ACLU California Action
Director of Strategic Communications
ACLU California Action, Sacramento, California, United States, 95828
We seek mission-driven, values-aligned advocates adept at working in teams and coalitions and motivated by ACLU’s diverse range of policy areas, which include criminal justice and law enforcement accountability, reproductive justice, LGBTQ equality, voting rights, immigrant rights, racial and economic justice, technology and civil liberties, and education equity. ACLU California Action is a 501(c)(4)* organization federated with the ACLU’s three California affiliates for the purpose of statewide advocacy.
This position will be responsible for leading the ACLU’s legislative strategic communications in California by:
Stewarding the organization’s media advocacy and visibility.
Managing the organization’s social media brand and reach.
Overseeing paid traditional and new media campaigns that advance the ACLU’s statewide policy agenda.
Supporting the organization’s cultivation and accountability objectives related to incumbent legislators.
Educating the public about non-incumbent legislative candidates through our Candidate Issues Guide.
Mobilizing digital audiences to engage in our content and take action.
Coordinating public opinion research initiatives.
The director of strategic communications will manage the digital strategist, and will work closely with our executive director, government affairs team, statewide ACLU issue teams and policy project area directors, ACLU affiliate communications directors, coalition partners, and other stakeholders to advance our statewide policy and political agenda.
The director will report to the executive director and lead in developing the communication strategies and tactics for our legislative and political campaigns.
Job Responsibilities
Develop and implement integrated communications plans for the organization’s priority bills as well as rapid response strategies for the organization. Develop comprehensive media and content plans consistent with the organization’s policy agenda and priorities with clear goals and benchmarks. Make strategic decisions on external communications and media inquiries consistent with the organization’s legislative priorities. Work closely with the digital strategist to develop and oversee the digital communications plan for priority legislation and ensure regular and relevant content across social and web platforms in line with messaging and ACLU brand. Draft, review, and approve all external communications including press releases, op-eds, letters to editor, committee hearing testimony or statements, e-mail marketing, social media, web content, and ads. Produce and manage talking points and internal media guidance for all key legislation and conduct media trainings for staff, affiliate partners, coalition partners, experts, and organizational ambassadors, including on-air/camera interviews and committee hearing preparation. Oversee messaging research projects, including hiring polling firms, overseeing the development of poll instruments, etc. Build and maintain relations with local, regional, and national news outlets and editorial boards, with a focus on the Capitol press corps. Collaborate regularly with ACLU issue teams, affiliate communications directors, ACLU National, coalition partners, and other stakeholders to identify communications goals, key audiences, messages, and engagement tactics, to ensure coalitions, ACLU staff, consultants, and bill author offices to understand the overall trajectory of the campaign. Work with the digital strategist and vendors to track audience engagement and produce regular reports of earned media hits, social media metrics, and ad reach. Racial Equity Competencies
Understanding and Applying Racial Equity Demonstrate commitment to building or deepening understanding of racial equity through concepts such as:
The use of core terms including structural racism, white privilege, and anti-Blackness; The role that racial inequity has played and continues to play in our society; How race impacts supervisory relationships, team dynamics, and organizational culture; and Personal/implicit/unconscious bias;
Working for Racial Equity Consistently assess structural implications and racially disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions within the context of job responsibilities considering the intersection of race/ethnicity, gender, identity, and/or sexual orientation; Consistently adhere to the organization’s racial equity policies and procedures, including those that relate to hiring, retention, and promotion; and Consistently identify and address ways in which bias plays out in work and/or team; Leading on Racial Equity Effectively encourage people to have honest conversations about racial equity, and accept feedback openly, non-defensively, and from a posture of learning. Consistently address structural implications and racially disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions by identifying and implementing changes that can produce more equitable outcomes. This applies not only in terms of race/ethnicity, but also at the intersection of race/ethnicity, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation; and Consistently set racial equity outcomes, goals, and performance measures for the team, department, or organization, and develop and successfully implement plans to achieve them. Qualifications
At least 8 years of leadership experience in communications, media, or related fields. Experience creating and executing campaigns that utilize owned, earned, and paid media. Experience making prudent and strategic decisions and taking appropriate action in situations where there may not be clearly established criteria or standards. Outstanding managerial skills to comprehensively supervise the digital strategist, consultants, and other support staff or contractors A demonstrated understanding of political advocacy campaigns. Strong media relations, issues management, and rapid response communications skills, as well as a deep knowledge base in digital communications. Superior writing and copyediting skills across various products including news stories, media pitches, committee hearing testimonies, web, e-mail and social media content. Strong skills in analyzing information, situations, practices, and procedures to define problems, identify relevant concerns, formulate logical and objective conclusions and recognize alternatives. Proven commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially in the workplace. Working experience with WordPress. Experience with project management systems such as Asana and with press management and social media analytics software. Spanish language proficiency preferred.
