Communications Director

About Advance Native Political Leadership Action Fund

Advance Native Political Leadership (Advance) was founded to address the historical traumas, present realities, and future prospects of Native peoples in the United States. Advance is the only national Native American-led organization working to address the vast disparity and unique barriers that exist for Indigenous people in U.S. politics. 

Advance is the first and only national Native-led organization working to build a complete ecosystem of power building in Native communities through leadership recruitment and support, civic engagement, data and research, state and national coordination. 

Advance Native Political Leadership Action Fund is our 501(c)(4) project, and is fiscally sponsored by Tides Advocacy. Advance Native Political Leadership Education Fund is our 501(c)(3) fund, which is housed at Tides Foundation. The ideal candidate for this position is familiar with a multi-entity fiscally sponsored non-profit structure. 

Role Overview

Advance is seeking a driven, strategic Communications Director to join our Leadership Team. The Communications Director will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive communications strategy and ambitious roadmap to achieve Advance’s mission through creative writing and storytelling. The Communications Director reports to the Executive Director and works in deep partnership with peer Directors on the team. This supervisory role requires an understanding of Native cultures and a superior attention to detail, project management and people skills, and a deep appreciation for ingenuity and collaboration.

Communications Director Key Responsibilities

Strategic Communications, Messaging Creation & Implementation:

• Develop and implement a cohesive communications strategy and workplan that will support the organization's goals, audience, and programs.  
• Create distribution strategies for each area of work including programs, research, and education, ensuring effective delivery and testing of content across platforms, events, and audiences.
• Lead the development of narratives for the organization, including training team members and surrogates on organizational messaging, key words, and consistent communication strategies.

Media Relations:

• Build, maintain, and track relationships with key local and national media outlets, journalists, and influencers.
• Pitch and secure media coverage that highlights Advance’s work, the Native Leadership Institute alumni and Native leaders across the country.
• Partner with the research team to package polling, reports, and research for target audiences, developing collateral that amplifies insights through press, events, and community outreach.

Content Creation & Distribution:

• Lead the creation of engaging content such as press releases, talking points, op-eds, speeches, newsletters, social media posts, websites, and more.
• Manage a comprehensive content calendar and ensure transparency for cross-team communication as well as timely and strategic distribution across all platforms and channels.
• Test creative ways to engage new audiences, increase awareness, and grow recruitment for leadership programs and alumni engagement.
• Package research and polling data effectively for specific audiences, ensuring it reaches the right people through webinars, conferences, activation events, and more.
• Develop and manage a storytelling bank (photos, videos, testimonials, etc.), ensuring all content is organized, culturally appropriate, accurate, and aligned with organizational values.

Brand & Narrative Strategy:

• Maintain and enhance the organization's brand identity.
• Oversee narrative development for the organization, including words to use and avoid, boilerplate copy for programs, and consistent messaging across digital, in-person, and print platforms.
• Lead on narrative strategy and the training of staff to ensure coherent messaging across all communications channels.

Digital Strategy:

• Create and lead digital communication efforts, including website management, email marketing, digital ads, and social media.
• Utilize analytics to track the effectiveness of campaigns and adjust strategies as needed.

Collaboration and Leadership:

• Serve as the project manager for communication calendars and program-specific distribution strategies.
• Partner with senior leaders and external teams to ensure communications efforts align with organizational priorities.
• Lead a team of external consultants and coordinate with partners for cohesive communications support.

In your first 6 months, success will look like:

• Establishing a Clear Communications Strategy: Within the first 60 days, you will write a comprehensive communications strategy and department growth plan that aligns with Advance’s short and long-term goals.
• Building Relationships with Key Media Outlets: You will have initiated and nurtured relationships with journalists and influencers who cover Native issues, U.S. politics, and social justice movements. By month 3, you will have secured media coverage that highlights Advance’s work and our candidates, expanding visibility in national and Native-focused outlets. Success will also include positioning Advance as a trusted expert for media inquiries related to Native representation in politics.
• Elevating the Organization’s Digital Presence: You will have led a thorough audit of Advance’s digital channels, including the website, social media platforms, and email marketing efforts. By the end of month 4, you will have implemented a cohesive digital strategy, resulting in increased engagement across platforms and improved recruitment efforts for leadership programs. Your efforts will include boosting audience growth and activating a broader community of supporters through creative content and storytelling.

To be successful in this role you should have the following experience & qualifications

• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in communications, public relations, or a related field, preferably within a national nonprofit or political sectors.
• Experience working with Native communities or on issues related to Indigenous peoples is highly preferred.
• Experience developing a communications strategy in a multi-entity organization (501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC) and familiarity with the legal nuance as it relates to communications strategy.
• Proven experience serving as an official spokesperson for an organization, including media appearances, public speaking engagements, and representing the organization at events or in interviews.
• Experience working in a fully remote environment with excellent time and self management skills. 
• Candidates must reside in EST or CST time zones.

We hope you bring one or more of these skills

• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills with the ability to convey complex ideas in a clear and compelling manner. 
• Expertise in media relations, digital strategy, and brand management.
• Exceptional public speaking and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate the organization’s mission, vision, and values to various stakeholders, including media, donors, and the public.

Cultural Competency & Organizational Culture:

• An understanding of Native issues, history, and cultures. 
• Ability to communicate respectfully and effectively with diverse audiences.
• Team player and a positive attitude are necessary, as well as the ability to manage multiple projects, meet tight deadlines and care about transparency, communication, details and follow-up.
• Flexibility with work schedule; this position can extend into evening and weekend work.
• Ability to juggle multiple projects and cross-department work simultaneously and with professional grace.

Leadership:

• Proven ability to lead and manage a team, work collaboratively across departments, and inspire others to achieve shared goals.
• Comfort and poise in high-stakes environments, maintaining composure and clarity as a representative of the organization during press conferences and public events.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field. Advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred.

Working at Advance: 

This position is salaried within a range of $125,000 - $145,000 and comes with a generous package of comprehensive benefits. Including but not limited to: 

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible spending account (FSA) for medical and dependent care.
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA) - we offer a max 5% match on 401K contributions if you save at least 6% per pay period.
• Generous paid time off package (Vacation, Sick, & Public Holidays) and additional all-staff “rest days” (Spring & Fall Break, Extended Winter Break).
• “Summer Fridays” – a 4-day workweek from early June to late August.
• $1,500 per year for professional development training and/or coaching. 
• Additional work from home benefits include compensation towards cell phone, Internet, and other necessary equipment.

This is a remote position and requires consistent phone and internet access at your home office location. This position requires travel for in-person events as needed. We are not offering U.S. visa sponsorship for this role. We have a strong preference for candidates in EST and CST time zones and will not consider candidates outside of them.

Interview Timeline + Process

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. The deadline for priority consideration is December 13. Qualified candidates will participate in a series of interviews. There will be three to four 1-hour interviews, and one 2-hour exercise over the course of six weeks.