Job Title: Policy and Communications Associate
Reports to: Communications Manager
Application Deadline: February 29, 2024
Remote within the U.S.
NACC Job Purpose and Location
The National Association of Counsel for Children is a nonprofit professional membership and advocacy organization that trains and certifies child welfare lawyers and advocates for policy change to improve the lives of people experiencing the child welfare system. NACC’s Strategic Plan aims to accelerate the growth, experience, diversity, and leadership of a national community of child welfare professionals. NACC’s Policy and Communications Associate will be a new, full-time member of our team who will support our organizational communications and policy work, with a focus on our Counsel for Kids campaign to guarantee youth the right to counsel in child welfare cases. NACC is based in Denver, Colorado with staff in multiple states. This posting is for a remote position, and the successful candidate can live anywhere in the United States.
Duties and Responsibilities
Communications Support:
- Conducts writing, proofreading, and graphic design projects as assigned by the Communications Manager;
- Helps produce written products such as marketing emails, grant reports, and donor relations materials;
- Handles day-to-day management of NACC’s social media accounts;
- Collects and drafts content for NACC’s monthly online newsletter;
- Tracks data and analytics for digital communications;
- Assists with updates to NACC’s website, including researching and implementing solutions to tech stack challenges;
- Builds media lists and manages a database of journalists;
- Maintains routine communications tasks in case of illness/absence of other team members.
Policy Support:
- Develops and maintains Counsel for Kids resources, such as presentations, documents, and website content;
- Supports the drafting and distribution of written legislative testimony, state and federal policy action alerts, and other advocacy materials;
- Communicates, coordinates, and collaborates with various stakeholders;
- Provides administrative support to the Counsel for Kids team, including correspondence with legislators and stakeholders, database management, meeting scheduling, agenda development and note taking;
- Assists with policy events, initiatives, special projects, and presentations on various platforms;
- In coordination with the Policy Counsel, attend briefings, coalition meetings and other events.
Other:
- Attends internal NACC Team and Department meetings;
- Helps staff NACC’s annual conferences;
- Other tasks as assigned.
Travel:
- This position does not include a great deal of travel, but may require up to 4 trips per year, requiring a 1-3 night stay. NACC covers all travel expenses.
Qualifications
Essential Skills:
- Strong writing and editing skills: ability to proofread for grammar, style, and formatting;
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail;
- Microsoft Office Suite: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.;
- Strong time-management and organizational skills;
- Commitment to NACC’s mission, vision, and policy framework, including a commitment to advancing the right to counsel, racial equity, and amplifying the voices of people with lived experience in the child welfare system;
- Minimum 2 years work experience in communications, or 2 years policy support experience with a knack for tech/comms activities;
- Strong skills in document layout and design, digital strategy, and social media;
Preferred Skills:
- Lived experience in the child welfare system;
- Website editing: experience with WordPress or similar platform;
- Familiarity with social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok, social media scheduling platforms like Buffer, and mass email/marketing platforms like Constant Contact or Mailchimp;
- Graphic design or video editing talents: Canva, Adobe, or similar platforms;
- Data reporting skills: ability to track, report, and identify trends from data (for example: noticing and presenting patterns after reviewing google analytics, or using analytics to inform marketing decisions).
- Interest in child welfare, nonprofit communications, membership organizations, marketing, law, access to justice, antiracism, and/or antipoverty issues.
Salary and Benefits
This is a junior level position, designed for a professional looking to grow their skills in the communications and policy space. The starting salary range is $50,000-60,000, depending on experience. Salaries are reviewed for increases every January. Benefits include health insurance (medical/dental/vision), SIMPLE IRA contribution, life insurance, 20 days paid time off (increases over time), and 17 holidays/ office closure days. Remote staff is provided office equipment, supplies, and travel expenses as needed.
Application Instructions
Applicants must apply through NACC’s website (below) and provide:
- Resume/CV;
- Cover letter which describes the applicant’s interest and experience relevant to the job description.
Please note: Finalists will be asked for two (2) professional references, and may be asked to demonstrate abilities through a sample writing, social media, or web editing project. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by February 29, 2024. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Anticipated start date is as soon as practicable in April 2024
NACC Non-Discrimination Policy
It is the policy of the National Association of Counsel for Children not to discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of race, culture, ethnicity, national origin, religion or religious beliefs, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, or age. The NACC embraces diversity among its Board, staff, members, volunteers, and consultants. Candidates adding diversity to NACC’s staff are strongly encouraged to apply.