Digital Communications Associate

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU of South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wyoming seeks a dynamic, full-time Digital Communications Associate in Sioux Falls, SD or Fargo, ND. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.

The American Civil liberties Union Foundation (ACLU), founded in 1920, is a nationwide, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with more than 1,200,000 members and is dedicated to the principles of liberty and equality embodied in the Constitution. The ACLU of Wyoming and Dakotas Chapter is a project of the National ACLU.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU). 

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Communications Director in Sioux Falls, the Digital Communications Associate will help execute the chapter’s storytelling and social media objectives and support the organization’s rapidly expanding communications program across the three states.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

The Digital Communications Associate will be instrumental in growing the chapter’s digital presence on key social media platforms, improving how we approach storytelling, and engaging with our social media followers.

  • Brand management: Ensure consistent, clear messaging that represents each state and its positions compellingly and convincingly.
  • Digital communications: Develop digital content such as social media copy, web updates, videos, and emails to supporters. Create content for ACLU supporters that is informative, timely, and relevant that features eye-catching graphics and sharable images. Develop short-form and long-form digital video stories that educate, motivate, and influence target audiences. Monitor social media channels for opportunities to engage and leverage internal analytics to optimize communications. Assist the Communications Director with refining and implementing platform-specific digital strategies.
  • Integrated advocacy: Assist the Communications Director, advocacy, development and legal staff, and coalition partners in creating and implementing multifaceted digital communications plans on many civil liberties and civil rights issues. Develop goals, audience definitions, messaging, communications tactics and materials.
  • Community engagement: Work with other staff to plan for attendance at community events. Periodically assist with tabling and/or attending these events.
  • Chapter-wide support: Provide support for activist engagement tied to advocacy campaigns, legislative activities, legal cases, or building organizational capacity. Occasionally support the Development Director on communications strategies for donors and supporters.

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL 

  • Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
  • Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
  • Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

  • Professional experience in communications, including public relations, marketing, or journalism
  • Experience with brand social media management, including familiarity with popular social publishing, reporting and listening tools. Experience using TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and X (Formerly Twitter) for advocacy or organizing work a plus
  • Demonstrated experience in content creation, graphic design, video production, and audio storytelling. Experience developing digital content, such as videos and graphics. Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Premiere editing skills are a plus, as is familiarity with basic website CMS functions
  • Excellent communication and writing skills. Experience with AP style a plus
  • Goal-focused, self-motivated, organized, creative and adaptable to new situations
  • Detail-oriented with strong follow-through, demonstrated ability to meet tight deadlines, and ability to juggle multiple tasks and prioritize

COMPENSATION

The ACLU values equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. Consistent with the ACLU's compensation philosophy there is a set salary for this role. The ACLU also has a locality adjustment policy that applies to salaries. The annual salary for this position is $66,535 (Level I), reflecting the salary of a position based in Sioux Falls, SD. This position is subject to a hybrid schedule of 2 days/week or 8 days/month in-office.   

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

  • Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid-time off policy
  • Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
  • Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
  • We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.    

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

 

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