Position Title: Communications Director

Tier / Category: Tier 7 / Director Level 3

Reports to: Executive Director

Employment Status: Exempt

FLSA: Management Role

Location: Remote in the United States

Direct Reports: Deputy Director of Internal Communications, Deputy

Director of External Communications

Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a national organization that brings white people into fights for racial and economic justice. We work to undermine the power of the Far Right and build the white flank of multiracial majorities fighting for the things all communities need. We organize white people by engaging their shared interest-- what they stand to gain by joining alongside people of color. We do this through 150+ local chapters across the US and Canada, a National Membership base, and local base building projects in the South.

Department Overview: Communications Department

The Communications Department manages SURJ’s communications with internal and external audiences through digital channels, media, campaigns, events, and donor, member, and partner relations. It consists of: the Director, the Deputy Director of External Communications, the Deputy Director of Internal Communications, the Digital Content Strategist, and the Communications Campaign Lead.

Summary of Position:

SURJ is seeking a Communications Director to drive SURJ’s narrative strategy and strategic communications work across our campaigns to a wide array of various audiences. Our ideal Communications Director is an effective leader who brings a visionary, creative, and rigorous approach to advancing SURJ’s critical mission at this time in the world. This person should be able to execute and not just direct the work, make difficult and strategic decisions in high pressure situations, and balance multiple and competing interests. They will provide oversight of and leadership to the communications department, who will implement much of the work.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES — Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

Priority 1: Oversee, develop, and implement the organization’s brand identity and communications strategy (50%)
Pursue SURJ’s current strategic goals for organizing, fundraising, and organizational development by implementing specific strategies and tactics in Communications.
As SURJ grows rapidly to fight for multiracial democracy, grow our communications strategy and team to meet the moment.
Guide the organization’s rapid response and long term comms plans based on active tracking of news, culture, and politics.
Raise the profile of the Executive Director and other key surrogates.
Drive deeper integration of communications across all departments of the organization.
Communicate effectively and efficiently in SURJ’s voice(s), creating content and messages for a wide variety of products, e.g. donor updates, op eds, national emails, and public statements.
Priority 2: Strategy and organizational development (30%)
Represent the organization in key narrative and communication strategy gatherings and conferences.
Develop vision and drive strategy for SURJ’s long-term narrative change and external cultural change strategy.
Identify and articulate a vision for the strategic challenges and opportunities that the Communications Team faces as it transitions into the next phase of its growth.
Participate in a small team of senior leaders to inform and consult on the overall programmatic priorities of the organization.
Priority 3: Develop, manage and support a growing team (20%)
Set the tone and norms for how the communications department functions. Lead by example to champion a culture of inclusion, transparency, collaboration, and accountability.
Drive the communication department’s growth, supervise and support senior communications staff, and build a strong communications team that is integrated and well-coordinated with the rest of the organization.
Manage the Communications department budget.
Strategically plan and budget for new hiring and lead those processes.
Oversee and ensure the development of political education and leadership development for Communications team members.

QUALIFICATIONS:

10 years relevant experience at an organization with a budget of at least $3 million.
10+ years in social justice movement work, with a proven track record of contributing towards campaign wins and organizational growth.
A proven track record of successful strategic communications and narrative change work.
Experience creating and implementing long term, yearly, and rapid response work plans for an organization.
Experience supervising a team and managing consultants.
SURJ policy requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to reasonable accommodation under federal, state, and local law. Accommodations may be not possible for positions that require in-person contact with other staff or members of the public.

KNOWLEDGE:

Fluency in a wide range of digital communications tools with the ability to guide and support staff in implementation.
Familiarity with progressive donor funding space.
Deep commitment to a vision of collective liberation and highly skilled in working in a multi-racial, cross-class, multi-gender movement.
Deep commitment to SURJ’s mission and ability to act as a compelling, clear, and visionary leader of the work.

SKILLS:

Excellent writing skills with the ability to write efficiently for multiple audiences.
Expertise and fluency in current progressive politics and social movements.
Excellent people skills with the ability to build strong relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders internal and external to the organization.

ABILITIES:

Expertise in tracking media, shifting messaging, and driving tactics that break into the news cycle.
Collaborative leadership style with the ability to lead a growing team within a rapidly changing organization.

Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)

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Communications Director