The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania (ACLU-PA) seeks a Communications Director to bolster our passions, stories, and visibility across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through strategic communications that maximize the organization’s impact in protecting and advancing freedom, fairness, equality, and justice. Under the leadership of the director, the ACLU-PA communications departmental work includes communications strategy, media relations, event management, website management , social media, multimedia materials, and community outreach. The Communications Director works closely with other members of the organization’s staff under an integrated advocacy model that combines public education, litigation, lobbying, and grassroots organizing. Using traditional and new media techniques, the Communications Director will supervise, support and inspire the communications team while collaborating closely with programmatic staff to ensure the ACLU-PA communications and public relations deliverables are strategic, relevant, and impactful. The position is full-time, based in either the Philadelphia or Pittsburgh office and a member of the senior management team who reports directly to the Executive Director. Please note that the ACLU-PA is currently operating under a hybrid work model, suggesting a minimum of two days per week in the office with the ability to work remotely three days per week.

Our Approach

The ACLU-PA values the humanity and contributions of those we work with, inside and outside of the organization, and will take action to build and sustain an equitable, anti-racist culture that centers the voices and experiences of marginalized and directly impacted people and communities, and an organizational environment where all people feel valued, trusted, and respected. Our work is guided by the principles of freedom, equality, and justice enumerated in the Constitution. We understand that systemic racism and other forms of oppression have prevented the equitable application of these principles to all, and we strive to ensure that our approach accounts for this reality. We also acknowledge that the demands of the work as well as the challenging subject matter it often involves take a toll. While we know that the path of this work is long and hard, we also value the importance of personal well-being. To that end, we endeavor to cultivate a culture that is supportive and sustainable and promotes taking care of oneself.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Facilitate and lead the creation and implementation of proactive communications plans and strategies that reach target audiences statewide to advance the affiliate’s priority areas.
• Using an integrated advocacy approach, recommend, develop, and execute innovative communications strategies to advance key advocacy and policy, legal, and development initiatives.
• Balance implementing proactive communications campaigns and responding rapidly to emerging civil liberties issues with appropriate and effective messaging and communications strategies.
• Collaborate with colleagues in the legal, advocacy and philanthropy departments, as well as with national communications staff, to ensure communications, public education, and content support and serve ACLU-PA’s goals and mission.
• Manage, motivate, and mentor a department of team members in an environment that promotes professional growth, well-being, creativity, advocacy, and accountability.
•  Track and evaluate the success of communications campaigns and strategies.
•  Oversee all aspects of media relations, including:
  • Writing and disseminating press releases, editorial statements, and media advisories.
  • Strategic cultivation of media contacts and opportunities for media/press exposure.
  • Arranging interviews with ACLU spokespersons and organizing press conferences
  • Coaching of spokespersons.
• Collaborate with the Digital Communications Strategist to ensure digital communications, including the website, social media, and email, are incorporated into a cohesive multi-channel communications program.
• Develop strategies with the digital communications team to grow the affiliate’s digital presence in order to engage existing and new audiences, grow our base of supporters and achieve the affiliate’s policy goals.
• Develop public content, including blogs, articles, and videos with team members.
• Manage relationships with external vendors.
• Develop and manage the Communications Department budget, including the proper allocation and expenditure of resources.
• Serve on committees as appropriate.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• 8 to 10 years of increasing responsibility in strategic communications, press and media outreach, digital strategies and/or campaign management and issue advocacy.
• At least 5 years of management experience and 3 years in a senior management role.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication, and presentation skills with a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, compellingly, comfortably, and respectfully with media, donors, stakeholders, staff and the general public in conversation or print.
• Ability to develop and lead training on best communications practices. 
• Ability to travel to ACLU-PA offices in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh or Philadelphia as needed.
• Commitment to advancing ACLU-PA’s mission, goals, and programs.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

 - Ideally, the successful candidate will exhibit the following characteristics:

• Proven track record of launching major, innovative advocacy communications campaigns designed to effect change and build a movement.
• Experience working with media and organizations that serve Black, Asian-American, Latinx and TLGBQIA+ communities.
• Familiarity with the U.S. and Pennsylvania court system and ability to translate legal concepts and terminology into easily understandable, compelling information.
• Experience working with or in a nonprofit or government supporting communications and marketing.
• Strong analytical skills for developing messaging on issues and evaluating success of communications strategies and educational programs. 
• Excellent journalistic writing and speaking skills for explaining complex legal and policy issues to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to use a mix of earned and paid media to achieve advocacy goals
• (including print and digital, social media platforms, in-person presentations, videos, brochures, etc. to reach and persuade specific audiences).
• Demonstrated ability leading and collaborating with a multiple function department
• Knowledge of Pennsylvania's political and media landscape.
• Graduate degree in Communications or related field.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Demonstrated personal commitment to advancing the ACLU’s values, mission, goals, and programs, with an understanding of a broad range of civil liberties and civil rights issues and their implications.

• Verbal and written fluency in Spanish is a plus

• Direct personal or professional experience with communities impacted by systemic bias or economic exclusion.

Compensation & Benefits

We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse workforce through equity initiatives, which includes equitable pay practices. Salary is $125,000 annually and within the parameters of the ACLU-PA compensation scale. Excellent benefits include generous vacation and sick leave; individual/family employer-provided health and dental insurance; life insurance and long-term disability; defined contribution plan with employer match; and 11 paid holidays. Relocation assistance may be available for out-of-state candidates. This position is full-time, salaried, and exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

Application Procedure 

Applications will be accepted until May 30, 2025. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications must include (1) a resume, and (2) a cover letter submitted to our career page https://aclupahr.applytojob.com/apply. No calls, please. All applications are treated confidentially.  

The ACLU-PA is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU-PA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or record of arrest or conviction. 

This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. ACLU-PA reserves the right to change the description and/or posting at any time without advance notice.

About the ACLU of Pennsylvania

The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership organization that serves as an enduring guardian of justice, fairness, and freedom, working to protect civil liberties and advance equity for all.

ACLU-PA defends and promotes the fundamental principles and values protected by the constitutions of the United States and of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as by national, state and local civil rights laws. For more than 100 years, the ACLU has sought, in particular, to protect and expand the freedoms of expression, belief and association; voting rights; the separation of church and state; the right to privacy, including reproductive freedom; due process of law, including the rights of the accused and of immigrants; limitations on the power of police; and the right to equal protection for all marginalized individuals and groups. In advancing these rights, ACLU-PA strives always to acknowledge and remedy the pervasive and persistent harms of systemic racism.

Integrating litigation, legislative and policy advocacy, organizing, and communications, ACLU-PA’s staff and volunteers work both independently and in coalition with those most affected by the issues we address to ensure that threats to liberty and the civil rights of all persons in Pennsylvania are met with stark resistance as we progress toward a more genuine multiracial, multicultural democracy.

ACLU-PA’s hiring process will comply with Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Records Screening Standards (“Ban the Box”) ordinance.