Communications Coordinator, NIJC

About NIJC

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) advances human rights and due process for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers through direct legal services, impact litigation, advocacy, and public education. Headquartered in Chicago with offices in Washington, DC, Indiana, and San Diego, NIJC's team of 100 attorneys, paralegals, and professionals, along with 2,000 pro bono attorneys, is at the forefront of immigration reform.

Summary:  

NIJC is seeking a communications coordinator to support our team in developing and executing public education strategies that defend immigrant rights and are anti-racist. The communications coordinator will work with NIJC staff and clients to develop and implement traditional and digital media and other communications strategies to advance NIJC's goals. Current priority areas of focus include stopping the expansion of immigration detention, defending the right to asylum, combatting the dehumanization and criminalization of immigrants, and defending access to justice and due process for all immigrants. The communications coordinator, who reports to the Director of Communications, will help NIJC's communications team recognize internal and external opportunities and seize on them to educate NIJC audiences, media, and policy makers, though both rapid-response media relations work and by supporting longer-term projects. The coordinator also will help NIJC's communications team to reach a broader Spanish-speaking audience through translation support for digital content. Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual SMART goals within the framework outlined below.

Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and 1-3 writing samples relevant to the duties outlined in this job description.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:  

• Drafts press releases; op eds; letters to the editor; and content for NIJC website, supporter emails, and social media channels. As expertise builds, the candidate helps develop and execute multimedia content strategies across NIJC's platforms.
• Interviews clients about their experiences for stories shared on NIJC's channels or external media.
• Helps develop and execute pitches to national, regional, and local media that center NIJC clients, staff, and proposed solutions. As expertise builds, provides support to staff members and clients before and during media interviews and public events.
• Supports NIJC's work in some national coalitions.
• Contributes to achieving the communications team's objective of promoting anti-racist narratives and centering directly impacted individuals whenever possible.
• Manages deadlines and maintains open communication with NIJC colleagues about the progression of projects and campaigns.
• Assists with interpretation during client media interviews and spokesperson engagements; translates press releases and other relevant content for NIJC's website.
• Advances an anti-racist organization that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Reacts to change productively and handles other essentials duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• One to three years of experience in professional communications or journalism, preferably in support of nonprofit social justice-oriented organizations or campaigns
• Ability to think broadly and strategically about how narratives and storytelling can shift public perception of social and racial justice issues in the United States
• Experience working with individuals who have been directly impacted by the U.S. immigration system
• Compelling storyteller, preferably with professional writing and/or editing experience
• Detail-oriented and organized project manager
• Comfort using content management systems, social networking tools, and other media and web technologies, or willingness to learn quickly
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Selected candidates will be asked to submit writing samples that demonstrate experience writing about current human rights issues for the media and/or advocacy purposes

Physical Abilities Statement

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
• The person in this position occasionally needs to move about the inside of the office to access filing cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine.

It is the policy of NIJC not to discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status.

By submitting your application, you acknowledge and consent to undergo a comprehensive background check as part of the employment process. This background check will be conducted in compliance with applicable state and federal laws.

Salary

• $47,800 - $56,200/year