Job Overview:
The ACLU of Utah seeks a dynamic, strategic, and mission-driven Communications Director to lead its Communication Department and serve as a member of the organization’s leadership team. The Communications Director is a full-time, exempt, & salaried position that will report to the Executive Director, lead the Communications team, and collaborate with other staff members across the organization to deliver high impact communications. This position is classified as “At-Will” as are all Director level positions at the ACLU of Utah.
The Communications Director is responsible for creating, supervising, and executing the ACLU of Utah’s communications strategies. Through their work and collaboration with staff, the Communications Director leads the development of communications priorities and opportunities to best amplify our work, promote our brand, and steer the public narrative in a positive direction for civil rights and civil liberties.
Under the direction and supervision of the Executive Director, the Communications Director supervises the Senior Communications Strategist and, at times, may manage interns, consultants, and volunteers. The Communications Director is a part of the leadership team, which includes all other department heads.
Primary Responsibilities:
Communications Strategy
Create, manage, and execute all traditional and digital communications strategies to enhance the visibility of the organization with the public, members, and supporters in communities statewide, and measure the effectiveness of those strategies.
Collaborate with colleagues in the legal and campaigns teams to develop, execute, and track a communications plan for legal cases, policy issues, and organizational campaigns that engages members, policy makers, elected officials, and the general public in our work. Play a critical role in advancing ACLU of Utah’s integrated advocacy efforts.
Based on program assessment, create 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.
Work with ACLU of Utah staff and, as appropriate, national colleagues or external allies, to respond rapidly to emerging, strategically important issues with appropriate and influential messaging and tactics.
Press and Media Relations
Lead the ACLU of Utah’s presence in and engagement with statewide media markets by owning relationships with media contacts and building relationships between key staff reporters, editorial boards, producers, and other stakeholders and influencers. Arrange interviews with appropriate topic experts on staff or speak directly with members of the press.
Provide media training to staff, including how to participate in an interview, potential questions, and messaging guidance.
Content Creation and Social Media Management
Oversee external marketing communications involving branding, message development, and graphic design, including swag, merchandise, etc.
Collaborate with the Senior Communications Strategist to set and reach goals for the ACLU of Utah’s digital presence including, but not limited to, social media platforms and website content. Identify key performance indicators along the way.
Manage the Senior Communications Strategist’s work as the primary manager and executor of social media tactics by ensuring that social media content is accurate, compelling, on-message, and strategic, and by acting as a backup executor as needed.
Oversee creation and deployment of all organizational print and digital materials, such as annual reports, newsletters, and other publications and digital assets.
Leadership
Qualifications:
Essential
Ability to manage programs, direct experience with news media, traditional media, digital communications, graphic design, branding, and/or message development
Excellent interpersonal skills including written and verbal communication, along with presentation skills to communicate effectively, comfortably, and respectfully with many audiences, including members of the general public, press, donors, staff at all levels, and lay leaders in conversation or print
Demonstrated experience working on a team in fast-moving, high-stakes environments. Exceptional ability to prioritize concurrent tasks and expertly manage projects, manage a high-volume workload in a fast-paced environment, delegate deliberately and ensure follow through, adapt quickly to changing priorities, and help set and meet moving deadlines
Ability to communicate to diverse audiences through a lens of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging
A strong commitment to diversity- a personal approach that values the individual and respects difference of race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, ability, involvement with the criminal legal justice system, and socio-economic circumstance
Preferred
Physical Demands:
Work Environment:
- Hybrid work requirement consisting of approximately a 40-hour work week with work from home permitted when work responsibility permits.
- Periodically required to work irregular and extended hours, including some evenings and weekends
SALARY & BENEFITS:
The Communications Director salary range is $95,000-$105,000 based on experience. Excellent benefits include: generous paid time off, medical, vision, and dental insurance, and a 401(k) plan with employer matching contribution that vests immediately.
TO APPLY:
Please submit a resume and cover letter in order for your application to be considered.
Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
The ACLU of Utah is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please e-mail HR at cwelburn@acluutah.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
