Digital Communications Associate

Full-time position located in Washington, D.C. The D.C. office currently operates on a hybrid work schedule. 

The Center for Protest Law & Litigation, a project of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, is seeking a skilled and creative Digital Communications Associate ready to help elevate the voices of social justice, constitutional and civil rights struggles, and to bring legal resources to affected communities, empowering movements for social change.  

The Digital Communications Associate will use a variety of media to tell the stories of our courageous clients, their fights for justice, and the impactful and often groundbreaking legal issues undergirding those fights. The Digital Communications Associate will facilitate the organization’s ability to impact and inform national discourse in response to breaking events.  

We are looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, team-centric environment and is a self-starter. The key responsibilities of the position include digital content production, website and social media management, and email marketing. A key member of our team, the Digital Communications Associate will work closely with the Executive and Legal Directors to design the organizations’ communication strategy. 

About the Organization  

As leaders in bringing high impact civil rights and constitutional rights litigation for over 25 years, the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund has brought groundbreaking cases, changed laws and policies, and won millions in damages for persons whose rights have been violated. Our litigation work is integrated with outreach, education and advocacy with affected groups, communities, activists and organizations in racial, social and environmental justice movements. Our work is focused ultimately on creating meaningful social, political and legal changes and dismantling systems of repression. 

Our principal project, the Center for Protest Law & Litigation works to protect and advance the rights of protestors to organize, assemble and demand justice around the country. We defend free speech rights through affirmative civil litigation, including against the mechanisms of police violence, as well as criminal defense of protestors swept up in political arrests.  

Key Responsibilities:  

• Understand the organization’s unique voice and identity to develop impactful messaging advancing our mission and priorities. Develop innovative ways to tell the stories of the organization’s cases and clients. 
• Draft and post concise and effective communications for the organizations’ websites and social media platforms (Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook) for audiences including activists, constituents, and the general public. This includes press releases, emails, newsletters and social media posts.  
• Provide graphic design for digital mediums, including social media, website, and email outreach, using tools such as Canva and Adobe InDesign. 
• Work closely with the Executive and Legal Director to design the organizations’ communications strategy and advance programmatic goals. 
• Create and execute online campaigns and action events, toolkits and other educational, engagement, and outreach efforts. 
• Create short, engaging, and timely videos that dive into key focus issues. 
• Increase social media engagement and following. 
• Monitor analytics and compile reports, make recommendations on digital communications strategy and optimization of digital presence; seek to grow communities and reach. 
• Maintain the organizations’ constituent and press lists. 
• Keep the website up to date, including uploading news and press releases, refreshing visuals and maintaining site organization.  
• Coordinate with website developer to fix technical issues. 
• Monitor media coverage, social media, and related activity surrounding law, policy, case developments, politics, and other issues related to the organizations’ work. 
• Chronicle organization and social justice movement activities with visuals by capturing images on the ground at social justice events, protests, and actions. 

Key Requirements and Qualifications  

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience required in a professional communications setting, such as a public-relations firm, or a corporate or nonprofit communications department.  
• 2-4 years of professional experience in marketing, communications, digital organizing, advocacy/advertising, non-profit communications, or a related field. This can include internships and volunteer experience. 
• Experience working with frontline communities and/or grassroots social justice movements preferred. 
• Strong proficiency with social media, including experience maintaining organizational social media accounts and familiarity with emerging trends in digital organizing. 
• Demonstrated graphic design skills (must be able to hit the ground running, producing brochures, one-pagers, newsletters, reports, infographics, etc.) 
• Experience in developing and growing networks of digital supporters. 
• Mastery or high proficiency with graphic design and video editing software such as Canva, Adobe InDesign, CapCut, etc.  
• Experience with WordPress and CRM software preferred. Experience using Salsa is a plus. 
• Excellent editing and proofreading skills, with a keen attention to detail. Able to translate complex legal and policy language into understandable messages that inform and engage. 
• Demonstrated experience creating compelling storytelling and creative advocacy communications strategies. 
• High level of awareness as to current political/social issues, with a passion and talent for creating stories that move public opinion in favor of, and inspire people to take action supporting racial justice, constitutional rights, civil rights, social and environmental justice, women’s rights to abortion and other fundamental justice issues. 
• Experience with communications in support of fundraising is a plus. 
• Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate and juggle a variety of detailed outreach projects, sometimes under a very tight deadline, coupled with the ability to pivot to respond to breaking events. 
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve, anticipate next steps, take initiative, exercise discretion, and apply sound judgment. 
• Ability and willingness to perform occasional evening and weekend work in response to breaking events, justice uprisings, or major legal case deadlines. 
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, sense of humor and ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to get the information, input, and perspective necessary to produce quality work. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE  

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. 

START DATE: ASAP  

Vaccine Policy: Please note that the PCJF has made the safety of our clients, staff, and our surrounding community a priority and requires all staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. You will be required to submit proof of vaccination prior to commencing employment. Requests for exemptions from the vaccination requirement will be considered on an individual basis, to the extent required by law.