Director of Digital Communications

Founded in 1979, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is a leading non-profit organization (501(c)3) in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their loved ones. NILC’s mission is grounded in the belief that everyone living in the U.S. regardless of race, gender/gender identity, immigration status, or economic status – should have equal access to justice, resources, and educational and economic opportunities that enable them to achieve their full human potential. Together, NILC and the affiliated NILC Immigrant Justice Fund (IJF), a 501(c)4 organization, work to advocate more directly for federal immigration reform policies. NILC is committed to advancing its mission – which intersects race, immigration status, and class – through racial, economic, and gender justice and equity orientation.

Headquartered in Los Angeles with an office in Washington, DC, NILC seeks to achieve just laws and policies that address systemic inequities, create narrative and culture change for an inclusive and equitable society, and build a healthier and more powerful movement. For more information, please visit www.nilc.org. and www.immigrantjusticefund.org/

NILC is at an exciting moment in its organizational trajectory, supporting our five-year strategic framework and scaling the organization and its work through influencing systems, policy advocacy at the federal and state levels, engaging in movement and power building, and narrative and culture strategies in addition to continuous improvements to our operational model. We are looking for entrepreneurial, results-driven, relationship builders who are committed to NILC’s mission and values of racial justice & equity, valuing diversity, fostering partnerships & collaboration, encouraging respect & personal well-being, and striving for transparency, integrity, and honesty.

About the Position

The Director, Digital Communications oversees NILC and NILC’s sister 501(c)4 organization the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund (IJF)’s digital communications operations including managing our portfolio of websites, our digital staff, and our digital assets and campaigns. This mid-level management role will also serve as a liaison to NILC programs and operations staff to ensure integrated digital communications are helping to drive our strategic framework and organizational priorities. The Director, Digital Communications translates the applied principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice to create vision and cohesion in Digital Communication projects from a strategic lens.

This role is not a member of the Bargaining Unit.

The Director, Digital Communications will be responsible for providing leadership and driving success in the following key areas:

Specific Position Responsibilities

• Communicate with team members the actions needed to implement the function’s strategic plan within the team; explain the relationship to the broader organization’s mission, vision, and values; motivate people to commit to these and to doing extraordinary things to achieve organizational goals.
• Develop the digital communications strategy to advance NILC’s objectives in collaboration with the Digital Communications team and the VP, Strategic Communications.
• Lead execution for the digital communications plan, overseeing inbound and outbound digital channels and all aspects of digital strategies including advocacy components of the email programs, social media, and other digital communication channels.
• Lead execution of digital road map, establishing and managing processes, programs, and projects, resource allocation, and KPIs.
• Identify and build relationships with relevant decision makers within the organization and to enable effective two-way flow of information and resolution of issues.
• Develop and implement innovative digital communications strategies as part of integrated communications plans across a matrix workgroup programs structure.
• Manage ongoing relationships with cross-functional NILC team members of all levels to maximize integration, providing reports, themes, summary analyses, and recommendations for changes based on input including development and programs staff to ensure alignment.
• Develop digital policies and procedures for consistency and clarity across the department and organization in digital communications work and ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Act as NILC’s digital communications subject matter expert in collaborations with internal workgroups and external coalitions and other organizations to support the drafting and amplification of coalition materials and advise on digital communications and strategy for coalitions and workgroups.
• Assist in the development of the digital marketing strategy for all communications collateral, and direct and execute the management and refinement of messaging to align with segmented audiences, avenues, and/or scope as needed.
• Build trust with the members of team by valuing and acting on the varied perspectives in that group.
• Collect and synthesize metrics and other data and participate in reviews of marketing activities to identify improvements.
• May be a part of or lead cross functional/departmental projects using the MOCHA framework/methodology.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Recruits, interviews, hires, and trains staff.
• Oversees the daily workflow of direct reports.
• Acts as a coach and mentor including providing constructive and timely feedback to foster a collaborative environment that develops strengths, improves weaknesses, and encourages creative problem-solving.
• Actively manages direct and indirect reports using applicable performance management software including documenting regular check-ins, goal progress, and any other relevant information in the system for performance and coaching purposes.
• Handles discipline and performance issues in accordance with organizational policy.
• Directly manages employees, with possibility for additional staff.
• Manages outside consultants, third party administrators, and vendors
• Shared Organization Responsibilities

