuals by capturing images on the ground at social justice events, protests, and actions.

• Attend coalition meetings with partner organizations.

• Monitor analytics and compile reports, make recommendations on communications strategy and optimization of digital presence; seek to grow communities and reach.

Key Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience required in a professional communications setting, such as a newsroom, public-relations firm, or a corporate or nonprofit communications department.

• At least 3 years of professional experience in marketing, communications, advocacy/advertising, non-profit communications, or a related field.

• Excellent editing and proofreading skills, with a keen attention to detail. Able to translate complex legal and policy language into understandable messages that inform and engage.

• Demonstrated experience creating compelling storytelling and creative advocacy communications strategies.

• High level of awareness as to current political/social issues, with a passion and talent for creating stories that move public opinion in favor of, and inspire people to take action on, civil rights, social and environmental justice, women’s rights to abortion and other fundamental justice issues.

• Experience with communications in support of fundraising is a plus.

• Strong understanding of media relations, including an understanding of providing timely and accurate information that clearly outlines a position, initiative, or event.

• Strong proficiency with social media, including experience maintaining organizational social media accounts and familiarity with emerging trends in digital organizing.

• Demonstrated graphic design skills (must be able to hit the ground running, producing brochures, logos, one-pagers, newsletters, reports, infographics, etc.)

• Experience with CMS and CRM systems and email marketing platforms and donor databases generally, experience with Salsa preferred.

• Experience in developing and growing networks of digital supporters.

• Mastery or high proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office; Working knowledge of HTML a plus.

• Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate and juggle a variety of detailed outreach projects, sometimes under a very tight deadline, coupled with the ability to pivot to respond to breaking events.

• Adept at rapid response communications that are well-written, on point, in the right voice, and do not need multiple revisions to issue in a timely manner.

• Demonstrated ability to problem solve, anticipate next steps, take initiative, exercise discretion, and apply sound judgment.

• Ability and willingness to perform occasional evening and weekend work in response to breaking events, justice uprisings, or major legal case deadlines.

• Ability to travel occasionally.

• Outstanding interpersonal skills, sense of humor and ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to get the information, input, and perspective necessary to produce quality work.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

February 18, 2022 – note that applications will be considered on a rolling basis and the position may be filled by then, so early applications are encouraged.

START DATE

ASAP

LOCATION

At this time, the Communications Director will be onboarded remotely and will be expected to maintain a high level of productivity virtually. The office is in Washington DC, so candidates should live in the DC area once we deem it safe to return to work in the office.

Vaccine Policy: Please note that the PCJF has made the safety of our clients, staff and our surrounding community a priority and requires all staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. You will be required to submit proof of vaccination prior to commencing employment. Requests for exemptions from the vaccination requirement will be considered on an individual basis, to the extent required by law.

SALARY

The salary is expected to be in the range of $75,000 - $95,000 and will depend on the applicant’s experience and qualifications. Benefits include fully paid, outstanding health and dental insurance, generous paid vacation, personal and sick leave, and all 11 paid federal holidays. 

 SUBMISSIONS

Please send a cover letter detailing your interest in the position and a resume to recruitment@justiceonline.org putting “Job Application: Communications Director, [your full name]” in the subject line of the email.

Please include or attach to your email .pdfs or links to your writings, graphics and/or or work product that you wish to have considered in connection with your application.

NOTE: We are only accepting applications electronically submitted. Please do not make any inquiries about the position or the status of your application as we cannot respond individually to each application. We will contact those applicants that are of interest directly.

The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, age, formerly incarcerated person status, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

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