Communications Director, ACLU of Puerto Rico

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks to fill a full-time position of Communications Director in the Puerto Rico Chapter, a National chapter of the ACLU. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month and is based in San Juan, PR. 

The American Civil liberties Union Foundation (ACLU), founded in 1920, is a nationwide, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with more than 1,200,000 members and is dedicated to the principles of liberty and equality embodied in the Constitution. The ACLU of Puerto Rico chapter was founded in 1994 and staffed its first office in 2021 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ACLU of Puerto Rico, however, has a long and rich history in Puerto Rico, dating back to the 1937 Ponce Massacre in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico.

The ACLU recognizes the critical role that integrated communications strategies play in the success of its overall mission. Although much of the ACLU’s work has taken place in courtrooms and in federal and state legislative bodies, the organization is also placing increased emphasis on mobilizing people to gain more political power. The ability of the ACLU to communicate a clear message and effectively frame issues in the press impacts public opinion and builds support among members, policymakers, and key influencers (particularly in the current political environment). This opportunity occurs at a time of an unparalleled change in the speed and methods of communicating ideas across many platforms (e.g., online, publications, media coverage, social media, and video), including direct and indirect channels to audiences.

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Executive Director of Puerto Rico, the Communications Director will partner with communications staff in the National office and with the Chapter staff to ensure message and brand consistency, effective media responses and coordinated content development that elevates the Chapter’s external profile.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

Strategic Communications & Public Education

• Manage all media relations, including earned, social, and paid media.
• Create and manage the budget for the Communications Department.
• Develop and implement an annual communications plan and strategies.
• Develop and execute innovative, multi-media public education campaigns to raise the profile of ACLU of Puerto Rico and support the organization’s programmatic goals.
• Spearhead messaging strategy, including rapid response for legal and legislative priorities.
• Solicit and manage contracts with outside companies creating external communications materials for the ACLU of Puerto Rico.
• Develop, test and evaluate various content, messaging, and engagement strategies across multiple platforms including but not limited to social media posts, e-mails, blogs, talking points, paid advertising, and donor materials.
• Manage ACLU of Puerto Rico branding and merchandising.
• Collaborate with staff in the ACLU’s national communications as appropriate.
• Spearhead public education events such as panel discussions.

Press Relations

• Work with local and national press to pitch stories, maximize media coverage, and enhance the ACLU of Puerto Rico’s visibility in communities.
• Draft and edit all press materials, including press releases, newsletters, mailers, advisories, talking points and other items as needed.
• Coordinate all media activity related to ACLU-PR, press conferences, events, symposia, etc.
• Coach ACLU of Puerto Rico staff, clients and other partners as spokespersons, providing guidance on talking points and messaging strategies for public speaking engagements.

Digital Communications

• Coordinate the organization’s dynamic online presence, including website updating, blog, podcasts, and social media.
• Generate engaging content and support online activism campaigns and other web organizing campaigns.
• Oversee and manage all ACLU media-related technology platforms, ensuring that the Chapter’s communications are best in class and adhere to ACLU’s privacy guidelines.

Marketing Materials

• Manage development, distribution, and purchasing of all collateral, including reports, brochures, and event and promotional items.
• Provide editorial and design direction, handle quality control and proofreading, oversee production, and create and implement distribution plans.

Internal Communications

• Keep staff, members and donors apprised of the ACLU of Puerto Rico’s work.
• Provide support to the Executive Director of the ACLU of Puerto Rico on all communications matters.

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL 

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Significant years in strategic communications and media relations, ideally in an “in-house” role within a nonprofit organization.
• Management experience preferred.
• Fluent in Spanish and English, both written and spoken.
• A track record of leadership through strong communication, collaboration, and relationship-building.
• Ability to work with diverse community groups in service and leadership roles;
• Extensive writing and editing experience with a variety of print and online communications media.
• Experience working with media outlets at the national, regional, and local levels.
• Creative aptitude and familiarity with interactive design, website and social media management, and email marketing strategy. Proficiency with digital content management a plus.
• Experience creating advocacy and membership materials including newsletters and content for member/activist e-mail alerts, blog, and website.
• Exceptional analytical, writing, and speaking skills and demonstrated ability to write clearly and precisely and to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences.
• Superb organization skills; detail-oriented with strong follow-through and the ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to work with a team demonstrating flexibility, humor, honesty, and open-mindedness.
• Computer proficiency, including content management systems, web development, and graphic design programs.
• Creative, results-oriented, self-starting, willing to learn, and able to manage an aggressive schedule; willingness to work irregular hours as needed including evening and weekend meetings and events.
• Willingness to do occasional travel.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor or advanced degree in communications, journalism, or related field is preferred
• Management experience preferred

COMPENSATION

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid-time off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.    

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.