Communications Manager

Full-time, Exempt 

POSITION OVERVIEW 

The Communications Manager will play a critical role in developing and executing communications strategies that advance the ACLU’s work on civil liberties and civil rights. The position collaborates with communications colleagues, organizers, lawyers, advocates, and forms alliances with strategic partners. The position will engage target audiences about ACLU litigation and advocacy; create compelling narratives that support the organization’s mission and goals; secure news coverage and influence how our issues are framed in the media; create content for publications and website; and plan and execute press conferences.   

This is a full time, exempt position based in Boise, Idaho. The Communications Manager is supervised by the Communications Director. The successful candidate must reside in Idaho or be willing to relocate to the state before employment begins.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES 

Strategic Planning and Developing Internal Processes 

• Coordinate with Communications Director to implement long-range communications plans to further ACLU-ID legal, legislative, public education, organizing, development and financial strategies and goals.    
• Execute plans to reach specific, measurable communications goals for the ACLU-ID, co-creating strategies to meet key performance indicators, and use key metrics to evaluate progress. 
• Become familiar with ACLU-ID brand and marketing strategies and implement them in all communications work and materials.  

Digital Media 

• Oversee ACLU-ID digital presence including social media channels, affiliate website and other owned websites, supporter emails, and web forms. 
• Create and develop content that is accurate, compelling, up-to-date and often results in measurable action. 
• Oversee and maintain the ACLU-ID website in collaboration with the Communications Director to achieve a user-friendly and efficient website and bank of resources. 
• Design and manage graphic elements consistent with ACLU branding, including images and graphics and video for social media and print. 
• Lead social media video production to grow followers, engage our audience, raise awareness of the ACLU-ID, and encourage civic engagement.  

Writing and Editing 

• Provide technical and editing support for annual reports and updates.  
• Manage production of affiliate publications; provide editorial, design, and vendor direction. 
• Work intra- and interdepartmentally to produce email messaging, action alerts to engage ACLU supporters, and materials to increase public engagement at events. 
• Collaborate with the Communications Director to draft, edit, and produce compelling press releases, publications, opinion pieces and talking points. 

Press and Media Relations 

• Maintain Idaho media personnel database. 
• Prepare ACLU staff, spokespersons and clients for interviews.  

Managerial and Administrative 

• Coordinate with Communications Director on all internal communications efforts with both ACLU-ID staff and board of directors. 
• In circumstances requiring rapid response, collaborate with the Communications Director to develop and implement rapid response communications plans.  
• Provide organizational updates to staff on digital and earned media coverage.  
• Perform other related duties as needed and as assigned by the Communications Director. 

Miscellaneous 

• Manage independent contractors and vendors that coordinate with the Communications Department. 
• Attend national and regional ACLU trainings and staff conferences, and ACLU-ID functions, including occasional board meetings and other ACLU events.  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• At least five years of professional experience in a communications, marketing, public relations, or journalism role.  
• Exceptional writing, storytelling, and copy-editing skills, with a keen, creative eye for design and presentation. Proficiency in AP Style. 
• Exceptional analytical, writing, and speaking skills and demonstrated ability to write clearly and precisely and to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences.  
• A creative and strategic thinker with a passion for stories that move public opinion. A talent for distilling complicated narratives, issues, and data sets into values-based, human-centered stories that inspire people to take action. 
• Proven experience leading online measurable social media campaigns.  
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.  
• A track record of leadership through strong communication, collaboration, and relationship-building. 
• Knowledge of working with communications-related software, such as: Asana, Cision, Meltwater.  
• Experience with all aspects of digital media, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, and website content management systems. 
• Working knowledge of Zoom, Asana, Microsoft Teams and Outlook. 
• Patience, emotional intelligence, and cultural competency, including the ability to participate in, create, and sustain inclusive and engaging spaces for people with a wide range of races, ethnicities, language proficiencies, abilities, genders, ages, backgrounds, interests, skills, concerns, personalities, and geographies. 
• Clear, strong, and proven commitment to racial justice, civil liberties, public interest work, and the mission of the ACLU of Idaho. 
• Valid driving privileges and willingness to travel across Idaho and occasionally to other places in the United States. 
• Ability to attend in-person meetings and events. 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Proficiency in Spanish preferred.  
• Experience working with state and local policymaking processes. 
• Experience with graphic design software such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, and Infogram. 
• Experience with video production and editing.