Communications Manager

Description

Who We Are

The Amica Center for Immigrant Rights fights for the rights, safety, and unity of immigrant communities, standing with those trapped in our nation’s fundamentally flawed immigration system. We engage in unwavering legal defense and strategic litigation for immigrant children and adults facing detention and deportation in the Capital Region and beyond, because everyone has the right to be free, safe, and supported.

Our Work Environment:

Amica Center’s Development and Communications team functions in a highly collaborative environment. Our team is responsible for raising approximately $1.5M in unrestricted and restricted contributions annually from individual donors, corporations, foundations, law firms, pro bono partners, and other entities.

Our team works closely with our core programs, including the Adult Program, Children’s Program, and our Immigration Impact Lab to uplift the experiences of immigrants in detention as they navigate our fundamentally unjust system.

If you have further questions or need assistance with the application process, please email HR@amicacenter.org. Thank you again for considering our organization as a potential employer.

Position Summary:

The Communications Manager is responsible for developing and executing communications initiatives that elevate Amica Center's mission, advocacy priorities, impact, and expertise.

This role manages storytelling, narrative development, media relations, litigation communications, and content creation across multiple channels. As a member of the Development and Communications department, this position works closely with program teams, leadership, and external partners. The Communications Manager translates complex legal and policy issues into compelling public narratives that engage supporters, influence public discourse, and advance department and organizational goals.

General Duties and Responsibilities:

Media Relations & Litigation Communications (estimated 50% of time)

• Serve as the day-to-day lead for media outreach and engagement.
• Develop and maintain relationships with reporters, editors, producers, and media outlets.
• Draft and distribute press releases, media advisories, statements, and press materials.
• Coordinate interviews and attend press briefings.
• Monitor media coverage and identify opportunities to increase organizational visibility.
• Provide media preparation and message coaching for organizational spokespersons.
• Track media placements and maintain media lists and outreach systems.
• Develop communications strategies for litigation advocacy initiatives.
• Partner closely with legal teams, coalition partners, and external stakeholders to ensure communications plans align with legal strategy and risk considerations.
• Draft litigation communications materials including: press releases, public statements, message guidance, FAQs, talking points, media responses
• Coordinate communications surrounding major filings, hearings, rulings, settlements, and campaign actions.
• Identify opportunities to connect legal developments to broader public narratives about immigrant justice and due process.

Narrative, Content, and Storytelling Development (estimated 25% of time)

• Maintain organizational messaging, narrative frameworks, and communications guidance across key issue areas.
• Prepare messaging guidance, talking points, FAQs, briefs, and communications plans for staff and leadership.
• Help maintain and strengthen Amica Center's brand identity and organizational reputation. Ensure consistency of voice, messaging, and positioning across all external communications.
• Lead the development of client-centered stories and organizational narratives that demonstrate Amica Center's mission and outcomes.
• Collaborate with legal, programmatic, and development staff to identify compelling stories and amplify community voices ethically and responsibly.
• Write and edit long-form content, including website stories and features, donor communications, opinion pieces and blog articles, presentations and speaking materials, and advocacy and campaign materials.
• Maintain an editorial calendar that aligns storytelling across communications, advocacy, and fundraising initiatives.

Project Management (estimated 10% of time)

• Create and review communications materials to ensure consistency with organizational messaging, style guidelines, and values.
• Partner with programs and leadership on crisis and rapid-response communications when needed.
• Provide guidance, editing, feedback, and strategic direction for digital communications projects.
• Support communications interns, fellows, contractors, and consultants as needed.
• Establish project timelines and communications priorities across the team.
• Attend and facilitate team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and meetings with program staff as needed.
• Proficiency or working knowledge of communications tools, including PR and media monitoring platforms; Adobe Creative Suite and Canva; email marketing and CRM platforms; social media management tools; website content management systems; digital analytics and reporting tools; and an interest in learning emerging AI tools for communications.

