Digital Communications Coordinator

Job Title: Digital Communications Coordinator

Department: Communications

Reports To: Director, Digital Communications and Branding

Who We Are:

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is the leading organization in the U.S. working to end the drug war, repair its harms, and build a non-punitive, equitable, and regulated drug market. We envision a world that embraces the full humanity of people, regardless of their relationship to drugs. We advocate that the regulation of drugs be grounded in evidence, health, equity, and human rights. In collaboration with other movements and at every policy level, we change laws, advance justice, and save lives.

DPA has 40 staff across the U.S. an annual operating budget of approximately $12 million, and 200,000 members, activists, and supporters. The organization has a solid track record of success at the local, state, and federal levels and consistent visibility in prominent media and policy circles.

Recognizing the broad reach of the drug war, DPA works across issue areas to engage more deeply with organizations and leaders in immigration, family policing, education, reproductive justice, housing, and other aligned spaces. This commitment to building power across movements and building a base contributes to and works in tandem with DPA’s work on policy and legislative change.

Learn more about working at the Drug Policy Alliance here and learn about our work to end the drug war here.

The Role:

Supervised by the Director, Digital Communications and Branding, the Digital Communications Coordinator works closely with Communications & Marketing team as well as the program teams (e.g., policy, research, organizing) to produce content, respond to requests, and execute digital communications strategies that advance DPA’s campaigns and mission.

The Digital Communications Coordinator will contribute to day-to-day functions for DPA’s digital communications team, including email drafting and delivery support, digital advocacy tool support, and website updates and content support.

Expect a supportive and busy work environment where you will navigate managing multiple projects, prioritizing competing deadlines, and catering our messaging to multiple audiences.

Opportunities for growth include developing your understanding of modern drug policy and as a leader in public relations and communications.

Key Responsibilities:

Support the Director, Digital Communications and Branding in executing and devising DPA’s digital communications strategy, with a focus on websites, digital advocacy tools, and email.

• Draft content for DPA’s proprietary websites (drugpolicy.org, drugpolicyaction.org, reformconference.org, and uprootingthedrugwar.org), utilizing SEO and other website performance best practices.
• Maintain website content and execute updates.
• Draft, manage approvals of, and send emails, utilizing best practices and trends.
• Create and draft content for digital advocacy tools and other digital channels, as assigned.
• Analyze relevant website, email, and digital advocacy tool data, offering insights to improve performance.
• Maintain DPA messaging/branding across websites, emails, and digital advocacy tools.
• Manage Zoom webinars for communications campaigns.
• Provide communications support for Reform, the Drug Policy Alliance’s bi-annual international conference.
• Serve as backup support to the digital communications team for social media drafting/posting.
• Provide logistical support for vendors, related accounts, volunteers/interns, and billing where appropriate.

Skills and Experience:

To fulfill the responsibilities of the role, we are seeking candidates with the following qualifications and characteristics:

Passion: Strong commitment to DPA’s mission to end the war on drugs.

Skills and Experience:

• Intermediate understanding of key issues related to drug policy reform. For example: how drug criminalization has contributed harms like the overdose crisis and over-incarceration, how harm reduction reduces the spread of infectious diseases and saves lives, and why we need a public health approach to the overdose crisis and addiction.
• Proven ability to write clearly and persuasively. For example, composing a mass email to our base about a campaign, drafting a webpage to educate on an issue, or crafting a petition form to encourage our base to act.
• Proven proficiency in web CMS and email client back-ends (ideally, WordPress and Springboard/Pardot). (Proficiency with basic coding languages (HTML/CSS) and digital advocacy platforms (digital petitions, SMS) preferred but not required.)
• Commitment to learn and be trauma-informed and anti-racist.
• Excellent verbal, writing and interpersonal communications skills.
• Strong attention to detail, ability to write and deliver work products under tight deadlines, and commitment to high quality standards.
• Solid understanding of trends and best practices in web and email.
• Solid understanding of SEO and data analytics (i.e., Google Analytics).
• Demonstrated experience with project coordination and working effectively in a fast-paced environment; and
• Strong work ethic, attention to detail, organizational skills, and proactive work style.

Compensation:

This is a full-time, exempt position. The salary range for this position is $58,000-$65,000, depending on the level of experience. Benefits for DPA staff include comprehensive health insurance and coverage (including dental and vision), 403b retirement plan with 10% employer matching contribution after completion of one-year, paid time off including 20 days of vacation, plus national holidays, sick days, organizational closure at the end of December, and year-round early dismissal on Fridays.

Location

This role is based in New York City. The Digital Communications Coordinator is expected to be onsite 2-3 days per week and may work remotely on other days.

Hours:

Full-time, flexible schedule.

How to Apply:

To apply, please submit the following three things:

• Your resume.
• A cover letter that includes brief responses to the following prompts:
  • Why you want to work in drug policy/for the Drug Policy Alliance.
  • Briefly describe one previous work experience and how it has prepared you for this role.
  • Briefly describe your career goals; and
  • Your salary requirements.
• Share at least two examples of your written work from the last year that demonstrate your ability to write for a broad audience. Examples include mass email, blog post, or web page. If the piece went through a process involving external editors, please clarify that. No academic papers please.

Equal Opportunity

Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. DPA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity, personal appearance, political affiliation, family responsibility, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction. Drug Policy Alliance is particularly interested in hiring people who have been adversely affected by the war on drugs.