Director of Strategic Communications

The Policing Project at New York University School of Law is seeking an experienced professional to join our team as the Director of Strategic  Communications. The ideal candidate will bring together and lead a number of our policy and social change initiatives, have a deep well of experience in advocating for alternative response programs, and a passion for achieving just public safety outcomes. 

Background on the Policing Project

The Policing Project partners with communities, policymakers, and the police to promote public safety through transparency, equity, and democratic engagement. We bring a new approach to this fraught area, one grounded in democratic values. In particular, our work focuses on ensuring accountability on the front end. Front-end accountability involves promoting public voice in setting transparent, ethical, and effective policies and practices before the police act. The goal is achieving public safety in a manner that is equitable, non-discriminatory, and respectful of public values. 

You can learn more about our work, past and present, at www.PolicingProject.org.

Job Description & Responsibilities:

  • Development and implementation of strategic communications vision to advance the programmatic and development goals of the organization 

    • Create and implement a communications plan

    • Actively identify challenges and opportunities and define appropriate strategies to address them 

    • Utilize and/or further develop new branding and mission/vision/values copy and products 

    • Determine communications needs and plan for growth/visibility over 2-5 years, including budget and oversight with the Executive Director 

  • Create and operationalize an organization-wide editorial calendar for tracking regularly occurring and ad hoc deliverables (programmatic and otherwise) 

    • Working with relevant program staff to create content for newsletters, blog posts, etc. 

  • Building consistent quality control standards for all communications and public education materials 

  • Oversee a media strategy for the Policing Project and ensure spokespeople are prepared, including: 

    • Active engagement and cultivation of media relationships to advance organizational priorities 

    • Respond to and/or delegate media interactions and inquiries 

    • Create and/or delegate materials for effective media and public engagement, such as talking points, speeches, and presentations) 

  • Day to day management of communications staff 

  • Day to day management of contractors

Desired Experience, Skills, and Qualifications:

We seek to hire someone with a deep passion for improving policing and public safety, ensuring that it is both protective of civil rights and racially just, and someone who has the experience and ability to manage projects and relationships independently. Given the innovative nature of our work, and the fact that it often occurs around fraught social issues, we are looking for someone who is a problem solver with maturity and judgment.

In addition, we will consider the following qualifications, but do not expect any applicant to have all of them: 

  • A bachelor’s degree and at least 10 years of professional experience; 

  • Track record of identifying and maintaining relationships with press, policymakers and their staff, and other influential actors in the space; 

  • Experience managing multi-member/multi-team projects; 

  • Demonstrated project management expertise; 

  • Strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated willingness to develop and maintain professional relationships; 

  • Excellent judgement and the ability to keep many balls in the air without dropping them; 

  • Strong written and communication skills; 

  • Strong familiarity and/or interest in criminal law, policing and public safety, racial justice, and civil rights/civil liberties; 

  • Collegial, collaborative and curious; 

  • Proactive, highly organized and with reliable follow-through; 

  • Some experience with grant writing, budgeting and long-term strategic planning; 

  • Comfort with public speaking and representing an organization in public spaces (conferences, fundraising events, etc.).

The Policing Project heartily encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds and is an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, citizenship status, color, disability, marital or parental status, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

Strong preference will be given to those who can be based out of the Policing Project’s New York City offices (located at NYU Law School). Full-time remote options are a possibility, however, with travel to NYU regularly expected.

Application Instructions

To apply please email a cover letter where you talk about a communications strategy you are proud of, a brief writing sample and resume as one PDF to applications@policingproject.org. Indicate “Strategic Comms” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and you will be contacted if selected for an interview. 

Salary is commensurate with experience. In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Law, the salary is in the range of $130,000-160,000. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Compensation also includes excellent benefits, including medical, dental, and vision. After one year, employees are eligible for tuition remission at certain NYU schools and matching retirement contributions. Further information regarding benefits can be found here. 

NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels. 

EOE/AA/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity