Communications Strategist

Job Description

Communications Strategist

Job Description

Department:                          Communications

Employment Type:                Regular Full-time

Supervisory:               No

Salary Schedule:             L2

Location:                 El Paso

BU/NBU:                              Bargaining Unit

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Lone Star State. We work in courts, legislatures, and communities to protect and extend the civil rights for Texans throughout the state. The ACLU of Texas is both a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. The ACLU of Texas operates professional offices in Houston, Austin, Dallas, El Paso, and Brownsville, Texas.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Communications Department educates and activates Texans to work with the ACLU of Texas for strategic change in the areas of criminal legal reform, democracy and voting rights, border and immigrants' rights, free speech and pluralism, LGBTQIA+ equality, and reproductive freedom across the state. 

ROLE OVERVIEW

The ACLU of Texas seeks a Communications Strategist to design communications efforts that protect and advance the rights of all Texans. This person plays a critical role in educating the public, building political power, and achieving advocacy wins across two or more issue areas of the ACLU of Texas, including voting rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, immigrants’ rights, smart justice, and reproductive freedom. We’re looking for someone who thrives in the energy and intensity of advocacy work and knows how to craft messaging and tactics that move issues forward. Ideal candidates will have excellent written and verbal communication skills, manage time and projects well, be willing to take creative risks, pay close attention to detail, and demonstrate a commitment to civil rights and racial equity.

The Communications Strategist reports to the Strategic Communications Manager and works closely with colleagues within the department and across the organization. 

Responsibilities

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• Campaign Development: Proposes and designs communications plans for advocacy campaigns and rapid response moments that advance integrated advocacy goals related to two or more issue areas; implements plans across paid, earned, shared, and owned media in coordination with colleagues and vendors; brings a strategic communications lens to issue-area meetings across teams and in coalition.
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• Content Production: Supports digital and press experts in drafting messaging, press releases, blogs, op-eds, social posts, reports, fact sheets, and other communications materials for advocacy efforts; uses analytics to evolve content.
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• General: Develops relationships with colleagues across the ACLU network to collaborate on campaigns and share resources; supports the department with other duties as assigned.
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COMPETENCIES

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• Written and Verbal Communication: Contributes to the development of original messaging and builds out talking points. Quickly produces high-quality written products for different media channels and audiences. Able to communicate with internal and external stakeholders clearly and with empathy.
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• Strategic Mindset: Expands knowledge of how to anticipate future opportunities and consequences. Learns from past experience. Proposes original strategies and plans for two issue areas that are inclusive, prudent, and actionable. Triages complex situations and encourages stakeholder buy-in.
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• Project Management: Able to develop task concepts and break down activities into manageable pieces that can be individually and collaboratively executed with internal colleagues and external vendors. Manages vendors for small-sized contracts. Tracks progress using project management tools. Completes deliverables on schedule.
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• Teamwork: Brings a positive, problem-solving attitude to relationships with colleagues and partners. Relates well with people of different backgrounds and responsibilities. Demonstrates personal integrity, admits mistakes, and fosters trust.
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• Decision-making: “Owns” the work in the project area. Makes smart decisions that reflect clear reasoning and awareness of impact. Works with the appropriate level of supervision. Knows when to ask questions or when to ask for help.
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Qualifications

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• A bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or related field; work experience and/or alternative educational preparation in the competencies listed above may be substituted for formal education.
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• 3+ years of experience in advocacy communications, preferably related to one or more of the following issues: criminal legal reform, democracy and voting rights, immigration, LGBTQIA+ equality, and reproductive freedom.
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• Excellent writing and editing skills in a range of digital and press formats. Proven record of published content and understanding of AP style. Ability to communicate. persuasively to a wide variety of media, political, stakeholder, community, and influencer audiences.
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• Solid computer skills, including proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, and communications tools.
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• Flexible schedule and ability to work non-traditional hours as needed. Some travel required.
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• Demonstrated commitment to advancing the ACLU of Texas’ values, mission, and goals, with an understanding of structural racism and interpersonal bias.
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Preferred Qualifications:

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• Strong project management skills. Ability to delegate and coordinate deliverables across teams in a fast-paced environment with shifting demands.
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• Strategic acumen in paid, earned, shared, and owned media channels.
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• Experience working in coalitions.
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• Fluency in Spanish.
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COMPENSATION

Starting salary is $70,000 - $76,000 year in alignment with the parameters of ACLU of Texas’ salary scale. Excellent benefits include a generous paid time off policy; medical, dental and vision insurance; 401(k) plan with an employer match; life and long-term disability insurance, and generous paid holidays.

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