Senior Strategic Communications Director (Remote)

Title: Senior Strategic Communications Director

Location: Remote, United States

About the Organization: As a research and action organization, Center for Policing Equity (CPE) produces analyses identifying and reducing the causes of racial disparities in public safety. Using data-driven approaches to social justice, we use science to create levers for social, cultural, and policy change.

We are research scientists, race and equity experts, data virtuosos, and community trainers. We use data to build a more fair and just system. We partner with law enforcement and communities. Our aim is to bridge the divide of communication, generational mistrust, and suffering. But most of all, we are the path that science can forge towards public safety, community trust, and racial equity.

Position Overview:

Reporting to the Vice President of Communications, the Senior Strategic Communications Director leads efforts related to the research and development of a broad range of communications strategies for proactive storytelling, risk management, and other communications needs to create a unified organizational narrative. The role will support all efforts to maintain and uplift a cohesive organizational brand. This work includes but is not limited to direct liaison work with all programmatic teams to support internal and external communication of products, partnerships, and programs. This role will also help the organization’s overarching positioning as a thought leader in public spaces via news media and events as appropriate. This will include ensuring cross-brand consistency and developing narrative throughlines for adaptive storytelling to convey the impact of the organization’s work. These narratives must be mapped to ensure seamless inclusion in comprehensive communications plans for news media engagement, website updates, partner and donor deliverables, and other reporting. Responsibilities will also include being a supportive partner in plans to achieve the organization’s strategic imperatives, goals, and objectives for communications in local, national, and international markets. Ideally, the candidate will have experience and commitment to racial justice and policing reform, with a proven track record of engaging with diverse stakeholders, including community organizers, funders, and elected officials.

Responsibilities:

• Manage and create adaptive communications strategies for programmatic priorities.
• Own the development and achievement of multilayered communications strategies that align with enterprise and brand direction, including setting, monitoring, and reporting on diverse KPIs.
• Manage, facilitate, and monitor media engagement across a range of media types (traditional, new media channels, blogs, etc.) This will include, but not be limited to, the supervision and execution of pitching, scheduling, and booking media appearances for designated CPE staff.
• Maintain core relationships with key stakeholders across the organization to support the maintenance and development of spokespersons and public speakers within the organization.
• Review and approve external communications content (branded collateral, presentations, talking points, interview prep, positioning statements, etc.).

Act as a strategic communications advisor to internal and external stakeholders in pursuit of strategic plan alignment and other appropriate tasks as needed.

Job Requirements/Qualifications:

• College degree in communications, humanities, marketing, or similar field.
• 10+ years of PR and communications experience preferably in non-profit or racial justice space.
• 5+ years managing PR teams.
• Able to work outside normal business hours when urgent media needs arise on a limited basis.
• Proven experience driving External Affairs results (public relations, communications, marketing, branding, etc.).
• Proven ability to manage a team of communications professionals and agencies to deliver stellar results.
• Possess excellent writing, editing, communication, presentation skills, research, analytical and strategic planning experience.
• Highly effective organizational, written, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to juggle multiple assignments with ease and flexibility.
• Able to plan projects and proactively delegate responsibility, communicating deadlines clearly.
• A servant leader who can lead, nurture, and develop direct reports.
• High social IQ. Ability to work across verticals and programmatic teams.

Experience using Cision, PR newswire, Meltwater, or similar PR and social tools. Experience using project management software (Asana preferred).

Compensation:

Range: $130,000 – $165,000 USD. The base salary for this position will vary based on place of residence and job-related criteria, including relevant skills, qualifications, and experience, among other factors.

In addition to the compensation range above, this role is eligible for:

• Employer-paid health benefits
• Generous time off policies, including paid parental leave
• Annual professional development allocation
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Home internet reimbursement
• Monthly work-from-home stipend
• A one-time stipend for home office setup

A mental health app subscription

Equity is at the core of our organization. As such, we partner with compensation experts to ensure our employees are paid equitably.

EOE Statement: The Center for Policing Equity strives to build a diverse team that is inclusive of multiple perspectives and welcoming for people of all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. CPE strongly supports second-chance hiring, which means we strongly encourage applications from people with experiences with the criminal legal system, including incarceration, conviction, charges, or arrest.