Senior Director of Marketing and Communications

### June 13, 2024 update

We have had an overwhelming response to this job posting, for which we’re really grateful! Applications received after June 14, 2024 may not receive full consideration, though we will acknowledge receipt of every application, and notify every applicant when the position is full. Thanks for understanding, and for your interest in Free Press and this position!

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### Senior Director of Marketing and Communications

Free Press and Free Press Action work to amplify the voices of people and communities in the crucial decisions that shape our media. We believe that positive social change, racial justice and meaningful engagement in public life require equitable access to technology, diverse and independent ownership of media platforms, and journalism that holds leaders accountable and tells people what’s actually happening in their communities. We work at the intersection of media and technology to strengthen our democracy, while creating the way to a just and abundant media future.

#### Primary Responsibilities:

– **Develop and lead overall marketing and communications strategy:**
– Collaboratively develop and implement powerful narratives and messaging that supports our policy, advocacy and cultural change campaigns.
– Design narrative strategies and marketing campaigns that advance advocacy efforts aimed at influencing Congress, federal agencies, the Presidential administration, state and local decision makers as needed.
– Inform media and press strategy and coverage of our issues.
– Ensure cohesive and engaging marketing and communication strategies across various issue areas and platforms, while “holding the whole” of our programmatic, marketing and communications work.
– Implement and adapt a compelling branding strategy that supports Free Press’ strategic goals and objectives.
– Ensure that brand identity, messaging and marketing and communications strategy are infused in all organizational efforts.
– Execute multiple campaigns across all our channels (website, email, SMS, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, etc.).

– **Be the chief narrative strategist for Free Press:**
– The Senior Director plays a key role at Free Press in shaping communications around key components of a future media ecosystem that supports a multiracial democracy.
– This requires deep grounding in narrative strategy, media justice, Black liberation, intersectional racial justice, media advocacy, plus a mix of long-range strategic thinking, tactical flexibility and impactful rapid response skills.
– May serve as a spokesperson for the organization.

– **Lead the Marketing and Communications department:**
– Provide infrastructure, mentorship and support for marketing and communications staff.
– Develop annual and quarterly goals and support the team in structuring their work to meet objectives.
– Be a creative and collaborative problem solver.
– Lead and inspire the team through message development and testing across different audiences to achieve acquired impacts.

– **Grow our base of supporters and increase engagement:**
– Ensure the team meets annual growth and engagement benchmarks for membership, online fundraising and actions.
– Ensure growth/churn on our email and SMS list and across social media platforms.
– Increase engagement among members, donors and the general public through impactful and meaningful narrative campaigns.

– **Fundraising and resource generation:**
– Meet our annual online fundraising goal.
– Work in close partnership with the campaign and development teams, and outside consultants to stay on track to meet fundraising goals.
– Lead the digital components of cultivating relationships with online donors, assist in providing updates and information to the development team as needed.

– **Monitor and implement changes to strategy based on evolving marketing and communications best practices:**
– Stay on top of latest research and trends in marketing and communications while remaining grounded in best practices.
– Know what’s new, exciting and ethical in the world of online organizing platforms and services.
– Implement new strategies, technologies and best practices.
– Ensure the team conducts regular evaluations, shares lessons learned and informs strategic choices on how we spend our time and resources.

– **Oversee analytics and testing:**
– Oversee regular testing to analyze content and messaging effectiveness.
– Actively engage with real time data and learnings about what boosts engagement and growth, and consistently apply that knowledge to our marketing and communications campaigns.
– Ensure all team members are responsible for overseeing data analytics and reporting on how that shapes future efforts.

– **Oversee online-ad and acquisition budget:**
– Work with consulting partners on the execution and implementation of our online-ad strategy.
– Lead acquisition efforts and onboarding of new members.
– Manage annual ad and acquisition budget to ensure it meets digital, programmatic and fundraising goals.

– **Cross-team collaboration:**
– Encourage cross-team collaboration between Marketing and Communications Department and other programmatic, policy and development teams.
– Contribute to problem solving and help triage competing priorities across the organization.
– Ensure digital assets and resources are deployed where needed across the organization.
– Work with the Executive Team to align digital goals with organizational objectives.
– Secure internal resources to advance strategic priorities, identify staff capacity and work with leadership to deploy organizational resources as needed.

