Rapid Response Communications Strategist

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time, term-limited position of Rapid Response Communications Strategist in the Communications & Marketing Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY or Washington, DC.  This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. This is a two-year term-limited position.

The ACLU Communications & Marketing department creates, maintains, and expands message narratives to engage our supporters and other target audiences, to help protect and expand civil liberties and civil rights, and illustrate the value and impact of the ACLU’s transformational work. Through our messaging, engagement with newsmakers, our written content, creative branding, and visual identity, we encourage support for the ACLU and help to build a more perfect union.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Director of Strategic Communications, the Rapid Response Communications Strategist will support the ACLU’s rapid response needs across issue areas, including immigration, abuse of power, national security, free speech and trans justice, among other issues. As issues surge and the ACLU takes action, from filing litigation to launching advocacy campaigns to organizing nationwide rallies, the rapid response strategist will work closely members of the communications and marketing team, as well as our affiliate, legal, policy, and advocacy colleagues to meet the moment with meaningful and high-impact communications. This individual will be a central player on our rapid response team, focusing on response work for the organization and across multiple issue areas.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Prepare proactive communications plans and processes to help the team manage emerging issues with ample rapid response needs
• Write proactive and reactive materials for media, including statements, quotes, releases, and op-eds for rapid response news moments under urgent deadlines
• Prepare messaging materials including talking points, narrative documents, and Q&As for emerging issue areas, new legal challenges, and other rapid response needs
• Pitch reporters to land coverage, shape stories and ensure inclusion of our messaging and work in press
• Manage media outreach to broadcast, radio and podcast producers and bookers on behalf of organizational spokespeople
• Prepare messaging briefing documents to prepare organizational spokespeople for a range of media opportunities
• Organize and support the planning and execution of communications activations including press calls, press conferences, media stunts, rallies and more
• Manage media monitoring around breaking and developing news
• Project manage rapid response work across channels and departments to ensure coordinated and timely response
• Work with colleagues across our national political and advocacy department, legal team, affiliates, and partner organizations to reach alignment during rapid response moments
• Coordinate with colleagues across the communications and marketing team during rapid response moment to ensure messaging consistency and deliver on a range of tactics and products, including paid media, videos, social, blog content and more
• Work with storytelling team to amplify impactful stories during breaking news moments
• Manage rapid response needs during evening and weekend hours
• Help keep the department up to date on where the organization’s posture during rapid response moments stands, how we’re choosing to respond, and the outcome and impact of our response
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned

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

• Experience working on communications strategies around complex legal and political issues such as immigration, reproductive rights, trans justice, free speech and more
• Background working on rapid response media engagement during high stakes moments
• Ability to write strong, compelling and media-worthy press materials on a range of civil rights and civil liberties issues under tight deadlines
• Strong relationships with reporters, editors, news bookers, producers and media stakeholders
• A proven track record of landing media opportunities and shaping meaningful press coverage
• Strategic insights and experience effectuating rapid response work to achieve quick alignment and turnaround on timely, complex organizational positions
• Demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively with multiple teams to achieve alignment on messaging, strategies and process
• Media savvy and interest in following a 24/7 news cycle
• Flexibility and comfort working evening and weekend hours as news breaks

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.

The Department of Education has determined that employment in this position at the ACLU does not qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.