ABOUT WORKING FILMS
Working Films brings the worlds of documentary filmmaking and social justice together. We connect movement leaders, organizers, activists, and other change leaders with the right films at the right moment to amplify their efforts and help them meaningfully involve audiences when “the lights come up.” We help mission-driven filmmakers with funding, training, and technical assistance, and we train organizers in how to best use film in their campaigns and efforts for long term change. On issues like racism, income inequality, and the climate crisis, we believe film has a unique power to shift the story and drive change in states and local communities across the nation.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR
We are seeking a Communications Lead with a passion for social justice, documentary film, and the power of connecting the two. The ideal candidate will be flexible, have integrity, creativity, initiative, a collaborative spirit, and a sense of humor. We are looking for someone who exhibits grace under pressure, compassion, and the ability to be both kind and honest. We also want to work with someone who strives to take care of themselves, is able to set boundaries, and who values and aims for a healthy work-life balance. Lastly, we are seeking someone to join our team who works actively toward anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-ageism, anti-ableism, and anti-classism – both personally and externally – and somebody who is committed to our core values of collaboration, accountability, grassroots leadership, action, reflection, innovation, justice, equity, and the transformative power of film. 

POSITION DETAILS

Working Films is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation. We strongly encourage Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBQ+, transgender, and nonbinary people, parents, and individuals with disabilities to apply.

  • Title: Communications Lead 
  • Full-time (4 days / 32 hours per week), salaried: $65,000 annually.
  • Benefits: We offer a generous benefits package, including paid time off, full health insurance coverage, SIMPLE IRA contributions, quarterly self care stipends, phone/internet reimbursements.
  • Location: This is a remote opportunity. Candidates need to be available during East Coast times of 11am – 5pm ET. 
  • Physical Environment: TBD based on location of candidate; Current options – open concept office, co-working space, or work from home. 
  • Reporting: This position will report to the Director of Partnerships and Innovation. 
  • Opportunities to advance.
  • Application process: Please email your resume, a cover letter, and contact information for three references to apply@workingfilms.org.
  • Timeline: We will begin reviewing submissions on February 28th, but will keep the application period open until the position is filled.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Communications 

  • Contribute to finalizing the annual communications plan with the Director of Partnerships and Innovation.   
  • Develop compelling public narratives and messages that build off our current writing and resonate with our key collaborators (grassroots organizers, documentary filmmakers, film audiences, residents where we are working, and funders) for integration in all of our communications.  
  • Stay on top of current events and social media trends; identify and respond to opportunities to advance our messages and visibility. 
  • Effectively use data analysis to assess our communications approaches and make changes as needed. 

Press 

  • Draft media advisories, statements and press releases.
  • Create template press, social media, and other promotional materials for staff and partners and participate in finalizing.
  • Implement robust earned media relations strategies, including creating effective messages and pitches; developing and seeing through creative ideas and securing press coverage to elevate our work. 
  • Create and cultivate relationships with media nationally, regionally, in states where we are working, and locally where we are based, to support our campaigns and programs and broaden awareness of our organization and efforts.
  • Create, manage and maintain updated media lists and manage press monitoring.

Social Media, Newsletter, and Website

  • Conduct an initial audit of Working Films’ social media and website and make recommendations.
  • Manage updates and future overhauls of Working Films’ website. 
  • Create visually, intellectually, and socially engaging content across different social channels (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) generating online content that increases our followers and drives them to engage.
  • Create and manage a social media calendar.
  • Execute posting and reposting.
  • Communicate content needs and facilitate participation of staff in social media content creation. 
  • Manage the community in our accounts (e.g. respond to questions, DMs). 
  • Track social media analytics, report on key insights, and make recommendations.
  • Manage the Working Films website administration and coordination and ensure all content remains fresh and up-to-date. 
  • Explore what social media platforms and features can be used for organizing and advocacy goals, including those that we do not yet have a presence on. 
  • Manage the monthly newsletter, suggesting content and involving the entire team in content creation. 

Organizational Collateral 

  • Work with the Director of Partnerships and Innovation to manage the Annual Report creation, including holding the relationship with a graphic designer and facilitating staff participation in the development of content.  
  • Produce visually appealing and compelling reports that feature our projects and programs. 
  • Manage promotional video content including a bumper video, an “About Us” video, social media video content etc. 
  • Manage the development of compelling graphics and copy to advance narrative priorities, including graphics, memes, short videos for social posts, online ads, email blasts, etc.
  • Work to support photography and video needs with staff members and partners for events, media, and other photo-worthy moments as needed.

Staff Support

  • Work collaboratively with everyone on our team to execute communications strategies that feature stories of our work and inspire our key audiences.
  • Support staff in day to day communication activities, drafting materials as needed and setting timelines and workflows for staff participation in organizational and programmatic communications.
  • Work collaboratively with the development team to support our philanthropic goals and success, ensuring fundraising narratives align with all of our other communications. 
  • Stay in regular communication with staff to identify opportunities to uplift their work and that of our partners and to build an organization-wide culture of communications and storytelling in which all program staff are regularly using communications tools and channels to strengthen and uplift their work. 

Organizational Design and Teamwork 

  • Actively participate in organizational team meetings and processes, including weekly staff meetings, staff design teams and meetings, monthly decolonizing sessions, quarterly staff retreats, and board meetings. 

Your experience should include: 

  • A minimum of 5 years of communications experience working in a social impact, advocacy, political or film-for-change organization. 
  • At least 2 years of experience managing Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook channels developing timely and relevant content, adapted for each platform
  • Experience collaborating and building power with staff through active communication and delegation.  
  • Demonstrated proficiency and experience in managing competing priorities while maintaining high standards of quality and responsiveness.
  • Proven track record of successful strategy development and high-profile and/or prolific placement in print, radio, TV and online media, including experience with both rapid response and long-lead story development. 
  • Experience with strategic narrative development, ideally on a range of social issues.

Your knowledge, skills and abilities should include:

  • Commitment to Working Films mission and core values as part of a broader social justice movement dedicated to racial, economic, and gender justice.
  •  Excellent written, visual, oral communication, and presentation skills 
  • Highly collaborative with an ability to work in an environment where teamwork and self-motivation are necessary for success. 
  • Ability to collaborate and share leadership with other team members.
  • Multicultural competence and demonstrated ability to work with people from a variety of ethnic, racial, socio-economic, educational, linguistic, and religious backgrounds, as well as people of various physical abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and generations. 
  • Excellent solution-oriented skills with an ability to respond quickly to changing priorities.
  • Strong project management skills, coupled with sharp attention to detail. 
  • Strong time management and strategic planning skills, with a demonstrated ability to bring an idea to life.
  • Quick and persuasive writer with the ability to translate complex issues into everyday language and memorable sound bites; sharp, engaging writing for speeches and presentations a plus.
  • Ideally comes to us with a strong set of media relationships.  
  • Proficiency in Salesforce is a plus.

To submit your application, please email your resume, a cover letter, and contact information for three references to apply@workingfilms.org