Communications Manager

Defending Rights & Dissent
Washington, DC, USA
Posted on  

Job Description

Defending Rights & Dissent is seeking a full-time Communications Manager to join our growing team. We are a civil liberties advocacy organization, with a primary focus on the First and Fourth Amendment rights, and great history doing grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy. We defend the rights of protesters and dissidents, we fight surveillance, Islamophobia, and racism, we stand up for whistleblowers and promote government transparency. Our board includes activists with diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and political orientations--all working toward a shared vision of a U.S. free from government surveillance and political repression.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about protecting the right to political expression; have experience in communications, public relations, civil liberties advocacy, or journalism; be a strategic thinker and an engaging communicator who can persuade, motivate and educate; have an eye for design; and be organized, responsive, reliable, and pay acute attention to detail. 

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Develop and oversee DRAD’s communications strategy for the organization as a whole and for specific advocacy campaigns, using traditional media, social media, and other creative ways to reach broad audiences.
  • Draft and edit content, including social media posts, action alerts, newsletters, blogs and webpages, press releases and op-eds.
  • Manage Social media channels, post content, grow engagement, track analytics
  • Prepare social media engagement toolkits (recommended visuals, content and schedules)
  • Pitch newsworthy stories to journalists, respond to media requests, develop relationships with journalists, maintain up-to-date press lists, and develop relationships and circulate DRAD materials to House and Senate communications directors.
  • Work with policy staff on media campaigns, including developing strategy, prepping for communications with media outlets and media appearances and providing feedback.
  • Create videos, graphics, and interactive web features, in collaboration with contractors.
  • Participate in organizational planning processes and contribute to other project areas, including development and public education, as needed.


Qualifications:

  • A demonstrated commitment to DRAD’s mission and work. 
  • At least 5 years of experience working in civil liberties advocacy, communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, or a related field.
  • A passion for big picture strategizing and planning, and demonstrated ability to manage and implement broader plans.
  • Exceptional writing and communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to communicate (with assistance and/or input from policy staff) legal or other complex issues to a variety of audiences.
  • Demonstrated success managing social media accounts.
  • The ability to build and maintain strong relationships with journalists, colleagues, activist bases, and Hill counterparts.
  • Excellent organizational skills and a demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively, set priorities and meet deadlines.
  • Experience with advocacy and organizing on First and Fourth Amendment issues (desired).
  • Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience in a relevant field (communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, or related fields). 
  • Excellent knowledge of mainstream and independent media landscape.
  • Familiarity with communications software and web tools such as Salsa, WordPress, and social media management tools.
  • Multimedia production skills (graphic design and video editing) a plus.

Benefits include fully paid health insurance, five weeks of paid time off and 14 paid holidays per year.

Salary range: $80-90k

This position may be remote and/or work in our Washington, DC office.

To apply- Please send your resume, cover letter, two writing samples (press release, op-ed, blog post or article, etc), and examples of your social media management (links to social media accounts you manage, sample tool kits, etc) to admin@rightsanddissent.org

Women, people of color, disabled and LGBTQ people are strongly encouraged to apply.


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