Manager of Communications

Title: Manager of Communications

Department: Communications

This Role Reports to: Director of Communications and Publications

Location: Candidates must be based in a state where The Bail Project currently operates is preferred, which includes the following: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IN, IL, KY, MD, MO, MT, NY, NC, OH, OK, TX, PA, SC, WA

About The Bail Project

The Problem

There is no place in the criminal justice system where money more clearly buys justice than bail. People who can’t afford bail remain in jail before trial, while those with money buy their liberty. Tying freedom to financial ability upends the presumption of innocence, tears lives apart, and perpetuates racial and economic disparities. It is also a key driver of mass incarceration. Each year, an estimated 2.5 million people sit in jail cells across America because they cannot afford bail.

The Response

The Bail Project is a national nonprofit that provides free bail assistance and pretrial support to thousands of low-income people every year. We are on a mission to combat mass incarceration and demonstrate that a more humane, equitable, and effective pretrial system is possible.

The Model

The Bail Project uses a national revolving bail fund to pay bail for individuals who are legally presumed innocent, and whom a judge has deemed eligible for release. We then provide court reminders, transportation, and work with local partner organizations to connect our clients with voluntary social services and community-based programs. We call this model Community Release with Support, and it has proven highly effective in helping people make their court dates. As our clients’ cases close, bail comes back into the fund where it is recycled to help additional people. The goal of The Bail Project is to work ourselves out of a job by gathering human stories and data from our ground work to advance legislative and policy change to end cash bail and invest in Community Release with Support (aftercashbail.org).

The Team

We are a community of advocates committed to ending mass incarceration and advancing racial and economic justice. Our organization consists of a central support hub and a growing network of client advocates or “Bail Disruptors” who work in their local communities to provide bail assistance and help advance advocacy efforts on the ground.

Job Summary

The Manager of Communications will report directly to the Director of Communications and Publications and will work closely with the Communications Associate as well as other Bail Project staff. They will help shape the organization’s messaging and create proactive press strategies to influence public discourse and policy makers, affecting real change. The Manager of Communications will be a proactive and strategic communicator who is an exceptional writer. They will partner with the Director of Communications and Publications to develop and execute communications strategies.

Core Responsibilities

• Serve as a key communications strategist by continually surveying the media landscape for upcoming opportunities and challenges – and working with colleagues within and outside the department to develop strategies for responding to them, often on very tight deadlines.
• Write, ghostwrite, and substantively edit blog posts, press statements, and other products as needed to elevate The Bail Project’s research and work, and help inform and advance the public debate.
• Assess The Bail Project’s work for newsworthiness and create engaging, dynamic content for the public, including press releases, blog articles, website updates, and other news and public relations content.
• Proactively cultivate relationships with reporters, editors, producers, show bookers, bloggers and other media professionals. Collaborate with other departments to increase the visibility of The Bail Project’s work in the U.S., including policy/advocacy at the federal and state level.
• Engage, through pitches and active follow-up, journalists and thought leaders at the national and local level to promote and achieve maximum coverage of The Bail Project’s work on priority issues. This includes securing media coverage and interviews (TV, radio, online, and print); placing op-eds in key media outlets; developing press materials and talking points; creating comprehensive press plans; and preparing spokespeople for media appearances.
• Monitor local and national media to identify specific opportunities for thematic pitches that intersect with The Bail Project’s mission and work to identify topical, contemporary subjects that can be responsive to the current news cycle.
• Provide media training and support to staff and organizational spokespeople by preparing advance materials or talking points for interviews, facilitating interview requests, and identifying opportunities. Work across departments on communications strategy and messaging.
• Assist in developing and implementing an integrated strategic communications plan that promotes The Bail Project’s work across a broad platform of media outlets. Secure coverage of the organization as well as its clients in high-profile media.
• Support the execution of an internal communications strategy that lifts up the collective and individual achievements among staff, message organizational imperatives and announcements, and inform all staff of systems and policies changes. Supports effective response strategies, often in crisis situations requiring 24/7 attention and intense media/public scrutiny.
• Translate complex subject matter into concise, accessible content for a range of audiences and collaborate with our different teams to bring our work and stories to life. Work across teams and across content areas, and experiment with different types of storytelling.
• Work closely with department staff to frame and communicate work and findings, identifying stories in data to highlight for target audiences. Model effective cross-departmental partnerships and collaboration, with an emphasis on communications-creative and communications-policy departmental relations
• Cultivate an environment of trust, excellence, and accountability in the work. Offer problem-solving leadership, listen to, and collaborate with other Bail Project staff.
• Provide additional project support and additional responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

You are driven, highly organized, and have a deep commitment to The Bail Project’s mission to eliminate race- and wealth-based disparities in our criminal justice system. We’re looking for someone who is comfortable working independently and in a team-based remote setting. Adapting to the change inherent to a rapidly scaling startup is essential. To work in this organization, you will be required to work with people who have been directly impacted by the carceral system, including folks who have prior records.

• 5-7 years of experience in a similar role within proven strategic communications experience
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, marketing, public relations, public policy or related field preferred; advanced degree a plus.
• Previous work in a social justice, advocacy, legal, press office, newsroom, or criminal justice setting preferred.
• Experience developing and implementing effective communications plans.
• Experience working in a diverse, geographically distributed and remote organization.
• Strong writing and substantive editing skills, especially under deadlines
• A collaborative approach to work including the ability to build relationships and work effectively with diverse cross-functional teams
• Comfort working under tight timelines in a fast-paced environment with grace and good humor while ensuring quality and accountability.

To excel in this role, you likely bring the following:

• High emotional intelligence; able to understand the needs and concerns of partners and colleagues
• A collaborative and visionary approach, with a demonstrated record of success in developing and implementing multi-faceted communications efforts that position and elevate the profile and perception of an organization or institution with multiple audiences.
• Comfortability with change; flexible and agile in a constantly transforming environment.
• Strong attention to detail with an analytical mind and superb problem-solving skills
• Strong interpersonal skills, exceptional communication and presentation skills (both written and spoken), and decision-making skills; good judgment.
• High organizational skills with excellent time and project management skills
• Ability to cultivate and maintain strong relationships remotely
• Ability to work creatively in a problem-solving environment
• Ability to be resourceful, proactive, and self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.

We require vaccinations or weekly testing for any in-person work and we expect most positions at The Bail Project will have occasional in-person work.

Currently most roles perform some or all of their work from home. The Bail Project will provide equipment to support work from home but staff must provide their own reliable internet access.

This is a full-time, exempt, in-unit position. The Bail Project offers benefit programs including competitive Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), Life Insurance, Supplemental Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Paid Parental Leave, a generous Vacation and Sick Leave policy, and a 401(k) plan.

How To Apply

Interested applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and three writing samples. In the cover letter, please address the following:

• Why do you want to work for The Bail Project?
• Please share 2-3 experiences that highlight why you would be a strong candidate for the Manager of Communications position.

No faxes, emails or phone calls please. Applicants will be notified regarding whether or not they have been selected for an interview. Applications without cover letters and three writing samples will not be processed.

The Bail Project is proud to be an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and actively seeks the candidacy of people of color, women, LGBTQIA+ people, and formerly incarcerated individuals. We are committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff.

Salary: $70,000 – $90,000

Closing Date: Candidates will be considered on a rolling basis
The Bail Project