WHO WE ARE

FWD.us is a bipartisan political organization that believes America’s families, communities, and economy thrive when more individuals are able to achieve their full potential. For too long, our broken immigration and criminal justice systems have locked too many people out of the American dream. Founded by leaders in the technology and business communities, we seek to grow and galvanize political support to break through partisan gridlock and achieve meaningful reforms. Together, we can move America forward.

The Communications Associate serves as a talented communicator with strong strategic communications and traditional media relations experience, excellent writing skills and a passion for reforming our immigration system. In this role, you will support the development of and implementation of strategic communications plans which include traditional media outreach tactics to support FWD.us’ immigration reform program and its various jurisdictional and other advocacy campaigns. This is an opportunity to strengthen valuable communications skills, and learn how a dynamic communications team operates in a fast-paced environment while supporting FWD.us’ larger strategic goals.

This is a great role for you if you are a self-starter, can manage multiple projects, like working in a solutions-oriented, fast-paced campaign environment, and welcome operating in a bipartisan framework that values working with those directly impacted and non-traditional allies to achieve public policy victories. The ideal candidate would bring a solid foundation and understanding of traditional earned media outreach and engagement; is a strong writer, communicator, and strategic thinker who is self-motivated and creative. Prior experience developing and implementing communications plans and a strong personal commitment to reforming our Immigration System are critical skill sets.

Specifically, you will:

• Draft and edit rapid response and traditional communications products, including talking points, campaign plans, press releases, media advisories, blog posts, and more.
• Engage in day-to-day reporter outreach and enterprising media contacts to influence national and state-based dialogue on immigration reform.
• Develop and maintain thoughtful relationships with surrogates and directly impacted storytellers.
• Support and execute media training programs to prepare surrogates for media opportunities/reporter engagement.
• Develop a strategy to identify and recruit diverse voices to ensure storytelling reflects the rapidly changing makeup of our country’s immigrant communities and FWD.us’ organizational policy priorities, working in coordination with Communications team leadership.
• Support the implementation and management of special projects that are a part of the organization’s immigration reform program.
• Manage outside consultants, as needed.
• Supporting administration of internal communications teams systems, software and, subscriptions.
• Contribute to the project management and dissemination of communications products, as well as some administrative functions such as creating and maintaining systems to streamline outreach and coordination with surrogates.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• 3-5 years of communications experience, preferably in immigration policy, or other social justice, political, and/or issue advocacy organizations.
• Solid understanding of the national media landscape.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Prior experience assisting with and securing media placements.
• Dedication to the mission of FWD.us and sensitivity to issues of migration and criminalization of disenfranchised people.
• Must have a strong interest in political communications and/or news media.
• Proven writing ability and strong organizational skills, with the ability to adapt to new conditions, assignments, and deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively, both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Strong knowledge of media relations operations and basic knowledge of digital and social media communications.

COVID-19 Considerations

FWD values the health and safety of our staff, their families, and our community. In support of these values, all FWD staff are required to be fully vaccinated and boosted. If selected for this job, incoming hires are required to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. Requests for reasonable accommodations or exceptions related to medical or religious reasons will be considered. Candidates are NOT required to state their COVID-19 vaccine status in their application.

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 excel at our jobs day to day. We see our internal commitment to diversity as reflective of how we view the world and the changes we want to see become reality.

This company is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applications for employment on the basis of an individual’s race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. This policy applies to all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, compensation, promotion, discipline, and termination.

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 are strongly encouraged to apply.