Digital Engagement Director, Comms

At the Vera Institute of Justice, our vision is a society that respects the dignity of every person and safeguards justice for all. At a propitious moment for justice reform, we are standing up and driving change on a variety of fronts - ending cash bail, ending mass incarceration, vastly improving life behind bars, ensuring that immigrants get due process, and centering all this work on racial equity. Convincing people to change the way they think and act in order to serve justice is in our DNA – and we work to change hearts and minds and to celebrate the brave who join with us. That hearts and minds narrative piece – that’s why we have a robust and growing communications team, advocating for our vision with our stakeholder and public audiences. Are you interested in helping a super-dedicated and productive team use best-in-class digital strategies and tactics to drive change in the justice system?

If so, read on. 

Over the past five years, with 2.2 million people behind bars, we’ve reached a tipping point and justice reform has become mainstream. It’s on the front pages, it’s bipartisan, it’s got new funders, it’s attracting cultural attention. Vera has been on the cutting edge of this change. Long known for our research and technical assistance, communications has more recently become one of the core pillars of how we do our work. Accordingly, we have more than tripled our communications team and devoted unrestricted dollars to our work over five years. Importantly, we embed communications in our program and project work from the start. Our efforts have paid off – with an award-winning rebranding and website overhaul, with significant media attention, with dramatic growth in social media followers, and with new partnerships. 

But more can be done, and the need is urgent. We need to leverage the increased attention to justice and to Vera’s work in particular, deploying digital strategies to elevate our issues and our brand. We are seeking a Digital Engagement Director to lead that charge, to join our communications and public affairs leadership team, to supervise and mentor a team of three, and to partner with internal and external stakeholders. 

The ideal Digital Engagement Director candidate is a seasoned and enthusiastic leaders who will work with the VP for Communications and Public Affairs and the Managing Director to develop and execute strategies to advance our issues, test messages, execute campaigns, grow audiences, reach influencers, and elevate Vera’s brand. 

Candidates must be known for being excellent communicators, on the cutting edge of digital technology, expert project managers, caring mentors, adept in racial equity, and have high EQ (thoughtfulness, empathy, and self-awareness). You will join a team of 16 communications professionals including content creators (editorial, design, blog, website), and media and messaging,  social media, and government and public affairs experts. The team works closely across all units at Vera. The Digital Engagement Director reports to the Vice President for Communications and will work closely with the development team on fundraising and marketing efforts. 

What we need in you:

• Expertise and passion.  You see ahead of the curve about the potential for audience engagement and digital communications, love to be on the cutting edge, and to evangelize others around it. Your skills range from multimedia web-based storytelling, to crafting compelling strategic digital campaigns including  socially shareable graphics and data visualizations. 
• A strategic and tactical tilt. You’re an expert in analyzing and growing digital audiences, building strategic campaigns, message testing, and influencer and social impact engagement. You set goals, measure the efficacy of your tactics, and adjust accordingly.
• A proven track record. You pride yourself on your deep knowledge and familiarity with best practices for digital organizing, digital advertising, direct email, social media, and media relations based on your previous work. Knowledge and interest in social justice. You don’t have to be an expert in criminal justice or immigration, but you need to be paying attention and to have worked in some area of social justice digital communications. 
• A deep commitment to racial equity. In a system built on racism and inequity, we are working to ensure equity both in our workplace and in the world. You incorporate this value and share it with others.
• A collaborator. Collaboration is also Vera value – we thrive when we learn and build on each other’s ideas, and are open to giving and receiving feedback – both in our team and across the institution. You are a team player and know that creating good product that reflects mission takes negotiation. You will be working with super smart program and research experts and you need to show that you can dig in and get up to speed and can earn their respect. 
• An experienced manager. You like leading a team and have demonstrated skills mentoring and managing digital staff. You can make tough but fair calls.  and look forward to nurturing and managing a team of three digital communicators. using a supportive and collaborative approach.
• Lead special projects as needed.

Additional Qualifications: 

• At least seven years of progressive digital communications experience, including as  a director or in a similar team leadership role.
• Scrupulous project management skills, that shape day-to-day tactics that align with bigger goals. 
• Track record of building successful digital campaigns – both issue-based and fundraising – that recruit influencers and maximize social impact.
• Strong experience and proven success using paid advertising. 
• Experience managing digital strategies around crisis communications.
• Ability to develop and test messaging identifying and deploying tools and software to track quantitative and qualitative metrics and key milestones that demonstrate the performance and effectiveness of digital strategies.
• Excellent writer and communicator who can adeptly distill research into a tweet, develop digital marketing strategies, and take digital storytelling to the next level.
• Fluency with design and video software.

Salary 

Based on experience and including excellent benefits.

How to apply 

Please submit a cover letter and resume. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Online submission in PDF format (through Vera’s career page) is preferred.  No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.  

ATTN: Human Resources / Digital Engagement Director
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.  All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org

Who we are 

The Vera Institute of Justice, founded in 1961, envisions a society that respects the dignity of every person and safeguards justice for everyone. Vera is committed to securing equal justice, ending mass incarceration, and strengthening families and communities.  

• We study problems that impede human dignity and justice. 
• We pilot solutions that are at once transformative and achievable. 
• We engage diverse communities in informed debate. 
• We harness the power of evidence to drive effective policy and practice. 

Vera works with others who share our vision to tackle the most pressing injustices of our day—from mass incarceration, racial disparities, and the loss of public trust in law enforcement to the unmet needs of the vulnerable, the marginalized, and those harmed by crime and violence. Vera has offices in Brooklyn, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and New Orleans and people working in communities across the country. Vera is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace—specifically, we value diverse experiences with regards to educational background and justice system contact. We hire employees that reflect our values: racial equity, respect, independence, collaboration, and commitment.