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Develop and implement integrated communications plans for the organization’s priority bills as well as rapid response strategies for the organization. Develop comprehensive media and content plans consistent with the organization’s policy agenda and priorities with clear goals and benchmarks. Make strategic decisions on external communications and media inquiries consistent with the organization’s legislative priorities. Work closely with the digital strategist to develop and oversee the digital communications plan for priority legislation and ensure regular and relevant content across social and web platforms in line with messaging and ACLU brand. Draft, review, and approve all external communications including press releases, op-eds, letters to editor, committee hearing testimony or statements, e-mail marketing, social media, web content, and ads. Produce and manage talking points and internal media guidance for all key legislation and conduct media trainings for staff, affiliate partners, coalition partners, experts, and organizational ambassadors, including on-air/camera interviews and committee hearing preparation. Oversee messaging research projects, including hiring polling firms, overseeing the development of poll instruments, etc. Build and maintain relations with local, regional, and national news outlets and editorial boards, with a focus on the Capitol press corps. Collaborate regularly with ACLU issue teams, affiliate communications directors, ACLU National, coalition partners, and other stakeholders to identify communications goals, key audiences, messages, and engagement tactics, to ensure coalitions, ACLU staff, consultants, and bill author offices to understand the overall trajectory of the campaign. Work with the digital strategist and vendors to track audience engagement and produce regular reports of earned media hits, social media metrics, and ad reach. Racial Equity Competencies
Understanding and Applying Racial Equity Demonstrate commitment to building or deepening understanding of racial equity through concepts such as:
The use of core terms including structural racism, white privilege, and anti-Blackness; The role that racial inequity has played and continues to play in our society; How race impacts supervisory relationships, team dynamics, and organizational culture; and Personal/implicit/unconscious bias;
Working for Racial Equity Consistently assess structural implications and racially disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions within the context of job responsibilities considering the intersection of race/ethnicity, gender, identity, and/or sexual orientation; Consistently adhere to the organization’s racial equity policies and procedures, including those that relate to hiring, retention, and promotion; and Consistently identify and address ways in which bias plays out in work and/or team; Leading on Racial Equity Effectively encourage people to have honest conversations about racial equity, and accept feedback openly, non-defensively, and from a posture of learning. Consistently address structural implications and racially disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions by identifying and implementing changes that can produce more equitable outcomes. This applies not only in terms of race/ethnicity, but also at the intersection of race/ethnicity, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation; and Consistently set racial equity outcomes, goals, and performance measures for the team, department, or organization, and develop and successfully implement plans to achieve them. Qualifications
At least 8 years of leadership experience in communications, media, or related fields. Experience creating and executing campaigns that utilize owned, earned, and paid media. Experience making prudent and strategic decisions and taking appropriate action in situations where there may not be clearly established criteria or standards. Outstanding managerial skills to comprehensively supervise the digital strategist, consultants, and other support staff or contractors A demonstrated understanding of political advocacy campaigns. Strong media relations, issues management, and rapid response communications skills, as well as a deep knowledge base in digital communications. Superior writing and copyediting skills across various products including news stories, media pitches, committee hearing testimonies, web, e-mail and social media content. Strong skills in analyzing information, situations, practices, and procedures to define problems, identify relevant concerns, formulate logical and objective conclusions and recognize alternatives. Proven commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially in the workplace. Working experience with WordPress. Experience with project management systems such as Asana and with press management and social media analytics software. Spanish language proficiency preferred.
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