Communications Manager

Essie Justice Group Communications Manager Opportunity

Essie Justice Group (Essie) is building grassroots power to dismantle the US incarceration system, the most egregious creator of racial and gender injustice of our time. We are a loving and powerful community of women with incarcerated loved ones. Our community includes cisgender women, transgender women, formerly incarcerated women, gender expansive people, elders, and young people.

After twelve years of building an active membership across California and beyond, Essie is deepening its base-building and leadership development strategies with the 1 in 4 women with incarcerated loved ones to propel bold decarceration agendas across the nation. We seek to transform the criminal legal system and create a Black feminist future rooted in care, equity, community safety, and liberation. In a period of continued organizational growth, Essie seeks a strategic, highly motivated Communications Manager to drive narrative work and campaigns that upend systems of control and confinement.

This role owns a major part of Essie's communications arc — from strategy and brand stewardship to hands-on content creation, storytelling, and performance analytics — experimenting with creative ways to share our Black feminist perspective, the vital testimonies of women with incarcerated loved ones, and our political messaging in service of our organizational and movement goals.

Core Responsibilities

• Organizational Branding & Messaging: Develop messaging that elevates Essie's brand, Black feminist and abolitionist politic, and race- and gender-justice perspective, and lead a team to make our messaging live in the world.
• Content Strategy & Creation: Lead the content creation process and publish compelling, on-brand content that reaches our audiences and inspires action, using Essie's Black feminist lens.
• Digital Strategy & Analytics: Manage a sophisticated digital communications program that strategically leverages Essie's member-led work, and use data to continuously refine strategy.
• Media, Thought Leadership & Campaign Communications: Co-develop and further Essie's original political analysis and thought leadership pieces to influence the political opportunities and realities that we organize and campaign within.

Who We're Looking For Ideal Qualifications

• 3-5 years relevant professional experience in communications, with hands-on experience in content creation, digital/social media strategy, and media relations.
• Proficient in email marketing platforms, multiple social media channels, content management systems, and design tools.
• Impeccable and beautiful writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, with a portfolio showcasing strong content creation; strong attention to detail.
• Experience writing reports and publications, organizational emails, op-eds, and speeches/talking points.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic communication plans, content calendars, and digital/social media strategies.
• Working knowledge of SEO, SMO, and PPC best practices, and experience tracking and reporting on content/digital analytics and KPIs.
• Ability to lead communications discussions at both the strategic and tactical levels.
• Track record as a collaborative leader who excels in managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Strong project management skillset and familiarity with project management tools.
• Experience managing relationships with multiple stakeholders including Essie's members, partners, Board members, media, and donors.
• Experience supervising creative professionals, either in-house or outside vendors.
• Demonstrated skill in creative problem-solving and embracing change.
• Commitment to the beliefs and values of Essie, specifically in gender justice, race justice, and ending mass incarceration, with a demonstrated ability to create content from a Black feminist lens.

Qualities

• A uniquely skilled, empathetic communicator.
• An astute strategist.
• Discernment and honesty we can trust.
• Committed to evolution.
• Uplifting and additive.

The Position The Communications Manager is a full-time, salaried, exempt position. This position is supervised by the Associate Director of Communications. The salary for this position is between $90,000-$95,000 depending on experience, with full medical, dental, and vision benefits, optional 401(k), a substantial vacation package, and a monthly personal wellness stipend. The position is based in one of Essie's offices in Oakland or Los Angeles, California.

To Apply Please address a personal, specific, and thoughtful cover letter to the "Essie Hiring Committee" and submit along with a resume through our hiring portal.

Essie Justice Group provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and skills. Essie does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Essie values and specifically seeks applicants who are people with incarcerated loved ones; formerly incarcerated people; people of color; women; queer, transgender, gender expansive, and gender fluid people.

About Essie Justice Group Essie Justice Group is a non profit organization of women with incarcerated loved ones taking on the rampant injustices created by mass incarceration. Our award-winning Healing to Advocacy Model brings women together to heal, build collective power, and drive social change. Essie is Great Place to Work-Certified™ by Great Place to Work.

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