Description
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR JOB SYNOPSIS
Full job description can be found here.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The ACLU of Montana (ACLU-MT) seeks a dynamic, strategic, and mission-driven Communications Director to lead its Communication Department and serve as a member of the organization’s leadership/senior management team. The Communications Director reports to the Executive Director and plays a critical role in advancing ACLU-MT’s integrated advocacy efforts, serving as both a strategic advisor and team leader in the development and execution of comprehensive communications initiatives across traditional and digital platforms. The Communications Director is responsible for shaping the public voice and amplifying the visibility of the organization, while ensuring alignment with organization’s mission, values, and programmatic goals.
At the ACLU of Montana, we cover the broad waterfront of civil rights issues, including the right to privacy (including reproductive rights), voting rights, criminal-legal reform, and 2S-LGBTQIA+ rights, with a particular emphasis on our strategic priority areas of Indigenous Justice and decriminalization of poverty. The ideal candidate has demonstrated deep commitment to civil rights and liberties, along with sophisticated understanding of how to use strategic communications as a tool in advancing policy, advocacy and litigation outcomes, and uplifting community storytelling, while applying an anti-racist and de-colonial lens to communications work. They will have experience in both internal and external communications, demonstrating fluency across a range of disciplines including media relations, digital and social media strategy, speechwriting, brand and reputation management, and fundraising communications. They will also exhibit strong news judgment, political acumen, and the ability to lead with calm and clarity during periods of crisis or heightened visibility. A background in issue-based or political campaigns is a plus, as is experience working on a team in fast-moving, high-stakes environments. The successful candidate will be highly collaborative and inclusive, while also displaying the ability to work independently. Management experience is also a plus, as we envision an eventual communications department of at least two staff members.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
This position is full-time, exempt, and will pay an annual salary of between $101,000 and $111,000, depending on experience. Excellent benefits offered, including health, vision and dental insurance, short and long-term disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan and employer matching, and generous vacation, holiday, sabbatical, and family and medical leave policies. Relocation reimbursements for actual moving expenses are available up to $4,000, contingent on two years’ employment. A monthly reimbursement for personal mobile phone and internet is offered to all ACLU employees. The ACLU of Montana also invests in each staff member’s professional development.
The position is fully remote, based anywhere in Montana. There is optional access to co-working spaces in select cities. Candidates based in other states must be willing to relocate to Montana within the first three months of start date. All staff are required to meet quarterly for in-person workdays held across the state. Additionally, this position will require travel for occasional events across the state. ACLU of Montana pays for work related travel expenses, including in-person days.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
All applications are treated confidentially. Please email your application to jobs[at]aclumontana.org and include “Communications Director” in the subject line of your email. Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter that best expresses their interest in this position and qualifications aligned with the role. Applicants are particularly encouraged to highlight:
- Communications leadership that has leveraged planning, creativity, and teamwork to advance advocacy, policy, litigation and/or mission-driven goals.
- Ability to design and execute multi-channel communications programs, applying strong writing, editing and content creation skills to traditional and digital communications strategies.
- Cultural competency to effectively communicate about social justice issues, including Indigenous Justice, 2S-LGBTQIA+, and other ACLU of Montana priorities with diverse audiences and impacted communities.
Applications without a cover letter will not be considered
Applicants with Disabilities: Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing to jobs[at]aclumontana.org to request reasonable accommodation at the time of application.
HIRING PROCESS
Application review will start February 1, 2026. Applications after that date are encouraged and will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is removed from the ACLU-MT Careers page.
Our hiring process is managed by a dedicated hiring committee and HR staff. The steps for finalist selection include a screening call by HR staff, videoconferencing interview with the hiring committee, a compensated assessment/work sample exercise, a final videoconferencing interview, reference calls for the selected finalist, decision and making a job offer to the finalist candidate. A writing sample and three references (including two former or current supervisors) will also be required of shortlisted candidates. We commit to regular communication with all applicants throughout the process, will apprise candidates of next steps as appropriate, and will promptly communicate any change in timeline.
To learn more about the work of the ACLU-MT, please visit aclumontana.org.
Requirements
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES
The following skills and experiences are integral to meeting job responsibilities. Please be sure to identify and highlight these in your application and throughout the hiring process. We deeply value lived experience in addition to any professional, volunteer, or coursework experience related to the items described below. Recognizing that the skills outlined below are varied and encompass the full range of needs for ACLU of Montana’s Communications Department, if a candidate has very strong skills in one area, such as writing, but fewer skills in another area, such as digital communications, they are encouraged to apply.
- Directly applicable experience in communications, media relations, or related field. Experience in a non-profit environment or political campaigns is a plus.
- Exceptional writing, analytical, and speaking skills, including copy editing and editing for tone and consistency, with demonstrated strength in clear and precise writing to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences, especially about technical items that fall within the scope of ACLU of Montana’s work (i.e. legislation, policy, litigation, etc.).
- Knowledge of how to build an effective communications program that combines earned media, digital media, and paid media channels.
- Strong leadership and collaboration skills; demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively with a varied and wide range of individuals and groups (i.e. staff members, board members, lawyers, clients, volunteers, and coalition partners and diverse communities).
- Robust project management experience with strong preference for knowledge of, or willingness to use, Asana software.
- Experience managing, prioritizing, and meeting multiple and simultaneous deadlines and projects in a timely manner, with the ability to pivot and re-prioritize when necessary to meet fast-changing deadlines and organizational needs.
- Familiarity with the ACLU-MT’s mission and a broad range of civil rights issues and how they impact various communities across Montana.
- Sophisticated understanding of public advocacy campaigns, the legislative process and Montana’s political dynamics.
- Experience working with media outlets at the national, regional, and local levels.
- Demonstrated ability to translate complicated legislative, legal or advocacy issues for a lay audience.
- Commitment to and passion for social justice and the preservation and advancement of civil rights and liberties.
- Commitment to equity and inclusion, and respect for differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance and class.
- Understanding and willingness to engage with the issues of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on underserved and historically marginalized communities.
- Demonstrated experience engaging and working with and/or on behalf of underserved and historically marginalized communities.
Commitment to and understanding of trust-building, ethical storytelling, and trauma-informed communication. - Ability to travel and attend events as needed.
