Director, Communications

Description

Director Communications  

 Recruiting until filled. Screening will begin immediately.
Location: Hybrid (Raleigh, NC)
Department: Communications
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports to: Director, Gifts
Union Status: Non-Union

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:

• Creates and drives a multichannel communications strategy with      the goal of developing the organization's voice, brand, and integrity.
• Coordinates the work of the central communications team. project      communications staff, development staff, and engagement staff to ensure      strategic alignment.
• Collaborates with central communications staff to create and      assess individual and team work plans.
• Supervises the communications and graphic design staff.
• Leads in the development, implementation, and evaluation of an      annual communications plan in collaboration with the team.
• Regularly updates communications processes and ensures that all      staff are trained as needed.
• Writes applications for grants and supports reporting      requirements.
• 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

• Ensures that 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.
• Oversees 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. 

• Collaborates      with staff on the production and editing of all public-facing content,      such as publications, briefings, blog posts, one-pagers, videos, and      infographics.
• Collaborates      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).
• Builds      and/or supervises the building of emails and email campaigns in      EveryAction CRM, ensuring style and design parameters are followed.
• Works      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.
• Develops,      writes, and hosts the NC Justice Center’s quarterly podcast, Carolina      Changemakers.
• Provides      regular updates of templates, headers, letterheads, and other designs.
• Implements      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

• Serves      as a spokesperson for the NC Justice Center, in coordination with NC      Justice Center staff, by fielding and directing responses to media      inquiries.
• Actively      cultivates 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.
• Leads      in the preparation and circulation of news releases, advisories, op-eds, and letters to the editor.
• Identifies      external events and other speaking opportunities for the Executive      Director and staff.
• Creates      remarks for organizational public appearances as needed (interviews,      briefings, awards, etc.).
• Monitors      staff appearances in the media through Prowly; analyze trend data.

Requirements

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.
•   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.).

Physical Requirements

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.

Work Environment

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

Benefits

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/ Affirmative Action Employer

NCJC  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. It is our intention to promote the full realization of equality in opportunity and employment. 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 services, genetic information, natural hair styles, or other status as protected by State and Federal laws. It is our intention to promote the full realization of equality in opportunity and employment.