NOW HIRING

Communications Director

Position Overview:

The Communications Director is responsible for planning and implementing communications strategies – in consultation with staff peers and volunteer members of the organization – aimed at generating earned media coverage for POWER, motivating POWER members to take action and helping expand our base of supporters.

About POWER:

We are Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower & Rebuild (POWER). We are 85 congregations across Pennsylvania, intentionally bringing people together across the lines of race, faith, income level and neighborhood -- lines, which have historically kept people divided. We are people of faith committed to the work of bringing about racial and economic justice here and now, in our state and our region. By strengthening and mobilizing our networks of relationships, we seek to exercise power in the public arena so that the needs and priorities of all Pennsylvanians are reflected in the systems and policies that shape our state.

POWER is a proud affiliate of Faith in Action (www.faithinaction.org), the largest and fastest growing faith-based community organizing effort in the country. We are a faith based not faith exclusive entity. At Faith in Action we are lifting a new vision for America that is rooted in our shared moral values and democratic traditions. POWER is also a member of Power Switch Action (formally Partnership for Working Families) (www.forworkingfamilies.org), a national network of leading regional advocacy organizations who support innovative solutions to our nation’s economic and environmental problems. For more information on POWER visit our website at www.powerinterfaith.org

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions**):

  1. Guides the design and implementation of POWER’s public communications strategies including traditional media outreach and digital organizing.
  2. Oversees production and distribution of POWER’s marketing and media communications, including but not limited to media advisories and press releases, social media, e-blasts and e-newsletters, and other promotional materials (e.g. hardcopy brochure, videos, etc).
  3. Works closely with staff peers and volunteer members to develop a coherent public narrative for POWER’s community organizing work, including how to shift dominant narratives about issues and systems POWER seeks to transform.
  4. Supports staff and volunteer members to develop concrete media and digital strategies for issue campaigns.
  5. Identifies goals for media coverage in local, regional, and national outlets and cultivates relationships with key media outlets and reporters to increase POWER’s visibility.
  6. Supports organizing staff in the design, coordination and preparation of media events.
  7. Meets regularly with Director of Operations to plan and implement online fundraising-related strategies.
  8. Guides strategy for use of POWER’s email lists and e-advocacy tool (Salsa), including working closely with Data staff to ensure proper maintenance/updating of supporter records.
  9. Provides training and consultation to staff and key lay and clergy leaders on media, messaging social media, and digital organizing skills, including use of e-advocacy tools.
  10. Meets/communicates regularly with staff peers to ensure that communications efforts are in concert with campaign goals and strategies.
  11. Builds and provides ongoing support to volunteer Media Team who assist in the crafting and implementing of messaging, media outreach and media event planning.
  12. Regularly creates content for and updates organizational website.
  13. Prepares regular reports on POWER’s communications, including media hits, social media, website and Salsa analytics, identifying insights and where progress is needed.
  14. As needed, hires and work with consultants and contractors to increase capacity for areas of communications work, including but not limited to media relations, digital organizing campaigns, graphic design, web design, video production, etc.
  15. Takes pictures and/or video to document POWER events, or maintains relationships with professional photographers/videographers to contract with for special events and develops a cadre of volunteers to do these tasks.
  16. Maintains media catalog to track POWER’s media hits.
  17. Writes and submits weekly staff progress report.
  18. Other duties as required

Supervision Received:

Supervised by Chief of Staff

Supervision Exercised:

Digital Media Specialist

Qualifications & Skills:

  • Minimum of Bachelor’s degree and two years of related experience and /or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
  • Strong grasp of strategic communications and storytelling strategy, including how to create strong messaging for community organizing campaigns
  • Experience with and comfort with operating in a faith-based context, using faith-centered language and ability to effectively build authentic relationships with people of various faiths.
  • Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs of audience; presents numerical data effectively.
  • Demonstrated ability to use or quickly learn a range of digital tools including but not limited to social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), e-advocacy tools and contact databases (e.g. VAN, Salsa, etc.), and Excel spreadsheets.
  • Speaks clearly and pervasively in positive or challenging situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions.
  • Ability to work independently and achieve outcomes with minimal supervision.
  • Ability to prioritize and organize time and work with minimal supervision.
  • Ability to facilitate meetings, informational sessions, and design and facilitate trainings.
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate and an openness to learning and sharing.
  • Ability to juggle multiple priorities and mental agility to meet demands of fast changing environments.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to cultivate relationships with multiple stakeholders including media, funders, organizations, and members.
  • Ability to work evenings and weekends.

Physical Requirements:

  • Frequent Standing
  • Frequent Walking
  • Regular Sitting
  • Regular Seeing, Speaking, and Hearing
  • Lifting or exerting force up to 10 pounds
  • Fingering or manual dexterity
  • Repetitive finger motion