WHO WE ARE

FWD.us is a policy organization working to advance better and more politically resilient solutions on criminal justice and immigration. For too long, our harmful criminal justice and immigration systems have held us back and been weaponized in ways that undermine our nation’s promise and democratic ideals. For over a decade, FWD.us has advanced criminal justice and immigration reforms that expanded freedom and opportunities to tens of millions of people in the United States. Working with partners in red, blue, and purple jurisdictions, we have secured legislative and judicial victories and executive actions despite often-challenging political conditions.

The Press Director will direct and oversee public communications for FWD.us, working with policy and digital leadership across both the immigration and criminal justice verticals to achieve organizational priorities. Applicants should be dedicated to FWD.us' mission to grow and galvanize political support for immigration and criminal justice  reforms and be enthusiastic about bringing to life creative ideas that will shape the narrative to help advance politically resilient solutions. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5 or more years of communications experience with a background in working policy campaigns. 
• Energetic, flexible, proactive, and collaborative.
• Demonstrated project management skills and ability to effectively manage multiple priorities.
• Exceptional oral, interpersonal and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with senior management, key stakeholders, and staff.
• Deep understanding of earned media strategies and how to employ them to shape public conversations toward a campaign objective.
• Excellent writing skills and in-depth experience drafting clear and accessible press releases, talking points, op-eds, pitches, and other communications products that distill complex policy arguments for mainstream audiences.
• Significant media relations experience, including solid reporter relationships and eagerness to enterprise new ones, and experience managing on the record media opportunities including all aspects of preparation for interviews and press conferences and the necessary follow up.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

• Serve as day-to-day lead on executing high-impact communications and narrative campaigns for FWD.us’ immigration and criminal justice reform work.
• Draft and manage written media documents and other campaign communication products to complement campaign goals including press releases, pitches, op-eds, and talking points.
• Maintain, cultivate, and expand relationships with national and local journalists, publications, and thought leaders covering politics, immigration, criminal justice, and other related topics to increase the visibility of FWD.us' leadership, experts, partners, events, and other initiatives. 
• Manage internal processes to enable FWD.us’ external communications, particularly in response to fast-breaking news related to the organization’s mission and at the national and local levels.
• Speak on and off the record with national and state level media professionals, including but not limited to producers, journalists, podcast hosts, to advance organizational priorities and to shape narrative around immigration and criminal justice reform.
• Manage communications contractors and internal communications staff to ensure they are executing against short and long-term campaign goals.
• Work with the senior leadership team to contribute to and execute an organizational communications strategy that leverages an array of communications tools and tactics, from creating communications products, directly pitching reporters, engaging elected officials, and external stakeholders on messaging, public events, and political strategy to achieve organizational priorities and amplify FWD.us voice and brand.

This position requires being in the office on a hybrid schedule, working from the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and an option to work remotely on Wednesdays and Fridays. Optional weekly remote work is contingent barring work travel, in-person meetings and/or on-site commitments which take priority.

Compensation and benefits: Salary range is $100,000-$150,000 annually. Offered compensation will be commensurate with relevant experience. We offer competitive health, dental, and vision insurance benefits, employer-paid life insurance, 401k match, PTO, professional development opportunities, and a myriad of other support for our staff. 

Equal Opportunity Employment/Diversity 

We are an organization committed to making the world a better place for all people. Diversity is a source of our strength and allows us to make better decisions, be more impactful, and be better at our jobs day to day. We see our internal commitment to diversity to be reflective of how we view the world and the changes we want to see become reality. 

This organization is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of an individual’s race, race (inclusive of traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locks and twists), color, religion, creed, citizenship, sex or gender (which includes discrimination and harassment based on gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), reproductive decision-making, political affiliation, medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, military or veteran status, taking or requesting statutorily protected leave, or any other status protected by under federal or applicable state or local laws, or any other status protected by applicable law. This policy applies to all terms, conditions and privileges of employment, including recruitment and hiring.

The organization understands that too often what are viewed as the traditional credentials are subjective criteria that exclude historically marginalized communities and act as barriers to hiring and recruiting the best candidates. As part of FWD’s best hiring practices, we do not have educational requirements for any of our jobs. Many of our jobs do require specific interpersonal, skill-based, technical, policy or other requirements and applicants for those jobs will be evaluated based on their level of expertise, to include lived experience and work experience - which could have taken place at an educational institution or elsewhere. 

FWD.us believes in fair chances and employment opportunities that benefit everyone. Ensuring that people who have had contact with the criminal justice system--including incarceration for serious offenses and substantial periods of time--have the opportunities upon their release to fully succeed and contribute to this country is central to our work and is a value to which we are absolutely committed to uphold in how we operate and who we hire. We do not conduct criminal background checks on applicants, unless required by state or federal law for specific roles.

The company makes reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities to allow such persons to perform the essential functions of their jobs, to the extent required by law. Employees or applicants who would like to request a reasonable accommodation should contact Management. The company will also, where appropriate, provide reasonable accommodations for an employee’s sincerely-held religious beliefs or practices.

Applicants directly impacted by the criminal justice or immigration systems, including formerly incarcerated individuals, are strongly encouraged to apply.