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Shared Responsibilities

• Champions NILC & IJF’s mission of advancing the rights of immigrants with low income by demonstrating a commitment to human rights, and racial, economic, and social justice.
• Attends and actively participates in NILC meetings at the organization, department, project, and individual level.
• Develops relationships and supports NILC and IJF colleagues across all teams, recognizing that each individual brings a unique background and perspective to the work and assuming good intent from each other.
• Follows through on commitments acting with a clear sense of ownership individually and collectively by taking personal responsibility for decisions, actions, and failures, establishing clear responsibilities and processes for monitoring work and measuring results, and designing feedback loops into work.
• Learns quickly when facing new situations by experimenting to find fresh solutions, taking on the challenge of unfamiliar tasks, and extracting lessons learned from failures and mistakes.
• Acts with integrity by following through on commitments, being direct and truthful, keeping confidence, and showing consistency between words and actions.
• Commits to centering NILC’s values of racial justice & equity, valuing diversity, fostering partnerships & collaboration, encouraging respect & personal well-being, and striving for transparency, integrity, and honesty in all decisions and actions.
• In recognition of the fluidity of the work and ecosystem that NILC operates in, other duties may be assigned depending on organizational need.

What We’re Looking for in This Role

• Commitment to NILC & IJF’s mission of advancing the rights of immigrants with low income and a demonstrated commitment to human rights, racial, economic, and social justice, and equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice for all.
• Collaborative, proactive, and action oriented working style with a strong service mentality promoting mutual accountability and inspiriting trust and confidence from colleagues, other NILC team members, and NILC leaders alike.
• Demonstrates sound judgement in decision-making, high integrity, and utmost respect for confidentiality.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills: ability to read, analyze, and interpret documents, communicate strategic plans, and collaborate to drive the direction of the organization, specifically skills that facilitate communicating with diverse stakeholders.
• Self-starter with a strong strategic ability to move daily tasks forward in alignment with NILC’s broader organizational needs and goals.
• Understands and deploys the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Provides timely direction, delegating, and removing obstacles to get work done.
• Thorough knowledge of and ability to apply extensive expertise to the principles, policies and practices related to techniques of association, administration, and functions of a highly sensitive and confidential executive office.
• Uses a combination of feedback and reflection to gain productive insight into personal strengths and weaknesses.
• Creates a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help NILC achieve its objectives.
• Decisively makes high value decisions even when based on incomplete information or in the face of uncertainty and able to manage in an ambiguous environment and quickly adapt to change.
• Recognizes each team member’s unique background and perspective to achieve team goals in a positive and motivating working environment.
• Develops team through coaching, feedback, exposure and stretch assignments.
• An inclusive management style that places deep value on diverse perspectives and emphasizes the development and growth of team members and encourages learning and continued improvement.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Communications, Marketing, or other related field (or equivalent work experience)
• 10+ years of digital communications experience required, with 3+ years management experience, political and/or advocacy campaign experience required, non-profit sector or social justice organization experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing priorities, strategies, and circumstances.
• Proficiency with in-office and virtual environments and software such as MS Office, internet research, and virtual collaboration tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or other advanced degree in Political Science, Communications, Marketing, or another related field.
• Experience working for an elected official and/or in a political environment.
• Experience working in coalitions and/or ensuring alignment and clear communication across a diverse set of partners.
• Proficiency in non-English languages spoken by Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, African, Caribbean, and Arab communities preferred. Fluency in more than one language is desirable.

At NILC, we know that talented people may have different backgrounds or experiences, and if your education and experience doesn’t exactly align with the above that’s okay! NILC believes that diversity in all dimensions of the organization supports and bolsters the innovative thinking essential to its success and is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants. NILC’s goal is for our people to reflect the communities in which we live and serve and to ensure representation of people of color, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities in our organization. We encourage you to apply and let us know in your cover letter why you are qualified and the right fit for this role and NILC.

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Work Environment

• Location & Travel:
• NILC’s offices are located in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, California. For this role, up to 10-20% of overnight interstate travel may be required; travel is typically quarterly to the NILC Washington, DC office or another location within the US for 3-5 nights.

Compensation:

• NILC’s compensation and benefits philosophy is to provide a competitive offering in the nonprofit sector and ensure equity across the organization. The salary range for this role is $128,000 – $161,000.

Physical Demands:

• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods
• Communicating with others to exchange information.
• Repeating motions, like typing or answering a phone, that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

NILC is an equal opportunity employer; people of color and individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. NILC does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, citizenship status, ethnic background, religion, political orientation, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or any other protected class. We consider all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative.