Communications Director

Communications Responsibilities (approx. 50%):

• Collaborate with the Development Director, Executive Director, and leadership team to set goals and objectives that increase awareness of the organization’s mission, programs and results. Monitor and report on effectiveness of plan objectives and goals.
• Provides leadership, creative direction and timely response to fast-changing immigration policies and its impact on Institute clients, students and Minnesota’s immigrant communities.
• Develop and implement training for all Institute staff to consistently communicate the organization’s mission and programs; and reinforce key messages with organization audiences.
• Writes, edits, and maintains content for: Monthly e-newsletter, website, annual report, media releases, public presentations, and special events, including speeches and emcee script.
• Manage program budget, and external contracts for website hosting, marketing strategy, digital marketing, photography, graphic design, event video production and other vendors as needed.

Media Relations and Public Outreach (approx. 15%):

• Provide leadership for Rapid Response Plan deployment at times when humanitarian emergencies and immigration policy changes require urgent responses and the deployment of significant resources.
• Directs media relations and develops key messages.
• Crafts and updates core messages and public presentations for Institute spokespersons and stakeholders. Support the development and training of organization spokespersons.
• Represents the organization at public events.

Marketing and Social Media Responsibilities (approx. 35%):

• Supervise Marketing and Social Media.
• Lead the adoption of brand standards across organization.
• Direct the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator’s efforts to increase awareness of the organization’s mission, programs and results.
• Set strategic direction for client marketing with support from external consultants and staff coordinator.
• Design graphics, create, update, and maintain printed and digital marketing materials and public facing presentations using Canva and Power Point.
• Other duties as assigned by Development Director.

Qualifications:

The Communications Director should have at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree in journalism, marketing, English, communications, or a related field and a minimum of ten years’ work experience in communications or public relations. Two years of additional work experience in a similar environment would be considered as a substitute for a bachelor’s degree.

Candidates must be:

• Effective time manager, able to consistently drive projects and meet deadlines.
• Highly skilled in writing and editing.
• Have a sense of urgency in understanding the changing immigration policy landscape.
• Creative, problem solver, and excellent communicator.
• Proficient in WordPress, Mailchimp, Google Analytics 4 and Google Ads Manager.
• Experienced in a wide array of social media and SMS marketing applications.
• Sensitive to privacy and professionalism in working with agency clients.

Preferred experience:

• Knowledge of U.S. immigration policy, human rights, or related topics.
• Experience working in a multicultural environment and with individuals with limited English proficiency.