Deputy Director of Communications

To Apply:

Until Filled.Upon request The North Carolina Justice Center will provide reasonable accommodation for all candidates with disabilities.

Location: Hybrid (Raleigh NC)
Department: Communications
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports to: Director of Gifts Endowment and Communications
Union Status: Non-Union

Supervises: N/A

Hiring Salary Range: $70000-$80000

Overview

The North Carolina Justice Center (NCJC) is a progressive research and advocacy organization dedicated to expanding opportunity and protecting the rights of low-income individuals and communities in North Carolina. For over 29 years NCJC has worked across policy legal and community platforms to address poverty and systemic inequities through legislative advocacy litigation public education and coalition building.

The Deputy Director of Communications plays a critical leadership role within the North Carolina Justice Center and is responsible for advancing the organizations strategic communications vision operational effectiveness and public narrative across all issue areas. This role provides leadership over day-to-day communications operations ensures message alignment with organizational priorities supports cross-project integration and strengthens NCJCs visibility credibility and influence with key audiences.

This position is designed as a leadership development role. The Deputy Director of Communications will be intentionally mentored and supported to step into formal supervisory responsibilities over time in alignment with the North Carolina Justice Centers organizational needs and growth.

Key Responsibilities Leadership and Strategy

Supports the Director of Gifts Endowment and Communications in setting and executing a comprehensive communications strategy aligned with NCJCs mission values and long-term goals.

Serves as a strategic thought partner to senior leadership on narrative development message discipline crisis communications and reputational strategy.

Ensures communications strategies reflect and integrate NCJCs policy litigation advocacy development and engagement priorities.

Anticipates communications opportunities and risks associated with legislative sessions litigation and major organizational initiatives.

Through coaching shared leadership and progressive responsibility the Deputy Director will build skills in staff supervision performance management delegation and team development.

Program and Operations Management

Oversees day-to-day operations of the Communications Department including workflows timelines and project prioritization.

Develops implements and evaluates annual and multi-year communications plans tracking performance metrics and outcomes to improve impact and efficiency.

Establishes and updates communications systems processes and best practices.

Staff Leadership and Team Development

Alongside the Director of Gifts Endowment and Communications supports staff collaboration and performance.

Coordinates communications work across project teams development staff and engagement staff to ensure alignment and effectiveness.

Public Relations and Spokesperson Responsibilities

Serves as a spokesperson for the North Carolina Justice Center in coordination with organizational leadership.

Leads media relations strategy including cultivating and maintaining relationships with reporters editors and producers.

Oversees preparation and dissemination of press releases media advisories op-eds letters to the editor and organizational statements.

Prepares remarks talking points and briefing materials for the Executive Director and senior staff.

Monitors media coverage analyzes trends and advises leadership on media strategy and risk management.

Digital Communications and Advocacy

Oversees NCJCs digital platforms ensuring the website email and social media channels function

as effective tools for advocacy education and fundraising.

Supervises digital campaigns including email social media paid advertising and online advocacy actions.

Ensures effective use of digital tools and CRM systems (e.g. EveryAction Google Analytics Google Ads for Nonprofits Meta ads).

Development and Organizational Support

Supports fundraising efforts by contributing to donor communications and reporting requirements.

Provides communications leadership for organization-wide initiatives that represent the NC Justice Center as a whole.

Other Duties

Performs other related duties assigned in support of organizational goals.

Work Environment

Hybrid work environment including home and corporate office.

Benefits

Six weeks paid time off annually

Paid parental leave and holidays

Employer contributions to a 403(b)-retirement plan

Medical dental and vision insurance

Disability and life insurance

Flexible spending and health savings account options

Equal Opportunity

The NC Justice Center is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race color creed sex religion age national origin sexual orientation gender identity political affiliation disability pregnancy personal appearance citizenship military service genetic information natural hairstyles or any protected status. We are a Fair Chance Employer and strive to reduce barriers to employment for individuals with criminal records.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelors degree in Communications Journalism Marketing or a relevant field (relevant includes Public Relations Marketing or Media Studies).

Five years of progressive experience in communications marketing journalism or advocacy communications.

Strong understanding of policy advocacy legislative processes and/or litigation communications.

Demonstrated commitment to social racial and economic justice and to issues impacting families or individuals with low incomes.

Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced highly collaborative environment.

Preferred Qualifications

Masters degree in a relevant field. (relevant includes Communications Journalism Marketing Public Relations Marketing or Media Studies).

Demonstrated experience leading com

communications strategy in a complex multi-issue organization.

Team leadership experience to manage workflows.

Experience in nonprofit or movement-based communications.

Experience working at the state level on policy and legislative issues.

Familiarity with EveryAction Wordpress Cision and media monitoring tools.

Experience supporting communications across multiple issue areas including housing energy health care workers rights education immigration and criminal justice.

Physical Requirements

The employee should have the ability to maintain focus and productivity while performing sedentary tasks at a workstation for prolonged periods including working on a computer managing documents or engaging in virtual meetings. Lifting up to 10 lbs. is required for work equipment.