Communications Specialist, Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, Washington, DC

47 views

Skip to first unread message

J

unread,

Apr 20, 2016, 10:48:35 PM4/20/16

to GAIN Jobs via JobsthatareLEFT

Job title: Communications Specialist

Location: Washington, D.C.
Organization: Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY)

Due: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled

Position Available: Immediately

Background: The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY) is a national coalition and clearinghouse that leads, coordinates, develops, and supports efforts to implement just alternatives to the extreme sentencing of America’s youth, with a focus on abolishing life-without-parole sentences for all youth. Our vision is to create a society that respects the dignity and human rights of all children through a justice system that operates with consideration of a child’s age, provides youth with opportunities to return to the community, and bars the imposition of life-without-parole sentences for people under age 18. The CFSY collaborates with advocates across the United States and in Washington, D.C., that use public education, advocacy, and litigation as strategies to pursue this goal, and endeavors to lead efforts from behind, supporting strategies developed by partners working on the state level. The CFSY’s small team works closely in a friendly, collaborative work environment.

Position Posting: Communications Specialist

The Communications Specialist leads the development and implementation a robust communications strategy that supports the Campaign’s goals. The Communications Specialist will be based in Washington, D.C.

Duties will include:

· Lead the development and implementation of the Campaign’s strategic communications plan, including a social media strategy and messages to advance reform efforts

· Draft hard-copy and social media-friendly materials, including reports, fact sheets, and newsletters, for public education purposes

· Collaborate with state-based campaign members regarding communications strategy. Work with these state-based advocates to strengthen their communications work, including tailoring national and state messages, developing talking points, interacting with reporters, and identifying new and unlikely spokespeople, consistent with the Campaign’s national communication strategy

· Provide assistance to state campaign members in writing and placing op-eds, letters to the editor, and state-specific press advisories/releases

· Manage the content of the Campaign website, including creating and revising materials, updating information, and defining ways for the site to become an even better resource to media, partners and others

· Write and distribute press releases/media advisories on behalf of the Campaign

· Liaise with reporters and media outlets to help shape news coverage

· Brief Campaign staff regarding key messages, reporter background, potentially challenging topics and other issues in advance of media interviews

· Maintain press clippings and press lists of reporters covering criminal justice issues

· Develop design products and videos as necessary

· Collaborate with Development team on initiatives requiring strategic communications

· Manage vendors as appropriate

Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree

· Two to five years of substantial experience in the field of public relations, with a preference for issue-based campaigns

· Excellent written communications skills

· Experience developing and implementing strategic communications plans to advance issue-based campaigns

· Demonstrated experience working directly with reporters and advocates

· Experience coordinating public relations for campaigns related to social justice issues is strongly preferred

· Commitment to criminal justice issues, particularly reform to harsh juvenile sentencing practices in the United States, and /or human rights in the United States is desired

Core competencies:

· Innovative and strategic—Knows how to identify and reach target audiences in creative and persuasive ways

· Leads with vision—Able to think big picture and pay attention to detail, while adeptly handling sometimes conflicting communications strategies

· Self-motivated—Able to take the initiative to develop and implement new ideas and work diligently with a minimum of supervision.

· Excellent communicator—Honest and straightforward in communicating among campaign members and effective at engaging external stakeholders

· Commitment to working as a team—Friendly and courteous, willing to work closely with the Campaign and as part of the larger community working to end JLWOP

Compensation:

The CFSY offers a competitive salary for this position, as well as a generous benefits package, including employer-paid premiums for a platinum individual health insurance plan, life and disability insurance, and a 403(b) retirement plan.

To apply:

Email in a single attachment: a letter of interest, resume, names of and contact information for at least three references, and a brief, original, unedited writing sample and/or sample press release to jo...@fairsentencingofyouth.org. PDF format preferred. Use “Communications Specialist” as the subject of your email. Only complete applications will be reviewed. Applications will be received on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled. No phone calls please.

People of color, individuals with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, and those with personal experience in the juvenile or criminal justice systems are strongly encouraged to apply.