Earned Media Strategist (Term-Limited)

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Earned Media Strategist in the Communications & Marketing Department of the ACLU’s National office in Washington, D.C. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. This is a 2-year term-limited position.

The ACLU Communications & Marketing Department creates, maintains, and expands message narratives to engage our supporters and other target audiences, to help protect and expand civil liberties and civil rights, and illustrate the value and impact of the ACLU’s transformational work. Through our messaging, engagement with newsmakers, our written content, creative branding, and visual identity, we encourage support for the ACLU and help to build a more perfect union. The Media and Strategic Engagement team works to bring the ACLU’s work to the most strategic audience. It strengthens and deepens our relationships with media outlets and journalists, identifies opportunities to engage with new media outlets and audiences, and ensures better coordination for paid media work. The team’s thought leadership efforts ensure our leaders and experts continue to expand their profile to elevate ACLU's work and mission and coordinates appearances and writings as part of our strategic goals.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

Reporting to the Director of Media and Strategic Engagement, the Earned Media Strategist will be at the frontlines of ACLU’s media relations work, staffing key spokespeople as needed, with an emphasis on the organization's electoral communications, providing media support to position the organization’s spokespeople as thought leaders and maximize the visibility of our work to advance our electoral and advocacy goals.

• Pitching and preparing ACLU spokespeople for media appearances, leveraging an existing portfolio of key reporter relationships within the political media industry and leading industry thought leaders 
• Executing strategic engagements in rapid response environments (press conferences, sponsorships, event appearances and speaking engagements, or other high visibility events requiring ACLU principals on short notice) 
• Staff key organization principals at media appearances and strategic engagements as needed, including events that require travel 
• Secondary support for staffing key partners, such as celebrity ambassadors or influencers, during strategic engagements 
• Help prepare briefing materials and prep sessions for external engagements for senior staff, including mock interviews as needed 
• Support cross-organization collaboration regarding the deployment of organization spokespeople, building earned media or strategic engagement strategies around related appearances of these principals driven by Development, NPAD, Legal, or other departments 
• Support the maintenance of spokesperson biographies, headshots, and other portfolio items 
• Map and build relationships with key national media outlets, with an emphasis on emerging outlets or impactful independent reporters in the digital media ecosystem 
• Lead communications and positioning strategies, as well as outreach, for high-level principals and projects and announcements, as assigned by senior communications leadership. Assist in the development of materials or preparations for events that further the organization’s thought leadership, including op-eds, press conferences, and speaking engagements at high visibility events 
• Secondary coverage for communications strategists on leave or in pressing rapid response moments 
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned by senior ACLU communications leadership 

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

• Significant experience in professional public relations, media or relevant professional experience in a fast-paced work environment is required; experience in political or electoral communications is preferred. 
• Strong judgment and instincts for media and communications-related work. 
• Knowledge and familiarity with the news media and social media landscapes. 
• Excellent research, writing, editing, verbal and interpersonal communication skills. 
• The ability to demonstrate grace under pressure and provide an organized, calming experience for principals. 
• Availability and willingness to travel and staff principals outside of business hours as needed. 
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team. 
• Excellent computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office. 
• Familiarity with Cision is preferred. 
• Interest in civil liberties and civil rights and experience with advocacy campaigns preferred. 

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.    

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.