Executive Communications Strategist

brennancenter; New York (NY); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Wellness program

Office perks

Job summary

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law seeks an Executive Communications Strategist with exceptional writing and policy sense to assist the President & CEO and Managing Director. This role blends project management, thought partnership, and rigorous research and writing to elevate internal and external communications.

Based in New York City, the position requires building relationships across staff and leadership, overseeing briefs, memos, and talking points, and occasional travel

Qualifications

• Excellent writing, editing, and analytical skills, translating complex legal/policy work into clear language for various audiences.
• High-level speechwriting experience is a plus.
• Ability to work under deadline pressure and manage multiple stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of Brennan Center’s policy and legal goals, and the political landscape.

Responsibilities

• Draft and edit internal and external communications for the President and CEO.
• Support The Briefing and Brennan Center communications across programs and departments.
• Develop talking points and messaging for external audiences and media.
• Research, write, and edit books, articles, speeches, and reports.

Skills

Writing & Editing

Speechwriting

Public Communications

Policy Understanding

Stakeholder Management

Deadline Driven

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Company Overview

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve the systems of democracy and justice in the United States. We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. The Brennan Center’s work ranges from voting rights to campaign finance reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving Constitutional protections in national security policies. Part think‑tank, part advocacy group, part cutting‑edge communications hub, we start with rigorous research. We craft innovative policies. And we fight for them – in Congress and the states, in the courts, and in the court of public opinion.

It is the nation’s largest, longest‑standing democracy focused think‑tank. It has a staff of 190 based in New York City and Washington, D.C., and an annual operating budget of $67 million. It is affiliated with NYU School of Law but a separate nonprofit institution.

The Guardian called the Brennan Center “the foremost non‑partisan organization devoted to voting rights and voting reform.” Michael Waldman, who has led the Center since 2005, was White House Director of Speechwriting for Bill Clinton and is the author of several books on the Constitution, policy, the presidency, and history, most recently The Supermajority: How the Supreme Court Divided America (Simon & Schuster, 2023).

Position Overview

The Brennan Center seeks an individual with excellent writing skills, a strong grasp of current events and public policy, and a keen sense of messaging to provide strategic assistance to the President & CEO of the Brennan Center, Michael Waldman, and the Brennan Center’s Managing Director, Jeanine Chirlin.

The Executive Communications Strategist will work closely with the President and Managing Director on all aspects of their roles at the Brennan Center, with particular attention to internal and external communications. The role is part project management, part thought partnership, and part research and writing. It will require building and maintaining positive relationships with staff members of all levels, an up‑to‑date awareness of work happening across the organization, and an ability and willingness to assist with projects outside formal job responsibilities as needed.

Note: This is an in‑person position based in New York City, with occasional travel to Washington, D.C.

Responsibilities

• Working with the President on public writing including the weekly newsletter The Briefing, which goes to 140,000 subscribers, op‑eds, tweet‑threads, etc.
• Serving as an associate producer of The Briefing weekly podcast, including conducting research, booking guests, drafting questions and scripts, maintaining an editorial calendar, etc.
• Crafting internal communications efforts, including drafting and editing talking points, and identifying the best ways to communicate with the staff.
• Researching, editing, and writing for books, articles, speeches, and reports.
• Opportunity for bylined work including articles and Brennan Center reports.
• Drafting weekly emails to Brennan Center staff and board of directors, weaving together updates collected from all programs and departments.
• Strategizing messaging and drafting talking points for use by the President and other members of the organization externally.
• Elevating the media presence of the President through engagement and relationship‑building with producers at various TV networks, publications, and radio programs/podcasts.
• Assisting the organization’s Managing Director with planning and programmatic and communications work.
• Organizing monthly events series in Washington, DC, for lawmakers, journalists, and others.
• Producing memos for meetings with lawmakers, journalists, donors, and others.
• Assisting with events run by the Office of the President through development of content, scripts, and questions for panel discussions.
• Hiring and supervising spring, summer, and fall interns for the Office of the President.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 2‑5 years of experience in politics, government, journalism, communications, or at a nonprofit required.
• Excellent writing, editing, and analytical skills, including talent for translating complex, detailed legal and policy work into clear and compelling language for different audiences. High‑level speechwriting experience a plus.
• Keen political and public communications strategic sense.
• Ability to work constructively and professionally across multiple issue areas and under deadline pressure.
• Experience managing communications efforts that have multiple stakeholders and audiences inside and/or outside the organization/company.
• Deft ability to understand and discuss the Brennan Center’s policy and legal goals, the activities and strategies employed to reach them, and the political and societal landscape in which we work.
• Appetite to work in a fast‑paced, high‑energy environment, i.e. strong skills juggling tight timelines and competing deadlines with longer‑term tasks.
• A team player with highly mature interpersonal skills – including ability to respond productively to direction and feedback, and facility working with staff and leadership at all levels.
• Generosity, flexibility, and kindness to nurture a highly collaborative environment.
• Outstanding attention to detail and accuracy – commitment to work product that is thorough, complete, and polished.
• A high degree of integrity, discretion, and tact.
• A willingness to work overtime hours to meet important deadlines or complete projects.
• Demonstrable commitment to the Brennan Center’s mission and goals.

We are committed to considering a wide range of candidates, including those with diverse experiences and backgrounds. Whether you are new to the nonprofit law and policy sector, returning to work after a gap in employment, looking to make a career transition, or seeking to advance your professional path, we welcome your application. If you're uncertain about meeting 100% of our qualifications, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Compensation and Benefits

The Brennan Center is a fantastic workplace! We offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package that is regularly assessed based on workplace trends and employee feedback. The salary range assigned to this position is $75,000–$100,000. We determine our salary ranges based on market competitiveness and internal equity for each job. However, the ultimate salary offered to a selected candidate will be contingent upon the candidate’s qualifications and internal equity considerations. Additionally, we offer a generous time off program, 401k plan, comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), and wellness and office perks.

The Brennan Center for Justice is committed to a workplace based on equal opportunity and a strong belief in the increased effectiveness that comes from a diverse workforce. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity, socioeconomic identity, sexual orientation, national origin, previous incarceration, disability, military veteran/status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. To this end, we welcome all qualified applicants to apply.