Communications Manager

The South Asian American Justice Collaborative (SAAJCO) is a national civil rights organization advancing the civil and human rights of South Asian communities in the United States through legal advocacy, community engagement, and narrative power.

Position Summary

SAAJCO is seeking a full-time Communications Manager to lead the organization’s communications, media, digital content, and storytelling.

The Communications Manager will own SAAJCO’s communications function and translate our legal advocacy, community programs, and organizational priorities into clear and compelling communications for community members, partners, media, donors, and other audiences.

We are looking for a strong writer, strategic thinker, with creative flair who can move between strategy and execution, identify communications opportunities, manage competing priorities, respond effectively to time-sensitive developments, and move projects forward with limited day-to-day direction.

The Communications Manager will work closely with the Executive Director, legal and program staff, and other members of the SAAJCO team, will supervise the Communications Associate, and will report to the Executive Director.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead SAAJCO’s communications strategy across legal advocacy, community programming, organizational initiatives, and fundraising communications.
• Supervise and provide strategic direction to the Communications Associate, including setting priorities, reviewing work, and ensuring timely execution of communications projects.
• Oversee external communications produced by the Communications Associate, including press releases and statements, newsletters, website content, the Belonging Is Resistance series, social media, and other digital materials.
• Lead media relations, including pitching stories, responding to media inquiries, maintaining press relationships, coordinating interviews, and distributing press materials.
• Serve as a spokesperson for SAAJCO when appropriate and prepare organizational leaders for media and public-facing opportunities.
• Proactively identify opportunities for SAAJCO and its leadership to participate in events, podcasts, television and radio programs, news coverage, panels, and other public forums.
• Lead communications around significant legal and advocacy matters, working with legal and program staff to develop clear messaging and identify opportunities for broader public engagement.
• Set priorities for and oversee SAAJCO’s organizational content calendar, working with the Communications Associate to manage day-to-day implementation across website, social media, newsletters, video, and other communications platforms.
• Support fundraising communications, including donor campaigns, sponsorship materials, event communications, and organizational storytelling.
• Coordinate with partner organizations to amplify SAAJCO’s work and identify opportunities for joint communication and visibility.
• Recruit, supervise, and manage communications externs and oversee external communications consultants or vendors as needed.
• Track communications and engagement metrics and use data to strengthen strategy and reach.
• Respond with appropriate flexibility to time-sensitive communications needs, including litigation developments, breaking news, and media inquiries.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have:

• At least 4 years of relevant experience in communications, media relations, public affairs, nonprofit or advocacy communications, journalism, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing and leading communications strategy across multiple audiences and platforms.
• Strong experience with media relations, including pitching stories, responding to press inquiries, coordinating interviews, and building relationships with journalists.
• Excellent writing, editing, and messaging skills, including the ability to translate complex legal, policy, or civic issues into clear and compelling communications.
• Experience supervising staff, interns, externs, or other communications professionals and providing clear direction, feedback, and accountability.
• Comfort serving as an organizational spokesperson and preparing senior leaders for interviews, public appearances, and other media opportunities.
• Ability to proactively identify opportunities for organizational visibility, including news coverage, events, podcasts, panels, television, radio, and other public forums.
• Strong judgment and the ability to navigate sensitive, fast-moving, or high-profile issues.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, anticipate needs, and move communications priorities forward with limited day-to-day direction.
• Demonstrated commitment to civil rights, immigrant rights, racial justice, democracy, or issues affecting South Asian communities.
• Familiarity with digital communications tools and platforms such as Canva, Mailchimp, WordPress, social media platforms, and related communications tools.
• Availability to respond with reasonable flexibility to occasional time-sensitive communications needs outside regular working hours.

Helpful but Not Required

• Experience communicating about litigation, civil rights, immigration, or public policy.
• Experience working with South Asian, immigrant, refugee, or other historically underserved communities.
• Experience with fundraising or donor communications.
• Experience managing external consultants, vendors, fellows, or externs.
• Existing relationships with journalists or media outlets covering civil rights, immigration, law, public policy, democracy, or South Asian communities as we're a civil-rights nonprofit and operate in advocacy spaces.
• Experience developing video, podcast, or other multimedia content.
• Proficiency in a South Asian language.

Location: Full-time position remote within the United States

Reports to: Program Manager

Start Date: Immediately

SAAJCO is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from people whose backgrounds and lived experiences reflect the communities we serve.