Associate Director, Media Strategy

Who we are :

The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they're fair for all.

Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change.

We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn't determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention;

and everyone is treated with dignity. For more information, visit vera.org.

Vera has a staff of 224 people, is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York and has offices in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and New Orleans.

We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace. We expect our staff to embody respect, independence, collaboration, commitment, anti-racism, and equity-both in our outward-facing work and the internal culture of our workplace.

We value a range of experiences in people's educational backgrounds and encourage people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to apply.

About the role :

As one of two Associate Directors of Media Strategy, you will conceptualize and oversee media strategy and execution for multiple initiatives and campaigns across the Institute.

The Associate Director will also play a role in skill and career development as well as establishing processes and leading project management across the Media Strategy team.

This position will also work directly with staff at all levels across the institute to ensure that media strategy team efforts are supporting institutional strategy and goals as well as those of specific initiatives.

As an Associate Director, you will also hold bottom-line responsibility in overseeing the measurement of the media strategy team's impact across your specific portfolio.

What you'll do :

Managerial responsibilitiesProvide direct supervision of 1-4 media strategy staffersSupervision includes oversight of writing assignments, communications plans, and quarterly and annual goals, as well as career and skill development at the team and individual levelManage vendors and other consultants as neededDevelopment and execution of communications strategy

Conceive, develop, and successfully execute a communications strategy to drive narrative and policy change at the national, regional, and / or local levels, in collaboration and in partnership with other Vera staffersOngoing monitoring of the media landscape for opportunities and challenges based on national legislation, breaking news, and other trendsDevelop messaging to support initiatives' work and Vera priorities, as neededDevelop and execute a crisis communications plan for a variety of scenarios related to specific initiativesOngoing pitching of Vera's work and our experts on staff with all forms of earned mediaProviding media training, support and prep for interviewsCollaborate with and partner with a range of internal stakeholders

Collaborate with communications, advocacy and partnerships, research, and program staff to ensure coherent messaging development and deliveryCollaborate with Vera's digital and editorial teams to ensure coordination of communication strategies and tight integration with the Institute's overall messagingWhat qualifications are we looking for?

8+ years of work experience in communications, including at least 5 years of experience in nonprofit, government and / or mediaPreferred : Work experience that includes 2-3 years of direct supervisory experience of rising communications talentStrong background in media relations and nonprofit communications strategyWe are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace-specifically, we value diverse experiences regarding educational background and justice system contact.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring :

Strong managerial skillsStrong strategy skillsStrong writing and research skillsStrong collaboration skills and experience working effectively in a large organization with multiple stakeholdersAbility to be flexible, adaptable, productive, and effective in a change management environmentExperience working with policy coalitions and community-based partnersAbility to consider multiple perspectives, think critically, provide an analysis, evaluate risk, and implement solutions to complex problemsInfluential communication skills, able to justify recommendations to diverse audiences in a compelling mannerHighly proficient with Microsoft Office SuiteAn uncompromising commitment to race equityTechnical knowledge we need you prepared to use :

Microsoft Office Suite or similar softwareMedia monitoring services (i.e. Meltwater, TVeyes)

Location :

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Compensation and Benefits :

The compensation range for this position is $111,000 - $112,500. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance.

The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute's total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff-both personally and professionally-is a priority.

To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time.

To learn more about Vera's benefits offerings, click here.

Applications may also be faxed to :

ATTN : People Resources / Associate Director, Media StrategyVera Institute of Justice34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232Fax : (212) 941-9407Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.

No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

In order to ensure a healthy and safe work environment, Vera Institute of Justice is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine before their start date.

Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability / medical contraindication or sincerely held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.

g., an exemption) to this requirement.

Vera 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, current employment status, or caregiver status.

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world.

We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org