Nonprofit Remote Digest - Issue #535
Freedom for Immigrants is devoted to abolishing immigration detention, while ending the isolation of people currently suffering in this profit-driven system.
Freedom for Immigrants — www.freedomforimmigrants.org Freedom for Immigrants: Together we will end immigration detention
Communications Director
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Start Date: February 2021
Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until filled
Reports to: Deputy Executive Director
Status: Exempt; Full-time
Location: The position is fully remote. Must be located in a major media market with preference for Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., or New York City
ABOUT FREEDOM FOR IMMIGRANTS
Freedom for Immigrants is devoted to abolishing immigration detention, while ending the isolation of people currently suffering in this profit-driven system. Since 2012, we have been monitoring conditions inside immigration detention facilities. Our network of 4,500 volunteers visits immigrants in ICE detention centers throughout the country, breaking their isolation and advocating for those in detention. Freedom for Immigrants also operates a national hotline, which people in detention can use free of charge to report abuses or request support. In the policy arena, we work alongside local and national partners to support federal and state-level policies that call on the government to divest from immigration detention and instead invest in systems of care that strengthen immigrant communities. In fact, Freedom for Immigrants is modeling a community-based program that welcomes immigrants into the social fabric of the United States as part of the vision for how we build a world without detention.
Freedom for Immigrants is an award-winning non-profit whose founders have been recognized for their vision and leadership by Ashoka, Echoing Green, the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award, the Rockwood Leadership Institute, and the James Irvine Leadership Awards.
ABOUT THE POSITION
Freedom for Immigrants is looking for a skilled communicator to develop effective messaging strategies that promote narrative change as part of our collective work to abolish immigration detention. The Communications Director plays a critical role developing and driving the media strategy for our local, state and national campaigns and ongoing advocacy efforts. We are committed to working directly with impacted people and centering the voices of people who are in detention or have been formerly detained in our decision making and strategic communications. Our organization works with volunteers and local groups across the country and, as such, the right candidate will deeply value partnership and collaboration while having a keen and persistent ability to uplift the work of our staff and network in the fight to abolish detention.
The Director of Advocacy & Strategic Communications will report to the Deputy Executive Director and supervise the volunteer editor of IMMPrint, Freedom for Immigrants’ storytelling platform. The Director of Advocacy & Strategic Communications will be an excellent writer who has experience working on immigrant rights or other social justice issues and is also up-to-date with best practices for social media engagement.
The ideal candidate is a self-starter with experience leading Communications strategy who can work independently and in collaboration with others, whether in our office or remotely.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Establish and drive multi-channel messaging and narrative change strategies to abolish immigration detention with a heavy focus on utilizing traditional media outlets
Build new and manage existing media relations to amplify our work while serving as a spokesperson for the organization
Develop and drive effective messaging strategy to support our campaigns and advocacy across programs (Visitation, Decarceration, Hotline and Policy) in close collaboration with Freedom for Immigrants staff and volunteers in each of the various programs
Monitor the news cycle to stay abreast of issues relating to immigrant rights and immigration detention while identifying opportunities to promote our strategic messaging and the work of our staff and network in support of abolition
Develop press releases, op-eds, talking points and other messaging tools, and support the creation of other written communications produced by various departments, by understanding and strengthening our brand and voice across all written materials and communications
Manage, maintain, and design content for our website and social media platforms, and track engagement across all platforms to make data-driven decisions
Qualifications:
Extensive experience managing a communications plan across departments on behalf of progressive organizations and/or experience working as a journalist covering progressive social issues required;
Demonstrated commitment to immigrants rights, incarceration or other social justice causes impacting communities of color, and a basic competency in race equity and inclusion;
Demonstrated experience generating coverage in traditional media, including news and opinion pieces (print, broadcast and online news outlets);
Experience in developing strategic plans, tactics, and media hooks for effective conventional and social media communications;
Excellent writing, editing and media interviewing skills;
Experience with digital campaigns and ads across platforms, content creation and curation across platforms, and data analysis;
Experience managing a website, such as Squarespace, is a plus;
Experience with graphic design and video editing software is a plus;
Strong organizational and time management skills;
Exceptional attention to details;
Self-starter with a demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team;
Personal qualities of integrity, humility, and a passion for Freedom for Immigrants’ mission;
A flexible nature and an ability to wear many hats
Cultural competency and proven ability to work with diverse communities required;
Ability to read basic Spanish required; conversational or basic Spanish fluency highly preferred;
Past experience working in a decentralized start-up nonprofit is a plus;
Candidates who have been directly affected by immigration detention or the mass incarceration system are highly encouraged to apply.
Benefits:
Freedom for Immigrants offers a competitive salary with a generous benefits package. Freedom for Immigrants provides for PPO health, vision and dental benefits; a 401K plan with an employer match after 1 year; 15 days of paid vacation, 10 federal holidays +2 floating holidays, and 10 sick days.