Evaluation & Reporting (estimated 15% of time)

• Track and evaluate communications performance across campaigns, media efforts, and storytelling initiatives.
• Analyze media coverage, audience engagement, and content performance to identify trends and opportunities.
• Contribute communications metrics and narrative reporting for funders, board reports, and organizational planning.

[1] This list is illustrative and not intended to be a complete classification of all job functions or tasks.

Requirements

Qualifications Required:

• 5-7 years of relevant work experience.
• Excellent writing, editing and storytelling skills, with experience producing materials such as press releases, talking points, media advisories, opinion pieces, FAQs, and website content.
• Demonstrated experience managing media relations and proactive press outreach, including pitching reporters, responding to media inquiries, coordinating interviews, and building relationships with journalists.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex legal, policy, or technical issues into clear, compelling, and accessible language for public audiences.
• Experience developing communications strategies and messaging around time-sensitive, high-profile, or rapidly evolving issues.
• Experience collaborating across departments and with subject-matter experts, organizational leadership, external partners, and coalitions.
• Strong project-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects, competing deadlines, stakeholders, and rapid-response needs simultaneously.
• Commitment to ethical and client-centered storytelling, including an understanding of informed consent, dignity, privacy, trauma-informed practices, and the risks associated with public storytelling.
• Experience using communications and digital tools such as media monitoring and PR platforms, Canva and/or Adobe Creative Suite, email marketing or CRM platforms, and analytics tools.

Competencies Required:

• Understands how different audiences interpret messages and adjusts framing, tone, format, and channel accordingly.
• Develops clear, persuasive messaging and adapts it appropriately for media, supporters, policymakers, partners, donors, and the public.
• Connects day-to-day communications opportunities to broader organizational, advocacy, fundraising, and narrative goals.
• Builds trusted relationships with journalists and identifies strategic opportunities for proactive media engagement.
• Understands the relationship between legal strategy and public communications and works effectively with attorneys to communicate developments accurately without creating unnecessary legal or reputational risk.
• Produces accurate, strategic communications quickly during breaking news, court rulings, government actions, crises, and other high-pressure moments.
• Helps staff and clients communicate clearly and confidently during interviews, briefings, and public appearances.
• Maintains consistency in organizational voice, visual identity, positioning, and messaging.
• Uses media coverage, audience engagement, digital analytics, and other performance indicators to improve communications strategy.

Salary: $75,000-$85,000 commensurate with experience

Position Type: Full time, exempt position

Reports To: Deputy Director of Communications

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Location and/or Travel Requirements: This position will be based in Washington, DC, or the Baltimore, MD, office.

Telework: Amica Center operates in a hybrid work environment, with a minimum of one in-office day per week. Because of the external-facing nature of this role, additional in-person work and travel will be required for press briefings, reporter interviews, outreach and fundraising events, and other communications activities.

Hours: Amica Center is a 35- to 40-hour workweek, though this role is expected to work after hours, weekends, etc., as needed to manage breaking news, urgent press inquiries, and media demands.

Benefits: Amica Center offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, flexible spending account, life insurance, and pre-tax commuter benefits for those living in the DMV.

Paid Time Off: Amica Center provides personal, sick and volunteer time off, federal holidays, winter break closure and parental leave.

EEO Statement: Amica Center for Immigrant Rights is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with anti-discrimination law, it is the purpose of this policy to effectuate these principles and mandates. Amica Center prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Amica Center conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.

Our Anti-Racism Statement: To learn more about our anti-racism statementhttps://amicacenter.org/becoming-anti-racist/

COVID-19 Vaccination: All employees are required to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. To be fully vaccinated means having completed the full dosages required for the type of vaccine obtained as designated by the CDC. If boosters are subsequently recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) then employees will be required to receive the booster within thirty (30) days of their eligibility to access the boosters.

How to Apply: Submit your resume, cover letter and 3 writing samples that explains your interest in this role with your Paylocity submission. We are particularly interested in seeing work that shows your ability to translate complex legal topics into clear, compelling, and accessible communication for the general public. Please refrain from sending application materials separately via email.