Labor and Community Job Opportunities, Opportunities

NESRI Seeks Communications Director (NYC)

The National Economic and Social Rights Initiative (NESRI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting social movements and community efforts towards long-term structural change that guarantees human rights, equity and deeper democracy. We work in deep partnership with community organizers and organizations driven by those who are most impacted by injustice, and are currently supporting campaigns for universal healthcare, community land trusts to create permanently affordable housing, ending the school to prison pipeline in schools, and the enforcement of basic rights for low-wage workers.

NESRI promotes community driven solutions that realize human rights values and build democratic power. We believe that our economy and social systems and structures must be designed to serve the needs of people, not profit, and that solutions for our most entrenched social challenges emerge from those on the frontlines of injustice. We embrace a global and intersectional vision of justice that supports building public goods and dismantling structural oppression in all its forms.

Director of Communications

NESRI seeks a deeply committed and creative communications strategist to develop and implement an organization-wide communications plan. The Director will play a key leadership role in the organization advancing the following objectives: 1) Building a communications platform that promotes community driven solutions (that includes NESRI partners and beyond) towards a new economic and social vision for our collective future; 2) Enabling our partners and member organizations to meaningfully contribute towards building a larger voice for human rights and equity; 3) Developing communications capacity of staff; 4) Implementing a pending rebranding effort in order to increase organizational visibility and enhance our impact.

This is a new position, which means that it entails significant responsibilities as well as an exciting opportunity to shape our communications strategy while working with some of the most innovative grassroots organizations in the country. The Director will focus largely on creating the communications plan and implementing the rebranding in the first year, and then oversee its implementation. Our long-term goal is to build a visionary communications team that is deeply integrated with our programs and fundraising efforts, and expands our communications capacity.

NESRI functions as a consensus-based organization with a commitment to an equitable salary structure and significant need-based benefits, including cash benefits for dependents, loan repayment, transportation and health care costs not paid by insurance. For a Director position, base pay ranges from $60,000 to $88,000, depending on applicable benefits. In addition, NESRI has generous healthcare coverage for families and domestic partners, disability insurance, pension, 25 days of vacation, six months parental leave (3 full time and 3 half time) and caretaking leave (3 months full time), as well as a fierce commitment to supporting the ability of staff to care for and attend their families.

Qualifications:

  • Has the ability to think strategically and creatively to guide how NESRI uses communications in order to engage and mobilize people, build movements, and reshape the political landscape.
  • Produces good, quick, accessible writing.
  • Has a demonstrated track record in communications, including working with journalists and new media as well as experience planning and managing projects.
  • Understands our work and our role in the larger movement landscape, is politically aligned and committed to our mission, and has a deep commitment to community driven efforts, human rights, and social justice.
  • Has the vision and attention to detail to create a clear, consistent brand for NESRI in conjunction with our fundraising team.
  • Has the flexibility to work in a dynamic organization and political landscape, and the ability to prioritize and triage as NESRI builds a communications team.
  • Works in a deeply collaborative fashion and is committed to co-creating initiatives with colleagues as well as with partners and allies in the field.
  • Is generative, creative, and willing to try untested strategies.
  • Is comfortable with long-term efforts and being part of larger coalitions, networks, and movements.
  • We are ideally seeking someone to work in our New York City office, but are open to exceptional candidates in other parts of the country.
  • Spanish writing skills are a plus.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

  • Lead the development and implementation of an integrated strategic communications plan to support the organization’s communications objectives (including earned media, social media, grassroots engagements, print materials, and events). This includes using facilitative leadership to engage staff in co-creating the plan, and also requires coordinating and aligning our communications work with our partners and managing relationships with allies in the field. The plan should connect NESRI’s organizational communications (including fundraising and rebranding) to our strategic communications efforts to shift public discourse, and should provide clear direction for staff about priorities, strategies, staff and consultant roles, etc.;
  • Develop core messages to ensure consistent communication and brand identity;
  • Draft and edit content and oversee design, production, and translation of public-facing materials, including website pages and features, print materials, social media content, op-eds, blog posts, and other communications collateral;
  • With support from our Operations team, oversee our website, social media accounts, and all web-based communications platforms.
  • Work with consultants and programs staff to produce issue-specific newsletters;
  • Develop and maintain relationships with a set of journalists and editorial boards and field press inquiries.
  • Increase NESRI’s capacity to respond rapidly in key political and movement moments, including quickly drafting and posting public statements and placing quotes with journalists.
  • Oversee multimedia projects, including identifying and maintaining relationships with a set of consultants who are available for periodic graphic design, web design, video production, audio production, and transcription projects.
  • Provide one-on-one guidance, feedback, and editing to program staff on specific projects.
  • Work with program staff to jointly disseminate publications and to publicize events.
  • Provide trainings for staff (led by the Communications Director, other staff or outside facilitators) on communications skills including press strategy and core messaging.
  • Serve as the main point of contact with strategic communications networks and organizations.

How to apply:

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to jobs@nesri.org with the subject line Communications Director. In your cover letter, please include a brief mention of why NESRI’s mission and vision for change speak to you. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with interviews beginning at the beginning of February.