Job Title: Communications Director Reports to: Executive Director FLSA Status: Exempt Classification: Full Time (40 hours/week) About HILSC In 2013, local organizations working with immigrant communities came together to address the lack of legal services capacity in the Houston region. These early meetings eventually became the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative (HILSC or the Collaborative). Collaborative stakeholders include non-profit legal services providers, outreach and advocacy organizations, the business community, law school legal clinics, public agencies, and private foundations. HILSC advocates for immigrant inclusion, equity, and justice by uniting and strengthening diverse allies, developing holistic immigration legal services, and supporting creative initiatives through principled, values-based collaboration. Learn more at www.houstonimmigration.org/about-us/ Position Summary The Communications Director will provide leadership in HILSC’s efforts to be a source of coordinated and effective communications that advance a pro-immigrant policy and program agenda in the greater Houston region. In addition, the Communications Director will work closely with the communications staff of HILSC partner organizations in order to advance collective and strategic narrative strategies, and provide mentorship to organizations that do not have internal communications capacity. The Communications Director will closely work with HILSC projects including (but not limited to) Deportation Defense Houston (DDH) and Immigrant Rights Hotline to lift up client stories for narrative change and advocacy purposes. This position will oversee all aspects of strategic communications for HILSC, including media relations, framing and messaging, and writing, and will serve as an organizational spokesperson. The Communications Director will be responsible for training and supervising HILSC staff in all press interviews and other communications matters. Primary Responsibilities Leadership and Vision

- Provide enthusiastic and solutions-oriented leadership as a member of HILSC’s small team, where everyone provides a leadership role

- Lead the development & implementation of a communications strategy to advance policy and program goals - Work closely with HILSC Executive Director, Executive Committee, and member organizations

Training & Support

- Develop systems of support to help advance HILSC member organizations’ communications goals - Provide communications and media training for HILSC staff and member organizations’ staff - Train legal services providers’ clients (as needed) and maintain a client story base - Prepare HILSC staff and other spokespersons in advance of media interviews and other public events

Narrative Development

- Oversee creation of talking points and messages to be used in press releases, media interviews, blog posts, social media and emails for HILSC staff and member organizations

- Create substantive commentary and analysis on the local impact of immigration policy, in partnership with HILSC member organizations

Digital Communication & Content Creation

- Apply best practices in digital and online communications, including web, social media, and other digital storytelling tools

- Expand the reach and engagement of HILSC’s online supporters - Create and manage content for HILSC’s website, blog, and social media - Ensure that all HILSC communications platforms are consistent, effective, and well-designed

Media Relations - Maintain relationships with key members of the news media at traditional and emerging outlets and pitch

specific stories to individual media outlets to advance a stronger local pro-immigrant narrative - Track stories concerning HILSC and its members, and about national and local immigration news - Represent HILSC before the press, public events, including during select on camera interviews - Schedule interviews for HILSC staff - Triage media requests and place them strategically with the community of HILSC organizations

Ideal Experience and Qualifications We are seeking an experienced, dynamic, creative and versatile communicator with a passion for social justice and immigrant rights. The role involves collaborating with staff across the organization and across a diverse and multi-lingual HILSC network. Minimum Qualifications

- Demonstrated commitment to advancing immigrant rights - Five years of communications experience in social justice arena or in journalism - Excellent writing and oral communication skills, including the ability to distill complex legal concepts into

narratives that are compelling and accessible to target audiences - Commitment to HILSC’s collaborative model, mission, priorities, and projects - Management and/or leadership experience, including the ability to motivate, lead, set objectives and foster

an environment of supportive mentorship - Fluency (speak, write, read) in English and another language (Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, French, Urdu or

Arabic preferred) - Ability to develop and execute long-term plans

Preferred Qualifications

- Knowledge of Houston region media landscape, including media contacts

Work Environment & Performance Standards Office environment, with travel to local meetings and events. Applicant must have access to reliable transportation. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5pm, with some weekend and evening work. Ongoing performance evaluation throughout the year, plus annual performance review. Salary and Benefits Salary commensurate with experience, $75,000 to $85,000. Our benefits package currently includes medical, vision, and dental insurance, FSA, long term disability, life insurance, family leave, paid holidays, cell phone reimbursement, and matching 6% retirement. To apply Submit a resume, cover letter, and relevant writing sample as a single PDF file to jobs@houstonimmigration.org. Deadline to apply: Friday, October 18, 2019.