Director of Communications

Company: National Council of Jewish Women
Job title: Director of Communications
Position type: Full-time
Location: Washington D.C. (hybrid) or Remote
Salary range: $125,000-$135,000

NCJW seeks a Director of Communications to be the strategic and moral voice of the organization to amplify and elevate the critical issues impacting women, children, and families in the United States and Israel. They shape the narrative that drives impact and broadens NCJW’s audience. The successful Director is a dynamic storyteller who can translate complex policy and issues for a diverse national constituent base who brings a strong expertise in digital communications.

Reporting to the Chief Policy Officer, Jody Rabhan, and working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Sheila Katz, the Director of Communications will develop and oversee a cohesive communications strategy with an emphasis on digital engagement. They will supervise and mentor a team of two responsible for NCJW’s varied and integrated communications plans, including web, social media, and other online communications, as well as media and public relations. They will be an inspiring leader and mentor who is invested in their team’s professional development and success and will be a collaborative member of the senior management team at NCJW.

The ideal candidate is an outstanding communications professional unafraid of bold and ambitious goals, who brings a successful track record of translating institutional priorities to audience-focused messaging in fast-paced environments. They will be a values-driven, agile, curious, and approachable leader who fosters an environment of joy and collaboration while amplifying the voices of change-makers across the country.

Role accountabilities:

Strategy

• Create and drive multi-faceted, cutting-edge communication strategies for NCJW and establish a cohesive brand for the organization.
• Develop actionable goals, new target audiences, messaging, and media relations strategies for all platforms, earned media, and advocacy, to educate, motivate, influence, and expand NCJW’s reach and impact.
• Create and manage an ambitious digital strategy to drive cutting-edge and timely messaging to attract new audiences.
• Lead the organization in developing annual reports and all communications for fundraising and advocacy efforts, issue campaigns, and the CEO’s speeches and op-eds.
• Partner with NCJW departments to understand upcoming priorities and initiatives and provide strategic direction to help the organization effectively communicate.
• Use qualitative and quantitative results to measure communication quality, engagement, and satisfaction, and use data to inform future actions.

Management 

• Lead, mentor, and inspire the communications team to act as NCJW’s moral voice in the world; establish clear roles, responsibilities, and metrics to drive high performance and collaborative team culture.
• Serve as an expert advisor to the CEO, the senior management team, and the organization’s internal and external stakeholders on all communications and marketing matters.
• Establish and implement realistic and actionable department goals, communications work plans, and an organizational calendar in coordination with other NCJW departments.
• Oversee vendor contracts and relationships with communications firms and other external consultants.

Press

• Accurately and swiftly identify, engage, and respond to trending news events, issues, and legislation of national importance, often requiring sensitive judgment calls in emerging issues affecting women, children, and families.
• Develop and oversee a press relations plan (assigning relationship management tasks to the Communications staff as appropriate) and determine goals and expectations for each member of the NCJW team regarding how to respond (and not respond) to the press.
• Create ambitious press coverage goals with metrics-driven plans to achieve them.
• Ensure that systems are in place to respond rapidly on NCJW issues through all platforms.

Qualifications:

• A deep appreciation for the history and lived practices within Jewish tradition, culture, identities, community, and the issues and diverse communities for which NCJW advocates.
• Experience working on issue-based advocacy and public awareness campaigns, as well as communicating complex issues to a variety of targeted audiences.
• Knowledge of how the government and Washington work.
• Outstanding oral and written communication with attention to detail and AP style.
• 7+ years of experience working directly with senior-level executives to develop and drive engagement and impact through strategic communications to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to develop a compelling, nuanced, and strategic brand and story that reaches a broad range of audiences and stakeholders, especially as it relates to digital engagement.
• Demonstrated experience in designing, directing, and managing content for various multimedia platforms, including website, social media, print, newsletter, and email.
• Effective and inspirational manager with experience supervising and mentoring staff.
• Experience in managing a department budget.
• Ability to manage one’s time and priorities with competing responsibilities and multiple stakeholders.
• Well-developed public relations skills and ability to respond to situations with cultural and political appropriateness and sensitivity.
• Intellectual curiosity, and receptivity to feedback.
• A commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; a passion for social justice and NCJW’s mission.
• Up-to-date COVID vaccinations, as defined by CDC.
• DC-based professionals are strongly preferred; candidates outside of the DC Metro area can expect to be in the office 4-5 days a month.

Note: Interested in this role but it’s not quite the right match? Applicants who meet some but not all or exceed the above criteria are still encouraged to apply! We recognize that we're the most successful when they have fresh perspectives at the table. We’re eager to hear from candidates with diverse backgrounds and are passionate about learning and growing in their next role.

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