WHO WE ARE

FWD.us is a policy organization working to advance better and more politically resilient solutions on criminal justice and immigration. For too long, our harmful criminal justice and immigration systems have held us back and been weaponized in ways that undermine our nation’s promise and democratic ideals. For over a decade, FWD.us has advanced criminal justice and immigration reforms that expanded freedom and opportunities to tens of millions of people in the United States. Working with partners in red, blue, and purple jurisdictions, we have secured legislative and judicial victories and executive actions despite often-challenging political conditions.

FWD.us seeks an Executive Assistant (EA) to support and work closely alongside the President. A successful EA is someone who demonstrates excellent stewardship of everyday administrative functions, is dedicated to the work of immigration and criminal justice reform, and is energized by the challenging and fast-paced work of responding to and shaping the political moment. 

This position is located in Washington, D.C., with some travel and flexibility in work hours expected. This position will report to the President and work closely with the Executive Office team, including the Executive Director, Chief of Staff, and Manager. Candidates who have been directly impacted by the immigration and/or criminal justice systems are encouraged to apply.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Executive Assistant will ensure on a daily basis that the President is well-staffed to carry out the mission of the organization, and play a key role in the Executive Office by holding a portfolio of administrative and project management functions. The primary responsibility of the Executive Assistant will be to support the President in an administrative capacity by scheduling meetings, coordinating communications, and managing processes to track workflow and priorities. The position will include both the opportunity to hone administrative expertise and to work alongside the organization’s President in support of legislative advocacy, press engagement, and other projects.

FWD.us operates nationally and the President is based in our D.C. Headquarter Office. Given the time sensitive nature of our work and the different jurisdictions in which we operate, the person in this role will be asked to support early morning, evening, and weekend meetings and events at times.

What you’ll do:

• Manage the President’s calendar, including scheduling internal and external meetings, working across staff calendars and with outside partners, and looking ahead to flag conflicts and any needed preparation for upcoming meetings.
• Oversee meeting preparation and technical support, including working with staff to compile any needed background information and managing the logistics for Zoom meetings or webinars. 
• Support internal document tracking, approvals, and communications for the President, in close coordination with the Executive Office team.
• Draft and track email and other correspondence on behalf of the President.
• Draft memos or other written products for internal or external audiences on behalf of the President and Executive Office team.
• Work alongside the Operations team to support budget and financial approvals.
• Coordinate travel, event and logistical needs, and process expense reports for the President and Executive Director.
• Assist the Executive Office with other needs or special projects as they arise.

What we’re looking for:

• Someone who is detail-oriented, organized, and an expert at working through to-do lists; the EA understands that administrative work is the foundation of any organization, and that the skillful management of tasks and priorities is key to meaningful outcomes.
• Strong communication skills in meetings, e-mails, and other written products. 
• Proficiency in Google Suite and Zoom.
• Confidence to manage and figure out tasks on their own and to seek clarification when needed. 
• Calm adaptability amidst changing priorities and deadlines – in rapid response political moments the EA solves problems and ensures no balls are dropped even as priorities shift.
• A team player who brings an optimistic and positive attitude and who treats everyone with respect.
• Creativity, initiative and an urgency to be a part of driving meaningful change in our nation’s immigration and criminal justice systems.

Compensation and benefits: 

Salary range is $75,000-$90,000 annually. Offered compensation will be commensurate with relevant experience. We offer competitive health, dental, and vision insurance benefits, employer-paid life insurance, 401k match, PTO, professional development opportunities, and a myriad of other support for our staff. 

Equal Opportunity Employment/Diversity 

We are an organization committed to making the world a better place for all people. Diversity is a source of our strength and allows us to make better decisions, be more impactful, and be better at our jobs day to day. We see our internal commitment to diversity to be reflective of how we view the world and the changes we want to see become reality. 

This organization is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of an individual’s race, race (inclusive of traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locks and twists), color, religion, creed, citizenship, sex or gender (which includes discrimination and harassment based on gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), reproductive decision-making, political affiliation, medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, military or veteran status, taking or requesting statutorily protected leave, or any other status protected by under federal or applicable state or local laws, or any other status protected by applicable law. This policy applies to all terms, conditions and privileges of employment, including recruitment and hiring.

The organization understands that too often what are viewed as the traditional credentials are subjective criteria that exclude historically marginalized communities and act as barriers to hiring and recruiting the best candidates. As part of FWD’s best hiring practices, we do not have educational requirements for any of our jobs. Many of our jobs do require specific interpersonal, skill-based, technical, policy or other requirements and applicants for those jobs will be evaluated based on their level of expertise, to include lived experience and work experience - which could have taken place at an educational institution or elsewhere. 

FWD.us believes in fair chances and employment opportunities that benefit everyone. Ensuring that people who have had contact with the criminal justice system--including incarceration for serious offenses and substantial periods of time--have the opportunities upon their release to fully succeed and contribute to this country is central to our work and is a value to which we are absolutely committed to uphold in how we operate and who we hire. We do not conduct criminal background checks on applicants, unless required by state or federal law for specific roles.

The company makes reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities to allow such persons to perform the essential functions of their jobs, to the extent required by law. Employees or applicants who would like to request a reasonable accommodation should contact Management. The company will also, where appropriate, provide reasonable accommodations for an employee’s sincerely-held religious beliefs or practices.