About this role:

Semafor is seeking a Director of Communications to join a fast-growing team. The ideal candidate brings a foundational background in communications and is ready to take on increasing responsibility within a lean, high-performing team. We're looking for a creative, strategic self-starter who's hungry to build, thrives on variety, and brings fresh thinking to every pitch, project, and press moment. This position will work closely with senior communications leadership across all aspects of Semafor's press and media strategy. Contract position – full-time position for four month contract with potential to extend

Responsibilities include:

• Play a central operational role within the communications team — helping manage workflows, maintain internal systems, and keep concurrent projects on track in a fast-moving, high-volume environment
• Contribute to publicity strategy across Semafor's editorial verticals and business priorities, including pitching, writing press releases, conducting research, and developing communications campaigns 
• Support strategic communications across Semafor's international markets, including coordinating with global media partners, tracking regional press coverage, and helping tailor messaging for distinct international audiences
• Assist in developing press strategies for Semafor's global editorial verticals and cross-border initiatives, ensuring consistent positioning across markets
• Support press campaigns around major events and product launches, including drafting tip sheets, recaps, and other collateral
• Track, organize, and maintain records of all press coverage across Semafor's platforms — including print, digital, audio, and live events
• Monitor the daily news cycle across domestic and international beats, flagging relevant coverage, trends, and emerging opportunities in real time

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in communications, press, or media relations
• Excellent writer with a strong command of voice, clarity, and accuracy
• Extreme attention to detail 
• Natural affinity for organizational systems and process-building – you love a spreadsheet and finding better ways to build efficiency within and between teams
• A creative problem-solver with a self-starter attitude who can spot an opportunity, bring forward an idea, and figure out how to bring that through to execution
• Enthusiasm for media, journalism, and the evolving global news landscape — you follow the industry and have opinions about it

Compensation:
The base salary for this position at the time of posting will range from $80,000.00 - $100,000.00 flexible and commensurate with experience.

Individual compensation varies based on job related factors, including business needs, experience, level of responsibility, and qualifications.

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Staff Writer in the Communications and Marketing Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY, Washington, D.C., or San Francisco, CA. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. This is a 2-year term-limited position.

The ACLU Communications & Marketing department creates, maintains, and expands message narratives to engage our supporters and other target audiences, to help protect and expand civil liberties and civil rights, and illustrate the value and impact of the ACLU’s transformational work. Through our messaging, engagement with newsmakers, our written content, creative branding, and visual identity, we encourage support for the ACLU and help to build a more perfect union.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Head of Marketing Channels, the Staff Writer will take the lead in scripting long-form video content and all related adaptations for social media, including but not limited to video essays, scripted adaptations of ACLU reports, and partnership appearances; long-form editorial assets, including but not limited to op-eds or brand proposals; and related ad copy as needed.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Conceive, pitch, and write original, well-researched, audience-driven, long-form video during proactive and reactive moments, contributing to content that amplifies, educates, and drives attention to the proactive and reactive work of our organization 
• Proofread and prepare video scripts to ensure clarity, accuracy, consistency, and accessibility 
• Adapt other content, including explainers, op-eds, data-driven reports, and first-person narratives, into compelling video content, as assigned 
• Collaborate with the other teams in the Marketing Channels Unit — paid media, social media, earned media and strategic engagement, and e-commerce and merchandising — to support content development at all stages of production 
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and spokespeople to deliver scripts that suit a variety of formats, including for external verticals and partnerships, delivering content with a high degree of editorial quality and self-review 
• Coordinate with Head of Marketing Channels, communications strategist, and other relevant stakeholders to shepherd content through cross-departmental reviews 
• Assist with special projects including advertising content, online actions and advocacy campaigns, live social media events, and communications campaigns to support ACLU programs 
• Provide copywriting support for various communications and marketing materials, including blogs, web pages, paid ads, and social media 
• Stay up-to-date and informed about the ACLU’s issues and positions, and understand cultural conversations around social justice 
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL 

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Professional experience in one or a combination of the following areas: arts and entertainment media, digital communications, journalism, screenwriting, and storytelling 
• Experience developing and writing serialized video content optimized for YouTube, with a strong understanding of episodic storytelling, audience retention, platform best practices, and long-form narrative formats 
• Ability to produce copy on deadline, in breaking news settings and during rapid response periods 
• Experience writing engaging, information-rich content on complex, intersectional issues for a national, generalist audience that is on-brand and on-message 
• Experience working on issue-based advocacy campaigns, and in communicating complex issues to a variety of owned and targeted audiences. 
• Proven ability to produce and edit content that is persuasive, issue-driven and compels people to take action 
• Ability to identify and manage multiple content pieces across multiple subject areas simultaneously; and make recommendations for how to execute competing priorities 
• Familiarity with and experience writing about social justice issues and a demonstrated interest in civil liberties and civil rights and passion for the work of the ACLU

COMPENSATION

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.    

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

The Department of Education has determined that employment in this position at the ACLU does not qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.