Careers

Represent Justice is seeking a Communications & Narrative Director to plan, supervise, and execute the organization’s communications and narrative strategies that turns stories into action to change the justice system, while building the capacity of system-impacted communities.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Director will be responsible for Represent Justice’s organizational public voice and communications strategy across traditional media and digital platforms, and play a crucial role in supporting the organization’s story-based campaigns across its programs. The Director will also oversee the development and execution of all media relations strategies, including pitching specific reporters and editors at the local, regional, and national level, with a strong focus on placing content. The role also includes the analysis and dissemination of message testing specific to video projects, and overseeing a Digital Storytelling Manager to successfully implement organizational and program-specific digital strategies, including content creation.

This position requires a visionary leader with exceptional communication skills, strategic acumen, and a deep knowledge of justice system issues. The ideal candidate will have served in a senior communications role in a justice system reform or racial justice organization, with proven experience in public relations strategy and implementation, and a track record of driving cultural and narrative strategies for social change.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Other duties may be assigned at the discretion of Supervisor.

Narrative & Communications Strategy and Implementation

• Lead the development and execution of short and long-term narrative strategies, framing, and messaging for organization, leveraging various mediums and platforms. This includes audience identification and development, utilizing message testing and analytics.
• Provide strategic guidance on messaging, storytelling, and narrative framing to effectively convey the urgency and importance of issues addressed across our story-based programming, at the local, regional and national level.
• Stay updated on current trends, policies, and developments in the justice system reform and media impact fields to inform and enhance communication strategies.
• Sit on messaging coalitions with national colleagues and external allies, to align on tactics. Debrief internal staff on discussions to increase awareness around narrative trends and framing of justice system issues.
• Develop public voice and brand to reflect current narrative and campaigning strategy, including managing creatives to generate branding, design, and logos.
• Lead and approve all public-facing messaging, including talking points, statements, scripts, action visuals, curriculum, and digital communications.
• Oversee video creation and lead content distribution strategy on Represent Justice platforms, and support Digital Storytelling Manager with additional content capture support for story-based campaigns, as needed. Content capture may include behind-the-scenes footage of Ambassadors on film sets, or footage of impact campaign screenings and speaking events, with the intention of footage contributing to an overall narrative strategy.
• Serve as the organization’s editor in chief for all external written communications, and visual/audio communications. This includes ensuring brand consistency and messaging fidelity.
• Collaborate with the Films & Series and Original Storytelling teams to ensure communications strategies are aligned to advance the goals of each story project produced with Ambassadors, community partners, and impact campaign filmmakers.

Management

• Oversee Digital Storytelling Manager to develop and execute digital strategy and content calendar for email, social, video, creative content, phone to action tool, website, and digital fundraising. Ensure high-quality and relevant digital communications presence and consistent narrative across all our channels, consistent with organizational communications strategies overall.
• Oversee vendor relationships and contract renewals for communications and digital tools, including but not limited to: website, PR tools, social media and graphic design tools.
• Provide support, supervision, and growth opportunities for the Digital Storytelling Manager.
• In collaboration with the Leadership Team, develop and manage an annual communications budget.

Media Relations

• Develop and implement media relations strategies to reach specific organization-wide and program-specific goals (Original Storytelling & Film Impact Campaigns).
• Create and implement all media relations tactics, including: press releases, advisories, and statements; pitching stories to specific reporters; fielding and managing all media requests; managing a media database and press release distribution system; writing talking points and message grids; and crafting media guides, factsheets, or other relevant tools for press.
• Prepare staff members and/or directly impacted program participants (Ambassadors film participants, and filmmakers) for press interviews, including practicing how to participate in an interview, public speaking, and messaging. .
• Monitor media for opportunities to engage, including in rapid response and crisis scenarios.
• Evaluates success of media outreach.

MUST-HAVES

• A minimum of 5 to 7 years of experience in strategic communications, with significant experience in the justice reform ecosystem, either through personal connection and history, or through work experience.
• Demonstrated relationships with reporters and editors and a strong track record of placing written and/or video content.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and executing comprehensive communications strategies across various platforms for advocacy campaigns, ideally utilizing culture and narrative change strategies.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling messages and narratives.
• Proficiency in leveraging digital tools, social media platforms, and analytics for advocacy campaigns.
• Solid track record in management and leadership, driving a vision within a complex and multifaceted organization.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse coalitions and community groups, particularly of color, and to work across political ideology, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic circumstances, religion, gender, and sexual orientation.
• Ability to interface effectively with the organization’s partners, program participants, and stakeholders, with a care-oriented approach.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace.

NICE TO HAVES

• Video production and editing skills
• Public speaking and media training facilitation

Represent Justice will strongly consider qualified applicants who have been incarcerated or directly impacted by the justice system.

BENEFITS

Represent Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Remote-first organization with a commitment to nurturing a trauma-responsive workplace
• Medical / Dental / Vision insurance for employees and dependents
• Flexible Spending & Dependent Care accounts
• HRA employer contribution of $1,500/year per staff member to offset mental health expenses
• $1,500/year Wellness Stipend
• $100/month phone & equipment stipend
• Generous vacation time and 12 paid holidays, in addition to a 5-day winter holiday, and Quarterly Wellness Days
• Professional Development stipend of $1,000/year per staff member

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a résumé and cover letter to [email protected], and include “Communications & Narrative Director” in the subject line. In your cover letter please share the top three qualities that guide your approach to communications and narrative work and examples of how you have demonstrated each in your career. In place of a written cover letter, you may submit a short video or audio recording (5 minutes or less).

The deadline for applications is 12pm EST on Wednesday, July 31st. Candidates advancing to an interview will be contacted with details about next steps.

Represent Justice provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk to hear. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 25 pounds. The vision requirements include: close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

If you are an individual with a disability, and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us at [email protected] (information about job applications status is not available at this contact information).