The ACLU of Georgia seeks a dynamic, strategic, and mission-driven Communications Director to lead its Communication Department and serve as a member of the organization’s leadership team. The Communications Director plays a critical role in advancing the ACLU of GA’s integrated advocacy efforts statewide, ensuring the development and execution of comprehensive communications initiatives across traditional and digital platforms. The Communications Director is responsible for shaping the public voice and amplifying the visibility of the organization, while ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission, values, and programmatic goals.

The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to racial equity, diversity and belonging, and a sophisticated understanding of how to leverage strategic communications to advance policy, advocacy and litigation outcomes. They will have demonstrated fluency across a range of disciplines including media relations, digital and social media strategy, public education, and brand and reputation management. They will also exhibit strong news judgment, political acumen, and the ability to lead with calm and clarity during periods of crisis or heightened visibility. The successful candidate will be highly collaborative, while also being able to work independently. A background in issue-based or political campaigns is a plus, as is experience working in fast-paced environments.

Communications Strategy

• Using an integrated advocacy approach, lead the development and implementation of proactive communications plans and strategies that advance the organization’s priorities and expand visibility, grow and engage our supporter base, and further public understanding of our work
• Lead the organization’s rapid communications response to emerging civil liberties issues with appropriate, timely, and effective messaging and communications strategies.
• Collaborate with colleagues in the legal, advocacy and development departments, as well as with national communications staff, to ensure communications, public education, and content support and serve ACLU-GA’s goals and mission.
• Track and evaluate the success of communications campaigns and strategies, ensuring new strategies and tactics are developed to increase impact and effectiveness.

Press and Media Relations

• Oversee all aspects of media relations, including strategic cultivation of media contacts and opportunities, developing messaging and content, editing press materials, coaching of spokespersons, and arranging press conferences and interviews.
• Raise the ACLU of Georgia’s profile with editorial boards, talk radio, new shows, podcasters, and opinion leaders.
• Direct media relation efforts of the Communications team to manage incoming media requests and work closely with staff across departments to coordinate media inquiries and interview requests.

Content Creation

• Direct the development and execution of content across platforms, ensuring alignment with campaigns priorities and messaging.
• Provide direction to the Communications Team in developing strategies to grow the organization’s digital presence in order to engage existing and new audiences, grow our base of supporters, and achieve the organization’s policy goals.
• Oversee the development of public content, including blogs, articles, reports, marketing materials, and videos with team members.
• Identify opportunities to elevate the organization’s work through strategic storytelling and media engagement.

Leadership

• Lead and manage a department of 2-4 staff, setting clear expectations and fostering an environment that promotes professional growth, creativity, and accountability.
• Set priorities for communications content and campaigns across the department, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and capacity.
• Oversee communications workflows and production processes to ensure timely and quality delivery of content and campaigns.
• Lead the development of various staff training, including media preparation and public speaking.
• Develop and manage the Communications Department budget, including the proper allocation and expenditure of resources.

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, or related field.
• 10+ years in directly applicable experience in communications, public relations, journalism or related field.
• Management experience, including providing direct supervision of staff.
• Exceptional writing, analytical, and speaking skills, with a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and compellingly in conversation or print with external and internal target audiences, including donors, supporters, policy makers, coalition partners, lay leaders, and staff.
• Sophisticated understanding of public advocacy campaigns, and how communication strategies are utilized to advance such campaigns and counter opposition messaging.
• Familiarity with the ACLU of GA’s mission and the range of issues we work on with a demonstrated commitment to civil rights and liberties.
• Robust project management experience with strong preference for knowledge of, or willingness to use, Asana software.
• Cultural competence and an understanding of how structural racism, sexism, and prejudice against people based on their race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, different ability and age-pervade our society and its institutions.
• Willingness to work irregular hours, including some weekends.
• Willingness to travel and a current driver’s license.

• Experience in a non-profit environment, advancing advocacy or political campaigns.
• Experience working with media that serve historically underrepresented communities including Black, Asian American, Latinx and LGBTQ communities.
• Ability to translate legal concepts and terminology into easily understandable, compelling information.
• Knowledge of Georgia political and media landscape.

The ACLU of Georgia operates in a hybrid work environment. Staff are required to work in person at the Atlanta office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week. Remote work is permitted on other days, provided job responsibilities are met.

Prolonged periods of working on a computer.

The ACLU of Georgia offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLUGA’s compensation scale. The anticipated salary range for this position is $120,000-$135,000 depending on experience. Excellent benefits include paid vacation, sick time, and holidays; medical, vision and dental insurance; life and long-term disability insurance; Flexible Spending Account; and 401(k) Defined Contribution Retirement.