The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia (ACLU-VA) is hiring a Communications Director who will craft and execute the communications strategy behind the programmatic work the ACLU-VA does to protect Virginians’ civil rights and civil liberties. This role is crucial to building and engaging a strong supporter base, amplifying our advocacy, and driving impactful messages that resonate with diverse audiences. To support the ACLU-VA's integrated advocacy model – which includes litigation, legislation, grassroots organizing, and public education – a successful Communications Director will leverage digital, editorial and traditional media to expand ACLU-VA's impact in the fight for a more just Virginia. See full job description for complete details.

The ACLU-VA strives to be Virginia's premier guardian of civil liberties and a recognized champion of civil rights for all Virginians. For just over a hundred years (56 in Virginia), the ACLU has made a profound difference in the lives of clients and community members, as well as historic contributions to our country and state. Now, more people than ever before have turned to the ACLU to fight back against unprecedented new attacks on civil rights and liberties. We are also committed to pursuing impactful policy changes at the local and statewide levels to achieve racial equity and advance civil liberties and civil rights for everyone. The ACLU-VA is committed to ending racist policing, cutting the number of people incarcerated in Virginia, increasing access to quality mental and medical care, ending sex and gender-based discrimination at work and in schools, and securing a constitutional right to vote for everyone.

You’ll help us protect and advance the ACLU’s mission by:

Developing Our Communications Strategy

• Develop and execute communications strategy for the affiliate’s programmatic work
• Conduct opposition research, polling, focus groups, and other analysis to assess public opinion
• Develop and assess the efficacy of key messages, talking points, and messaging grids
• Assist the Chief Communications Officer in developing and reinforcing the ACLU’s brand

Leading Project Management

• Lead ACLU-VA's digital, editorial, and traditional media work, focusing on organic growth and engagement across social media and press, as well as supporting paid campaigns.
• Manage ACLU-VA's comprehensive editorial calendar
• Review work product and deliverables produced by members of the Communications team, ensuring strategic alignment, quality assurance, and brand consistency.
• Write press releases and statements, pitch stories to targeted reporters, arrange interviews with ACLU-VA spokespeople, ghostwrite op-eds and speeches, and lead public relations as needed.
• Design graphics, produce video, and produce editorial content for ACLU-VA social media and website, leading editorial and digital production as needed.

Building Our Base

• Establish metrics for success and target audience profiles to ensure strategic growth of the ACLU-VA's supporter base, setting strategy for public education on the issues the affiliate advocates on and acting on opportunities for growth.
• Collaborate with partner organizations, affiliate staff, and staff at the National ACLU to align messaging, advance campaign work, and accomplish the ACLU-VA's programmatic goals.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local, regional, and national news media outlets to demonstrate and grow ACLU-VA impact across the affiliate’s media market.
• Ensure that all external communications adhere to the ACLU-VA and National ACLU brand guidelines and voice.

Supervising Communications Staff

• Oversee day-to-day supervision and operations of full-time Communications staff, and evaluate those staff members (including but not limited to developing work plans, facilitating a positive team culture, and setting key performance indicators)
• Facilitate collaboration across functional teams and collaborate with other members of the leadership team, and train and coach internal and external spokespeople to speak on programmatic work and priorities.
• Assist the Chief Communications Officer in managing the Communications team’s budget to support the affiliate's campaigns and programmatic work.

And more….See the full job description here.

Our “Must Have’s”

• A commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU, including to racial justice and civil rights issues and a passion for the role communications plays in achieving it.
• 7+ years of experience in public relations, communications, social media and digital, marketing, or a related field.
• 2+ years of experience with advocacy communications, including experience developing and executing communications campaigns.
• Experience managing and executing public relations strategies, including track record of building strong media relationships and using paid public relations tools and metrics.
• Experience managing and executing digital strategies, including track record of measurable success on social and digital platforms (Meta, TikTok, X, etc).
• Experience creating and producing editorial content, including hands-on experience as a photographer, videographer, writer, or other creator.
• Proven ability to manage and coach a high-performing team.
• Willingness and availability to work beyond the normal workday, on weekends, and/or more than 40 hours a week as necessary.
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout Virginia, and occasionally to other states.
• A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, to refrain from unlawful discrimination and to comply fully with all applicable laws; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity and national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance, and ability to work with diverse individuals within the organization and broader community.

The ACLU of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, bi- or multi-lingual (including Indigenous languages) speakers, multi-cultural individuals, members of the LGBTQ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated or are currently under supervision, and other people from underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. We seek to build a diverse team and an inclusive organizational culture. All qualified applicants who share our vision and who have a desire to contribute to our mission are encouraged to apply.

The salary range for this position is $69,774 to $109,890, with a midpoint of $89,832. Compensation offers will generally be somewhere between the starting point and the midpoint of the range and are based on a candidate's specific experience and current market factors at the time of the offer. To preserve the opportunity for advancement, we do not typically hire above the midpoint of the range.

In addition to salary, we offer excellent benefits including paid time off, generous paid holidays, a 401k plan with employer contribution, flexible spending account, paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, 50% employer-paid dependent medical coverage, life insurance, wi-fi stipend, wellness stipend, student loan assistance, annual sick leave, short-term and long-term disability insurance, and professional development allowances.

Due to COVID-19 and our desire to keep our employees safe, our organization is currently following a long-term hybrid work policy. All ACLU-VA staff must reside within the Commonwealth of Virginia or within a 150-mile radius of our downtown Richmond office.

Please review the complete job description on our Careers page and apply from our career site. A resume and cover letter will be required. Our HR team will review applications on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Submit your application as soon as possible. We will begin reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.