Communications Strategist

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) seeks a full-time Communications Strategist to join its growing Communications Department. This role is designed for an experienced, mission-driven communications professional looking for a meaningful opportunity in a proven, growing, and vibrant organization that makes profound differences in the lives of people across our state.   

The Communications Strategist is responsible for the development and execution of strategic communications projects that further the advocacy goals and mission of the ACLU-NJ, including press releases, media outreach, rapid response, and public education. Their work will inspire, inform, and move people to action. Candidates for this position should have experience writing public-facing communications materials, especially under tight timelines, while building consensus with a wide array of stakeholders. 

 This position will be supervised by the Deputy Communications Director and will be based in Newark with a hybrid work schedule where we work in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

 Organizational Overview  

For more than 60 years, the ACLU of New Jersey has defended liberty and justice guided by the vision of a fair and equitable New Jersey for all. Our mission is to preserve, advance, and extend the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every New Jerseyan by the state and federal constitutions in courts, in the legislature, and in our communities. We are committed to repairing and transforming spaces where constitutional promises have not been delivered. 

The Communications Strategist will join a communications team that advances the organization’s civil rights and civil liberties priorities by catalyzing lasting narrative change through strategic communications, and works collaboratively with policy, legal, and development colleagues to maximize the ACLU-NJ’s impact and visibility. 

What You’ll Do 

• Develop and execute communication content in collaboration with policy and legal teams designed to advance ACLU-NJ priorities through legislation, litigation, and public education efforts. 
• Contribute to media strategy, including drafting press releases, opinion pieces, and other earned media assets. 
• Develop and prepare spokespeople for events, press conferences, and media interviews. 
• Identify key audiences and develop messaging and talking points guided by ACLU-NJ values, best practices, and research. 
• Collect, analyze, and report data from ACLU-NJ media campaigns, including media engagement and outreach, campaign milestones and events, and building analytics reports. 
• Co-manage a communications calendar for content publication and support the execution of communications projects, including website maintenance and digital advocacy campaigns. 
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and meet quality standards.