Director of Communications

About the role

The Director of Communications will lead CitizensNYC’s communications strategy and execution, building on a strong foundation to expand the organization’s reach, visibility, and influence across New York City.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy to achieve our communication goals and manage progress towards those goals with relevant data and metrics.
  • Develop and manage an annual communications plan; collaborate across teams to identify communications opportunities for different stakeholders; track key performance indicators; and adapt strategies based on results.
• Writing and storytelling, inclusive of developing a robust pipeline of compelling stories that elevate the experiences, insights, and accomplishments of CitizensNYC’s grantee partners and demonstrate the impact of neighborhood-led change for use across social media, email, newsletters, the website, events, media pitches, and other organizational materials.
  • Serve as lead writer for public remarks by CEO, grantee partners, and other external partners.
• Social media management, with a focus on growing our presence and engagement on LinkedIn and Instagram.
  • Develop platform-specific content that reaches key stakeholders and brings our grantee partners’ work to life, including through increased use of short-form video.
• Earned media and public relations, proactively identifying opportunities to increase the visibility of CitizensNYC in local and relevant national media.
  • Develop story pitches tied to our work, grantee network, and issues affecting NYC neighborhoods; cultivate relationships with media contacts; and support leadership and grantee partners preparing for media opportunities.
• Thought leadership, inclusive of developing and executing a focused strategy with organizational leadership that positions CitizensNYC as an important voice on neighborhood-led change and the issues affecting NYC communities.
  • Identify opportunities for speaking engagements, conferences, panels, blog series, and partnerships with peer organizations.
• Website and organizational communications management, ensuring that the website and core communications materials such as impact reports, pitch decks, and grant program collateral are current, compelling, consistent, and responsive to the needs of our key audiences.
  • Project and team management, including owning the communications calendar, balancing longer-term strategic priorities with ongoing organizational communications needs, and managing a Communications Intern and contracted communications support as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience working in communications, marketing, media, journalism or a related field.
• Passion for strengthening New York City neighborhoods and knowledge of the city’s communities.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing communications strategies across multiple channels for diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong storytelling instincts and exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex work into clear, compelling stories for different audiences.
• Experience developing thought-leadership content and opportunities, such as op-eds, articles, speaking engagements, panels, conferences, or external partnerships.
• Experience with earned media and public relations, including developing pitches, identifying newsworthy opportunities, cultivating media relationships, and securing coverage.
• Project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to take initiative, think creatively, offer new ideas, and push us to become a more effective organization.
• Proficiency in relevant communications tools, including social media (particularly LinkedIn and Instagram), website (WordPress or similar), AI (ChatGPT/Claude), email (Mailchimp), basic graphic design (Canva), Microsoft/Google suites, and project management (Monday or similar).
• Experience supervising interns, staff, freelancers, or consultants is preferred.
• Bonus skills: Video production and editing; advanced graphic design; public speaking or spokesperson experience; existing relationships with New York City media.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit application here: https://forms.gle/HZzod54ArEFbHYbb8