Communications Director

Unchained At Last, the survivor-led nonprofit at the helm of the national movement to end forced and child marriage in the United States, seeks a Communications Director to be the architect of our public voice — building our narrative strategy, managing media relationships and ensuring that survivor stories are told with power, accuracy and care.

WARNING: Apply for this position only if you want a deeply meaningful, adventure-filled job that makes all your friends jealous.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Communications Director ensures that Unchained’s messaging reaches its intended audiences and produces its intended effect. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Communications Director gets the opportunity to:

·       Develop robust, creative communications strategies;

·       Manage Unchained’s communications staff and contractors as they implement the strategies;

·       Oversee content for Unchained’s website, eblasts, social media channels, fundraising appeals and proposals, and annual reports;

·       Draft compelling messaging for various audiences and platforms;

·       Build relationships with news media and track media coverage;

·       Prepare the Executive Director and survivor allies for interviews and legislative testimony; and

·   Monitor analytics across Unchained’s various platforms and adjust accordingly.

QUALIFICATIONS

You might be a good fit for this position if you:

• Have at least seven years of relevant professional experience in communications, public relations, journalism or a related field, ideally for a nonprofit organization;
• Have successfully placed stories in major media outlets;
• Write exceptionally well; and
• Feel passionately about Unchained’s mission.

Unchained encourages survivors of forced marriage to apply.

NOTE: An internal study at HP found women applied for a promotion only if they met 100 percent of the qualifications, while men applied if they met 60 percent. Regardless of your gender, if you are excited about this job, GO FOR IT — even if you do not meet 100 percent of the qualifications.

SALARY/BENEFITS

The compensation package for this position includes:

• Salary of $140,000;
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match;
• High-quality health insurance;
• Dental insurance;
• Vision insurance;
• Life insurance;
• Long-term disability insurance;
• Flexible Spending Account so you can pay certain health and commuter costs pre-tax;
• Mostly remote work;
• Generous paid time off, including parental leave;
• Solid work-life balance (the workday ends at 5:00 p.m. — and earlier on Fridays — except in emergencies);
• Monthly art therapy sessions with the Unchained team; and
• United Nations grounds pass.

LOCATION

Remote. However, the Unchained team meets in person once a month, so please do not apply unless you live within commuting distance of Westfield, New Jersey.

ABOUT UNCHAINED

A lifetime of rape, forced parenthood, financial dependence and domestic servitude. This is the reality for individuals in the United States whose lives are ripped apart by forced marriage.

Unchained is the only organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, often life-saving legal and social services and emotional support — always for free — to individuals in the U.S. who are resisting or escaping forced marriage. Unchained also is the only organization dedicated to promoting social, policy and legal change to end forced and child marriage in the U.S. The organization started and now leads a growing national movement to end child marriage in every U.S. state and at the federal level.

A day at Unchained is rarely dull. Members of the small but feisty Unchained team travel all across the U.S. to testify at legislative hearings and to Chain-In, in bridal gowns and chains, to protest forced and child marriage. In just the last few years, team members ate dinner with Chelsea Clinton, watched multiple Broadway shows and appeared on Apple TV’s Gutsy series.

Unchained prioritizes self-care and team building. The virtual office closes early every Friday and every day during the last week of the year and closes for all federal holidays and for a week every summer – in addition to a generous paid-time-off package. The Unchained team holds monthly art therapy sessions and semi-annual staff retreats that sometimes involve wearing pajamas to the office and always involve eating too much guacamole.

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered for this position, submit your application and resume at unchainedatlast.org/application-for-employment. You will receive a confirmation email letting you know your application was received.

An Unchained team member will reach out if you seem to be a good fit for the open position. You will then have the chance to advance through Unchained's multi-step interview process, which typically takes a couple of weeks.

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION

If you really want this position, these tips might help:

• How are you perfect for this role? Make that clear in your application, rather than assuming it is obvious from your resume.
• Does your resume have gaps or anything that might cause confusion? Best to explain those in your application.
• Have you reviewed the Unchained website? You will deeply impress your interviewers if you are deeply familiar with the organization.

Not sure whether to send a "thank you" after an interview? The answer is always yes. The Unchained team appreciates appreciation.