Job Description

About Center for Community Alternatives :

Center for Community Alternatives (CCA) was founded in 1981 with the belief that solutions to poverty, addiction, and violence rest in communities, not incarceration. Recognizing the devastating impact of incarceration on low-income communities and communities of color, CCA became one of the first community-based alternative-to-incarceration programs in New York State. Today, CCA continues to be a leader in decarceration efforts through organizing, advocacy, and direct services, and has secured major policy and campaign wins in recent years.

  Position Description:

Center for Community Alternatives is hiring a Director of Communications who will be responsible for developing and executing earned and social media strategies to advance our policy, advocacy and programmatic goals. This person will report to our Director of Advocacy and Organizing and will work closely with our team of community organizers and members as we fight to end perpetual punishment, decarcerate jails and prisons, and win real investments in community-based services and resources. Our current campaigns include Communities Not Cages , Clean Slate , the Court NY Deserves , No Price on Justice , and Justice Roadmap , among others.

We are looking for candidates who are committed to integrating communications into organizing and advocacy and leveraging earned and social media to win transformative policy and legislative change. Ideal candidates are strategic, passionate, and collaborative.

 This is a full-time, New York State-based position. This position will require periodic travel to New York City and Albany (though otherwise can be remote). Candidates must be available to work some evenings and weekends.

  Responsibilities include:

• Strategic Communications : Collaboratively develop messaging and strategic communications plans for each of our campaigns.
• Elevating the Voices & Leadership of our Members : Work with directly impacted campaign members to draft op-eds and other materials that elevate their voices. Prepare members for press interviews and other public speaking roles. Collaborate with members to draft press quotes, statements, and speeches.
• Earned Media : Oversee the creation, editing, and distribution of press materials, including press advisories, releases, and statements, as well as proactive story pitching to press.
• Press Events : Support the planning of press events, including press conferences and rallies, working to ensure strategic press coverage.
• Op-eds : Work with members and organizing staff to draft op-eds and LTEs.
• Rapid Response : Monitor press coverage and oversee strategic rapid response to developing stories, including emerging opportunities and crisis management.
• Multi-media : Help produce multi-media assets, including graphic designs, videos, etc. either directly or through overseeing contractors and consultants.
• Social Media, Websites, and E-blasts : Actively generate, edit, publish, and share content for all social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Oversee the development of campaign websites and draft regular e-blasts.
• Coalitions: Collaborate with communications’ staff from partner organizations.
• Campaign Materials & Reports : Help draft and design campaign materials, including 1- pagers, fact sheets, and reports.
• Provides supervision and guidance to junior staff and contractors.

 Requirements & Qualifications:

• At least 5 years of experience working in communications.
• A serious commitment to dismantling systems of mass criminalization and to elevating the voices and leadership of directly impacted people.
• Excellent writing skills, with experience crafting messaging and developing press materials about complex policy issues for different audiences.
• Experience with social media as a tool of advocacy work.
• Experience working with reporters and placing stories, and ideally, existing relationships with New York journalists and an understanding of New York’s media landscape.
• Experience planning media events, including press conferences and rallies.
• Knowledge of and competency in communications-related tools.
• Graphic design experience preferred.
• Ability to think strategically and plan long-term without losing sight of unexpected opportunities.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and work effectively in high-intensity environments.
• A sense of humor, even in difficult moments. People who have been impacted by the criminal legal system or are formerly incarcerated are encouraged to apply

ALL APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT COVER LETTER WITH RESUME.

• 12 paid holidays per year
• 20 days of earned time off (ETO) for full-time staff, with ability to use after 90-days of employment.
• Time off is earned starting on your first day.
• 7 days of paid sick time
• 100% paid family leave

CCA Website:  HERE

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