Communications Director

Overview

The Communications Director is responsible for the development of communication infrastructure for the NC Justice Center; partnering with NC Justice Center staff to develop and articulate a strong message for progressive social change across the organization’s issue areas; and elevating the organization’s profile among its key audiences. The Director developments and maintains the organization’s digital and legacy media strategies, which includes its website, email communications and list building, social media channels, publication creation and release, style and branding guides, press outreach, and media monitoring. The Director also leads and manages the organization’s editorial calendar to ensure timely and coordinated communications efforts.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership:

• The Director creates and drives a multichannel communications strategy with the goal of developing the organization's voice, brand, and integrity.
• The Director coordinates the work of the central communications team. project communications staff, development staff, and engagement staff to ensure strategic alignment.
• The Director collaborates with central communications staff to create and assess individual and team work plans.
• The Director supervises the communications and graphic design staff.
• The Director leads in the development, implementation, and evaluation of an annual communications plan in collaboration with the team.
• The Director regularly updates communications processes and ensures that all staff are trained as needed.
• The Director writes applications for grants and supports reporting requirements.
• The Director oversees the professional development of the team, including identifying training needs/opportunities, assessing the skills and deficits of staff under their supervision, and conducting annual performance evaluations for those staff.

Digital Media

• Ensure the NC Justice Center website serves as an effective tool for advocacy, education, and fundraising, integrating seamlessly with email, social media, and other digital platforms. In collaboration with communications specialists, update and maintain the NC Justice Center’s website content, ensure search engine optimization, and oversee regular Google Analytics reporting.
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of digital ads, such as Google Ads for Nonprofits, paid Google Ads, and Meta ads.

· Regularly update communications processes and tutorials based on best practices and digital safety and security needs and ensure all staff are trained as needed.

• Collaborate with staff on the production and editing of all public-facing content, such as publications, briefings, blog posts, one-pagers, videos, and infographics.
• Collaborate with the fundraising and advocacy teams to create digital campaigns that drive action, support, and awareness. Support projects in developing, launching, and tracking digital advocacy/lobbying campaigns (petitions and action alerts) in EveryAction customer relationship management system (CRM).
• Build and/or supervise the building of emails and email campaigns in EveryAction CRM, ensuring style and design parameters are followed.
• Work with Director of Information Technology and other staff to develop and maintain distribution lists and distribution process for all NC Justice Center publications and emails in EveryAction CRM.
• Develop, write, and host the NC Justice Center’s quarterly podcast, Carolina Changemakers.
• Provide regular updates of templates, headers, letterheads, and other designs.
• Implement comprehensive social media strategy for the NC Justice Center’s existing channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X); monitor current trends and analytics reporting, and create style and usage guidelines for posts.

Legacy Media

• Serve as a spokesperson for the NC Justice Center, in coordination with NC Justice Center staff, by fielding and directing responses to media inquiries.
• Actively cultivate media relationships using Prowly and oversee and maintain a current list of media contacts. Pitch stories and appearances to reporters, columnists, editorial writers, broadcast producers, reporters, hosts, etc.
• Lead in the preparation and circulation of news releases, advisories, op-eds, and letters to the editor.
• Identify external events and other speaking opportunities for the Executive Director and staff.
• Create remarks for organizational public appearances as needed (interviews, briefings, awards, etc.).
• Monitor staff appearances in the media through Prowly; analyze trend data.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or marketing.
• Five years of responsible work experience in communications, marketing, or journalism.
• Website management experience on WordPress or comparable CSM platform.
• Experience working at the state level on issues that impact communities with low incomes.
• Two years of supervisory experience.

· Ability to successfully work in a fast-paced highly collaborative work environment.

· Advanced level Microsoft 365 Office Suite skills.

• Knowledge of basic graphic design principles with Adobe Creative Suite and/or Canva. Experience audio/video editing is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines, work with diverse populations, work independently, and work collaboratively across teams.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and commitment to issues impacting North Carolinians with low incomes.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and deep understanding of racial justice issues.
• Availability on some nights and weekends, particularly during legislative sessions.

Preferred Qualifications

· Master’s degree in relevant field

· Nonprofit communications work history is strongly preferred

• Experience in providing communications support for the NC Justice Center’s suite of issues: public education, housing, education, energy, transportation, criminal justice, workers’ rights, health care.

Skills and Competencies

· Project management experience

• Exceptional oral and written communication skills and the ability to lead the creation of a variety of content types (media releases, op-eds, blogs, social media copy, etc.).

The employee should have the ability to maintain focus and productivity while performing sedentary tasks at a workstation for prolonged periods, including working on a computer, managing documents, or engaging in virtual meetings.

Home, corporate offices and other offsite meeting spaces, as required. Weekend and evening work may be required.

NCJC offers an extraordinary benefits package including affordable health insurance, a retirement plan, professional development opportunities, and six weeks of personal time off.

NCJC is an Equal Opportunity

The NC Justice Center is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, creed, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, personal appearance, marital or family status, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, natural hair styles, or other status as protected by State and Federal laws. We are a Fair Chance Employer and work to reduce barriers to employment for individuals with criminal records. It is our intention to promote the full realization of equality in opportunity and employment.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $75,000.00 - $81,624.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to Commute:

• Raleigh, NC 27601 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Raleigh, NC 27601: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Raleigh, NC 27601

Salary : $75,000 - $81,624