– **Advance intersectional race equity:**
– Clearly and consistently articulate an understanding of racial equity and structural racism and the centrality of this analysis to the work Free Press does and how we operate.
– Integrate that knowledge into work projects and interactions by addressing structural implications and disproportionate impacts of policies, activities and decisions on race, class, gender and other group identities within the context of job responsibilities and projects.
– Advise Co-CEOs on advancing racial equity through our communications work and serve as an internal and external champion of this work, demonstrating and implementing expertise in this area to further our organizational values and goals.

#### You will thrive at Free Press if you bring:

– Dedication to Free Press’ mission to change the media system to transform democracy and realize a just society, in addition to the overall success of the organization
– Commitment to racial equity and experienced working with Black, Indigenous and/or other communities of color
– Value and respect for differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability and socioeconomic circumstance
– Creative self-starter energy and you thrive at working independently and with limited oversight to accomplish agreed upon objectives and evaluate results
– You’re also a team player with a low-ego approach to developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with both internal and external colleagues
– The ability to work under tight deadlines, navigate competing priorities, and effectively adjust work plans to respond to emergent challenges or opportunities
– Creativity, strategic thinking, and a commitment to excellence in your work while managing multiple projects and understanding that long hours are occasionally required to meet deadlines
– You’re a problem solver that remains positive, tactful and composed under pressure
– You have a strong commitment to team building and culture
– You have excellent interpersonal communication skills
– You thrive in a predominately remote office environment, including working with an off-site manager, and you actively foster connection and community with colleagues located throughout the U.S.
– You adopt and maintain strong digital security practices
– And finally, you have great attention to detail

#### Experience and qualifications required to succeed in this position:

– No minimum education is required
– 8-10 years of directly relevant experience in a leadership role developing, leading and executing successful narrative strategy, marketing and communications campaigns for social and racial justice
– Proficiency with setting strategy, marshaling resources, delegation, decision making, management and evaluation
– Issue area expert on marketing, communications and narrative strategy, along with experience in advocacy efforts in support of political and cultural change
– Familiar with trends in journalism, press freedom, media and tech, policy advocacy and cultural organizing
– Experience in building, mentoring, and coaching a team of marketing and communications specialists
– Capable of serving as “back up” for essential staff functions below and above this position
– Demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience in the design and execution of digital marketing campaigns that grow, organize and activate online constituencies via email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, etc.
– Familiarity with platforms like ActionKit, EveryAction, WordPress, ActBlue, Mobilize, and basic HTML/CSS skills
– Experience with SEO, email acquisition and digital ads
– Experience overseeing the design and production of print materials and publications, and website content management
– Strong writer and communicator able to synthesize complex concepts and represent Free Press and Free Press Action to a diverse range of audiences
– Effectively work with highly sensitive personnel, financial, operational and political information

#### Compensation:

Free Press is committed to offering competitive pay and generous benefits, including:

– Annual paid time off is a total of ten weeks, including vacation, health-care leave, holidays, and two organization-wide week-long closures.
– Group medical, dental and vision insurance
– Short- and long-term disability insurance
– Employer contribution to retirement plans (no matching required)
– Flexible health, commuter and dependent care spending accounts
– Paid family leave
– After 7 years of employment with Free Press, staff are eligible to apply for a paid two-month sabbatical
– Stipends for business use of personal phones and for home office locations
– All employees receive computers and equipment necessary for the job
– A flexible, supportive work culture

This position is categorized as a “career level 4 – senior director” position, in the context of five classifications at Free Press, ranging from coordinator to executive.

#### Covid – 19 Safety:

All Free Press employees must be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus or have an approved medical or religious/ethical/moral accommodation.

Free Press is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We value excellence and diversity in our workforce. People of color, women, people with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, gender-nonconforming and formerly incarcerated individuals are strongly encouraged to apply.

If you meet some of the qualifications above, we encourage you to apply or to reach out for more information.

Learn more here