Communications Manager

In the face of the danger posed by COVID to people incarcerated in prisons and jails, the UCLA Prison Law and Policy Program launched the UCLA COVID Behind Bars Data Project in March 2020. Currently a team of six staff and numerous volunteers, the Project tracks the spread and impact of COVID in prisons and jails and advocates for greater transparency and accountability around the pandemic response of the carceral system. Stemming from this work, our next major focus is creating a national resource for the public’s understanding of deaths in prisons. Our centralized, nationwide project documents deaths in prison, many of which are not reflected in any publicly available data set.

The Project seeks a Communications Manager to research, write, and edit communications projects in collaboration with our interdisciplinary team of data scientists and policy researchers. These projects will include blog posts, white papers, social media posts, and more. The Communications Manager will also contribute to the Project’s larger media strategy by drafting press releases, conducting press outreach, and maintaining our website.

The ideal candidate will be creative, curious, empathic, and proactive about highlighting the Project’s innovative work.

We are a small team and work collaboratively, though remotely. The work we produce is intended for both technical and broader public audiences. Examples include the following:

• Data to power the CDC’s Correctional Facility COVID Data Tracker
• Published research in public health journals (e.g., JAMA, AJPM, MMWR)
• Blog posts and white papers on data trends and policies related to the pandemic behind bars
• Social media posts drawing attention to outbreaks and other urgent issues
• Carceral mortality dataset and associated research

  Responsibilities include the following:

• Research and write content related to the pandemic and incarceration, deaths in prison, and carceral data transparency
• Collaborate with data scientists on analyzing and communicating findings from data collection and statistical analyses to various audiences (e.g., the public, journalists, legislators, litigators, advocates)
• Provide feedback and edit team members’ written products
• Plan for and draft monthly newsletter
• Work with Project Director to develop and implement media strategy for all publications and national carceral mortality project
• Manage COVID Behind Bars Twitter and Instagram accounts
• Recommend areas to be explored, methods of analysis to be employed, and possible sources of data

  Required qualifications include the following:

• Experience, ideally at least three years, in some combination of journalism, communications, the criminal legal system, health policy, public policy, or related fields
• Superb analytical and writing skills, including ability to translate research for broad and diverse audiences
• Familiarity or interest in working with public health and criminal justice data
• Outstanding initiative, judgement, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently and solve problems creatively
• Excellent critical thinking skills and capacity to understand, translate, and disseminate complex ideas to varied audiences
• Excellent editing and proofreading skills, including ability to identify and correct errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Proficiency in simple graphic design software, or willingness to develop the same

  Preferred qualifications include the following:

• Knowledge of print, broadcast, digital, and online news media and communication strategies.
• Experience with crafting posts and messaging for various social media platforms, including creation of graphics and identification of key hashtags
• Undergraduate degree
• Lived experience with and/or knowledge of the criminal legal system

  This position will begin immediately and is funded through January 2023, with a possible extension depending on need and funding. This can be a full- or part-time position. The work will be remote; applicants need not reside in California. The Communications Manager will be supervised by the Project Director. The salary will be $70,000 – $80,000 per annum with limited benefits including health insurance.

  To apply, please submit an application at https://hr.mycareer.ucla.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=84885 with a cover letter explaining your interest in and qualifications for the position, resume, and list of references. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, beginning immediately.

  UCLA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.

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