Communications Associate

ABOUT US: InnerCity Struggle (ICS) is a transformational and intergenerational movement that builds community power to advance justice, life opportunities, and dignity in the Eastside of Los Angeles. Our vision is for the Eastside of Los Angeles to be a thriving, multigenerational, and civically engaged community that ensures racial justice, a quality education, an equitable economy, and a healthy built environment for residents most impacted by systemic injustices. ICS organizes youth and families in Boyle Heights, unincorporated East Los Angeles, City Terrace, El Sereno, and Lincoln Heights. 

InnerCity Struggle is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. We strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ people, veterans, and people with disabilities to apply. 

JOB DESCRIPTION: The Communications Associate will be an integral member of the Communications Department responsible for leading InnerCity Struggle’s earned media strategy and supporting strategic communications campaigns to help win public policies, highlight the leadership of Eastside residents, and build the brand of the organization. 

We seek a creative, passionate individual who understands the power of communications to drive transformative organizing campaigns for economic, social, and racial justice. This position requires leadership qualities such as adaptability, flexibility, dependability, and accountability. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Press Engagement and Coordination

• Work closely with the communications strategist and campaign leads to develop and drive earned media strategies that align and support the organization’s campaigns.
• Manage relationships with the press including maintaining and growing a press list of contacts, hosting reporter meet & greets, and engaging in targeted pitching.
• Develop and distribute media collateral, including organizational impact reports, media advisories, press releases, and press statements.

Copywriting for Email, Campaign Alerts, and Digital Activations

• Support in managing the engagement strategies for InnerCity Struggle’s database (i.e. Nation Builder, Action Network). 
• Support with copywriting of key organizational materials, including but not limited to website content, email blasts, narrative messaging, fundraising, and organizational brand materials.
• Work with the Communications Strategist and campaign leads to develop campaign one-pagers with key data on campaigns and impact stories of InnerCity Struggle members. 

Member Engagement, Spokespeople Training, and Story Collection:

• Work with the communications team to plan and facilitate staff and membership Spokespeople Training to ensure organizational spokespeople are well-versed on our narratives and key campaign messaging and can serve as trusted messengers.
• Support the coordination of member leadership development programming, including our Media Rebels Program and Spoken word Series.
• Work with membership components to manage and keep up to date the organizational spokespeople lists.

Content Development and Social Media Management:

• Support our Digital Communications Specialist with developing digital content that captures breaking news and updates on our organizational issue areas and/or the Eastside community.
• Manage our organizational Twitter/X account.

Website Management And Other Duties Include:

• Support the Communications Department with executing other key strategies including fundraising, campaign messaging, digital strategies, and database management.
• Participate in organization-wide and cross-component activities such as voter canvassing, membership meetings, and individual fundraising.  
• Track impact and support the completion of reports for grants, Board of Directors.
• Other duties and tasks as identified by the Communications Strategist.

JOB REQUIREMENTS: 

• Available to work evenings/weekends
• CA driver’s license and/or access to reliable transportation
• Bilingual in Spanish and English preferred 

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS REQUIREMENTS:

• Familiarity with the Eastside of Los Angeles and issues impacting the community.
• Excellent writing skills. 
• Experience in implementing earned media strategies, including writing media advisories, press releases, and engaging press.
• Highly proficient in computer skills, including Word, PowerPoint, Zoom, and Google Drive.. 
• Knowledge of and/or interest in learning how to utilize a good number of the following tools: CRMs (NationBuilder, ActionNetwork), Press and Social Media Software(Cision, Sprout Social, Later), relational organizing (OutreachCircle).
• Experience with Excel and Google Sheets, and ability to build data and analytics tracking systems.
• Knowledge of how to run Facebook ad campaigns and/or other paid digital programs.
• Ability to maintain effective and positive working relationships with all levels of the organization, membership, and public.

VACCINE REQUIREMENT

• InnerCity Struggle has a vaccine mandate for all employees. For more information about the COVID-19 Vaccine, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html\

• Medical, dental, vision, and retirement plan benefits are available as described in the organization’s benefit plan
• Vacation & sick/wellness days; accrual of up to 10 vacation days per year
• 11 paid holidays
• Two-week holiday paid time off when workload and funding permit
• Eligibility for a 1 month paid sabbatical at 5 years and 3 months paid sabbatical at 10 years
• Cell phone, mileage, and temporary internet stipend

Please send your application to hr@innercitystruggle.org, The subject should read “Communications Associate: First Name Last Name”. Include a resume and answers to the following questions:

• Why are you interested in working at an organization like Inner City Struggle?
• Describe two of your biggest successes in your communications work; please provide one example with earned media and a second example with social media. What were the ingredients to making each of these efforts successful?
• How would you describe the role of a Communications staff person and Communications Department in a grassroots advocacy and organizing organization like Inner City Struggle? 
• What is your connection to and/or knowledge of the Eastside of Los Angeles?