Communications Specialist

ISHE; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

New American Leaders (NAL) and New American Leaders Action Fund (NALAF) seek a Communications Specialist to maintain our digital presence, tell our stories, and support fundraising and thought leadership goals across both entities. This generalist role blends content creation, digital campaigning, and storytelling for early- to mid-career communicators.

You’ll collaborate with communications, development, and program teams to plan engaging content for immigrant communities and supporters,

Qualifications

• 2–5 years in communications, digital content, journalism, or related fields.
• Excellent writing and editing with adaptable voice across audiences.
• Experience building content calendars and managing social channels.
• Experience with email platforms (Mailchimp) and basic SEO.
• Ability to translate complex topics for broad audiences.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a pre-planned content calendar coordinating across departments.
• Draft and publish posts across Twitter/X, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok.
• Create and edit short video content and conduct interviews.
• Develop rapid-response content tied to current events.
• Support email newsletters and fundraising campaigns.
• Maintain archives and assist with media outreach.
• Draft op-eds and maintain local media relationships.
• Help with events and livestreaming as needed.

Skills

Strong writing & editing

Content calendar management

Social media management

Video interviewing & editing

Content strategy

Editorial voice & tone

Storytelling for diverse communities

Tools

Mailchimp

Hootsuite

Job description

About NAL/AF:

New American Leaders (NAL) and New American Leaders Action Fund (NALAF) are working in tandem to build an inclusive democracy by preparing first and second-generation immigrants and refugees to run for office, win their campaigns, and lead in elected office. We are the only organizations preparing New Americans to enter the political process and govern with accountability and authenticity. As a result, more New Americans will run for office, engage their communities, turn out new voters, and ultimately serve as values-aligned leaders in office who can advance just and equitable policies.

About the Role:

The Communications Specialist is a generalist who keeps NAL/AF’s digital presence active, our supporters informed, and our stories front and center. This role blends content creation, digital campaigning, and storytelling in support of organizational priorities for both our 501(c)(3) (NAL) and 501(c)(4) (NALAF) entities. It's well suited to an early- to mid-career communicator who is equally comfortable drafting a social media post, pulling together an email newsletter, coordinating a video interview, and jumping on a rapid-response moment.

You’ll work closely with communications, development, and program teams to plan and produce content that engages NAL/AF’s community, raises visibility, and supports fundraising and thought‑leadership goals. Creativity and initiative are welcome. We want someone who brings timely ideas and isn't afraid to experiment with new formats and platforms.

Key Responsibilities

Content Creation, Graphic Design & Digital Media (40%)

• Build and maintain a pre-planned shared content calendar in coordination with staff across the organization, ensuring key moments and campaigns are uplifted. Ensure that the content calendar is inclusive of program goals, key organization milestones, and advancement goals
• Draft and publish content across NAL/AF digital media channels (Twitter/X, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and others as they evolve)
• Create and manage short‑form video content, including conducting interviews, capturing footage at events, and basic editing
• Create rapid‑response content tied to current events, news developments. and network updates
• Monitor trends in digital content, design, and platform best practices, and incorporate them into our work
• Analyze performance data across digital platforms and use it to refine content strategy
• Develop and share timely, creative ideas for digital campaigns, actions, and assets in response to the news cycle and what is trending
• Serve as a brand steward, maintaining visual and voice consistency (templates, style guide, boilerplate language) across all channels and materials
• Manage a searchable archive of photo, video, and graphic assets for reuse across teams
• Help maintain media lists, pitch stories to journalists, and coordinate local outreach
• Draft and place op‑eds, letters to the editor, and other earned‑media content, and maintain relationships with reporters covering immigration, elections, and civic engagement

Email, Web & Fundraising Support (40%)

• Draft, design, and send mass emails/newsletters and text campaigns to our network, program participants, and broader supporter base
• Maintain updated lists of email contacts
• Incorporate testing and segmentation to improve our digital reach
• Coordinate with the CAO to prepare and deploy fundraising campaigns, including Giving Tuesday, end‑of‑year campaigns, the annual report and other collateral as needed.
• Support the design, printing, and distribution of campaign materials
• Prepare and distribute acknowledgement letters for donors
• Maintain and update the NAL/AF websites, implementing recommendations and keeping content timely, accurate, and accessible (basic SEO best practices)
• Analyze performance data across our communications platforms and use it to refine content strategy
• Help maintain our CRM

Storytelling, Events & Engagement (20%)

• Engage with staff, alumni, elected officials, and partner organizations to collect and shape stories for use across communications and development materials
• Conduct interviews and gather first‑person content that centers New American voices, managing related projects from concept to publication
• On an as‑needed basis, support signature events and trainings
• Create recruitment flyers and promotional materials for programs
• Support with day‑of event logistics that intersect with communications needs (livestreaming, photography, social coverage, signage)
• Serve as a point of contact for internal communications requests, helping staff across departments translate their work into public‑facing content
• Support broader communications tasks as they arise, including assisting with crisis or rapid‑response communications planning

Ideal Skills and Experiences:

• 2–5 years of professional communications, digital content, journalism, or related experience (internships and fellowships count)
• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to adapt voice and tone across audiences
• Experience building a content calendar, social media plan, or messaging calendar
• Hands‑on experience managing organizational social media accounts (Twitter/X, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc.)
• Familiarity with mass email platforms and email design (e.g. Mailchimp)
• Familiarity with social media monitoring tools (Hootsuite, Keyhole, or similar)
• Understanding of or willingness to learn the distinctions between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) communications and what they mean for messaging, endorsements, and electoral work
• Ability to translate complex topics into clear, engaging, accessible content for a general audience
• Strong project management instincts — can juggle multiple deadlines, keep track of moving pieces, and follow through
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and able to manage multiple projects with shifting deadlines
• Ability to exercise strong judgement and professionalism on behalf of the organization
• Cultural competency and an understanding of immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC communities and experiences