Director of Communications

Common Justice; New York (NY); On-site; USD 132,430 - 161,859; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Common Justice in New York is seeking a Director of Communications to lead their communications department. The role involves overseeing narrative strategies, media relationships, and public engagement efforts aligned with the organization's mission to foster racial equity and transform the justice system.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in communications and advocacy, strong writing skills, and a commitment to social justice. The position offers a salary of $147,145.29 and a competitive benefits package.

Qualifications

• At least 8 to 10 years of professional experience in communications or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience leading communications strategy within advocacy or nonprofit organizations.
• Strong understanding of narrative change work related to criminal legal reform.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of organization-wide communications strategies.
• Shape and steward Common Justice’s narrative strategy across various platforms.
• Oversee development of press materials and media relations.

Skills

Communications strategy

Media strategy

Narrative change

Project management

Writing and editing

Social justice advocacy

Tools

CRM systems

Email marketing tools

Social media analytics tools

Job description

Common Justice develops and advances solutions to violence that transform the lives of those harmed and fosters racial equity without relying on incarceration. Locally, we operate the first alternative-to-incarceration and victim-service programs in the United States to focus on violent felonies in adult courts. Nationally, we leverage the lessons from our direct service to transform the justice system through partnerships, advocacy, and elevating the experience and power of those most impacted. Rigorous and hopeful, we build practical strategies to hold people accountable for harm, break cycles of violence, and secure safety, healing, and justice for survivors and their communities.

Common Justice’s work includes broad narrative-shifting efforts to support changes in both policy and culture. The organization is committed to telling the truth about violence, about the people who survive it, the people who cause it, and the strategies that will work to end it. The communications work creates and deploys broad new platforms to elevate the voices and leadership of those impacted by violence from the block to the Capitol.

About The Opportunity

Common Justice is seeking a strategic, visionary, and collaborative communications leader to serve as Director of Communications. Reporting to the Vice President of Civic Engagement & Narrative, the Director of Communications will lead the organization’s communications department and oversee the development and execution of integrated narrative, media, digital, and public engagement strategies that advance Common Justice’s mission, policy priorities, fundraising goals, and movement-building efforts. The Director of Communications will help shape the organization’s public voice and narrative strategy, oversee brand and media positioning, manage digital and creative communications infrastructure, and supervise communications staff and consultants. This role combines high-level strategic leadership with strong campaign development, team management, and cross-organizational collaboration.

Primary Responsibilities:

Strategic Communications

• Lead the development and execution of organization-wide communications and narrative strategies aligned with Common Justice’s mission, policy priorities, and organizational goals
• Shape and steward Common Justice’s narrativestrategyacross earned media, digital platforms, publications, campaigns, and public events
• Partner withVice President of Narrative and Civic Engagementtoidentifystrategic communications opportunities that advance organizational visibility, influence, and impact
• Guide message development on issues related to violence, racial equity, restorative justice, survivor-centered approaches, alternatives to incarcerationand community safety
• Develop annual communications goals, priorities, and strategic plans across departments and campaigns
• AdviseVice President of Narrative and Civic Engagementon media strategy, crisis communications, public positioning, and emerging narrative opportunities
• Ensure communications strategies reflect the experiences and leadership of people most impacted by violence and the criminal legal system

Media Relations

• Lead earned media strategy and cultivate relationships with journalists, editors, producers, influencers, and media partners
• Oversee development of press materials including statements, talking points, op-eds, media advisories, reports, and public education materials
• Serve as a strategic lead for high-profile communications moments, campaigns, announcements, and public events
• Identifyopportunities to elevate organizational leadership, program participants, and partners in public discourse
• Support media preparation and spokesperson development for staff, partners, and impacted community members
• Monitormedia trends and public narratives related to criminal legal reform, public safety, and violence prevention
• Oversee the organization’s digital communications strategy across social media, website, email, video, and multimedia storytelling platforms
• Supervise development and execution of integrated digital campaigns that supportcivic engagement, advocacy,development, and narrative change goals
• Guide audience growth and engagement strategies across digital platforms
• Ensure communications outputs are accessible, visually compelling, and strategically aligned across channels
• Collaborate with staff to translatecivic engagementand programmatic work into effective public-facing storytelling initiatives
• Use analytics and performance metrics to evaluate campaign effectiveness and refine strategy
• Steward and strengthen Common Justice’s brand identity across all communications materials and platforms
• Provide editorial and creative direction for publications, reports, visual assets, videos, presentations,andcampaign materials
• Oversee development of high-quality written and multimedia content that advances organizational priorities
• Ensure consistency in messaging, voice,anddesignstandards across communications outputs
• Guide long-term storytelling strategies that deepen public understanding of community-based approaches to safety and healing
• Supervise and mentor communications staff, consultants, and interns, including the Senior ManagerforDigital Media Engagement
• Oversee communications workflows, production timelines, campaign calendars, and department priorities
• Partner closely withcivic engagement, development, partnershipsand replication, and program teams to align communications strategies with organizational goals
• Support fundraising and donor communicationseffortsand eventsin collaboration with development staff
• Implement and manage CRM systems to track and steward relationships with donors, members, and supporters across the organization’s outreach channels
• Manage relationships with external vendors, designers, photographers, videographers, and communications consultants
• Build internal systemsthat strengthen collaboration, planning, and strategic communications integration across department

Work Schedule:

• Occasional evening and weekend work will be required

Qualifications:

• At least 8 to 10 years of professional experience in communications, media strategy, narrative change, journalism, public affairs, or related fields
• Demonstratedexperience leading communications strategy and managing high-impact campaigns within social justice, advocacy, nonprofit, or movement-based organizations
• Strong understanding of narrative change work related to criminal legal reform, public safety, racial justice, and survivor-centered approaches
• Experience managing communications teams, consultants, and cross-functional collaborations
• Excellent writing, editing, messaging, and storytelling skills across multiple platforms and audiences
• Demonstratedexperience with earned media strategy, digital communications, and public engagement campaigns
• Strong leadership and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Experience overseeing brand strategy, creative direction, and multimedia communications production
• Knowledge of communications and engagement platforms including CRM systems, email marketing tools, website management platforms, and social media analytics tools
• Ability to communicate strategic ideas clearly and effectively to leadership, staff, partners, funders, and public audiences

To Apply:

The salary for this position is $147,145.29 per year and is non-negotiable. We offer a competitive benefits package, including medical and dental coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, and generous paid time off.

Candidates must be based in the New York Metro area.

Please submit resume, cover letter, and a writing sample that reflects your work. Cover letters should include a short explanation of why you’re interested in working with us and what excites you about this position.

Common Justice is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, or current employment status. Common Justice values diverse experiences, including educational background and justice system involvement. We depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.