Deputy Communications Director
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Foundation of Florida (ACLU of Florida) seeks a Deputy Communications Director to hold a leadership role within the Communications department while managing day-to-day operations, growing our organizational reach, and mobilizing support to advance the civil rights and civil liberties that define our democracy.
This is a remote position and includes travel. All candidates must reside in Florida.
The ACLU of Florida is an affiliate of the national ACLU, a national public interest organization devoted to the defense of the Bill of Rights. For over 100 years, the ACLU has served as the nation’s primary protector of the liberties that define our democracy. The organization implements its vital civil liberties mission in all 50 states in large part through affiliate entities such as the ACLU of Florida.
The ACLU of Florida, the state’s largest civil rights and civil liberties organization, employs litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education to protect and promote a broad range of constitutional values and individual rights, such as freedom of speech, racial justice, right to privacy, religious liberty, criminal justice reform, voting rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, disability rights, and immigrants’ rights. The ACLU of Florida litigates a broad range of complex constitutional cases in federal and state courts through direct representation, filing amicus briefs, and submitting administrative complaints to state and federal agencies.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Deputy Communications Director is a senior leadership position within the ACLU of Florida, holding shared executive responsibility for leading the Communications Department and driving the organization’s public narrative, media strategy, and communications infrastructure. Reporting to the Communications Director, this role carries full ownership alongside department leadership—directing staff, setting strategy, and ensuring that the ACLU of Florida communicates its mission with clarity, consistency, and impact across all platforms and issue areas.
This position leads a team of communications professionals engaged in wide-ranging, geographically focused media strategies across one or more issue areas such as First Amendment Freedoms, Equality, Justice & Dignity Rights, and Democracy and Accountability Issues. The Deputy Communications Director provides day-to-day operational leadership for the department while also serving as a senior strategist—developing communications plans, advising leadership, managing crisis response, and building the systems and talent that sustain long-term organizational communications capacity.
This is primarily a people leadership and organizational management role. The Deputy Communications Director brings deep communications expertise and applies it through coaching, mentoring, and developing staff; building cross-departmental relationships; and driving department-wide strategy. The position operates with a high degree of autonomy and exercises sound, independent judgment on matters of organizational significance.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead the development and execution of the ACLU of Florida’s overarching communications strategy in partnership with the Communications Director, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, campaign goals, and advocacy initiatives across all issue areas and platforms.
- Provide day-to-day leadership and management to further the ACLU mission and core values, continuously improving the organization’s structure, systems, staffing, and overall governance to achieve maximum departmental effectiveness.
- Develop and oversee integrated, multi-platform communications campaigns --defining goals, target audiences, message frameworks, and platform-specific tactics – in close coordination with legal, policy, development, and advocacy teams.
- Create communications plans and strategies for the dissemination and production of original content for local and affiliate offices through a wide range of written materials, toolkits, and reports that align with organizational vision and values.
- Serve as a senior communications strategist and counsel to the Communications Director, Executive Director, and senior staff—advising on narrative direction, message framing, media strategy, and crisis communications.
- Draft, review, edit, and approve a wide range of strategic communications materials, including press releases, op-eds, public statements, letters-to-the-editor, public information advisories, blog posts, fact sheets, media advisories, talking points, and briefing documents.
- Exercise editorial authority and sound judgment to ensure ACLU messages are accurately and professionally delivered – reviewing and approving news stories, interviews, and feature articles prior to release to local, state, and national media outlets.
- Lead media relations at the state and national level, cultivating relationships with journalists, editors, producers, and other media industry professionals and securing high-impact coverage in support of campaigns and advocacy priorities.
- Lead and train communications staff in strategies and methods for establishing, cultivating, and maintaining effective working relationships with a wide range of media resources, including reporters, editors, and producers.
- Manage media outreach activities and response to media requests, including oversight and approval for scheduling interviews, planning press conferences, hosting media calls, and preparing staff and spokespersons for public communication events.
- May serve as a spokesperson to local, state, and national outreach interests, expanding visibility, outreach, and engagement efforts of the ACLU in the broader community.
- Establish and maintain systems to track, measure, and evaluate the performance and impact of earned, owned, and paid media strategies across campaigns and advocacy efforts.
- Lead and facilitate local, state, and national collaboration and the adoption of multi-disciplinary strategies to enhance and protect the work and brand of the ACLU.
- Lead cross-departmental collaboration on branding, public education, and communications infrastructure that advances the ACLU’s mission across Florida and with national affiliate partners.
- Develop strong working relationships and enhance systems of communication with senior management staff and local ACLU chapters on key organizational goals and objectives.
- Work closely with senior staff, affiliates, and the broader ACLU community to ensure unified programs, common long-term objectives, and cohesion across communications initiatives.
- Recruit, train, mentor, and evaluate communications staff -- developing and maintaining a talented, well-trained, and diverse team with efficient allocation of time, human, and financial resources toward key ACLU and department goals.
- Participate in the development and administration of the departmental budget, including forecasting resource needs, approving expenditures, and implementing adjustments as needed.
- Assess and monitor team workload and workflows, identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing solutions that increase efficiency and organizational impact.
- Lead other communications projects and strategic initiatives as assigned by the Communications Director.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Deputy Communications Director carries full supervisory responsibility for Communications Department staff and is expected to lead with clarity, consistency, and a deep commitment to staff development and organizational excellence. Supervisory duties include but are not limited to:
- Directly supervise Communications Department staff, including Senior Communications Strategist, Senior Digital Strategist, and other communications personnel, with responsibility for day-to-day oversight, performance management, and professional development.
- Demonstrate proven leadership across a multi-disciplinary organization with multiple offices and coalition partners in diverse communities, ensuring consistent standards and cohesion across all locations and partnerships.
- Recruit, interview, select, and onboard communications staff in alignment with organizational values, departmental needs, and the ACLU of Florida’s commitment to building a diverse and inclusive workforce.
- Foster a culture of collaboration and accountability that is consistent with the values and mission of the ACLU, including full management of personnel and human resources tasks.
- Support the assessment of organizational needs and the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs and projects that facilitate the professional development and continuous learning of team members, with particular attention to executives and emerging leaders.
- Set clear performance expectations, conduct regular check-ins and formal performance evaluations, and provide ongoing feedback that supports staff growth and accountability.
- Review and evaluate work methods and procedures, meeting with management staff to identify and resolve problems, meet critical deadlines, and proactively develop new strategies as needed.
- Select, train, motivate, and evaluate personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; and implement discipline procedures per established policies, procedures, and executive guidance.
- Manage workload distribution across the team, assessing and monitoring capacity, identifying opportunities for improvement, and implementing changes that increase efficiency and organizational impact.
- Mediate and resolve intra-team conflict constructively, escalating to the Communications Director or Human Resources as appropriate and in accordance with organizational policy.
- Participate in the development and administration of the departmental budget, including approving forecasts of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; approving expenditures; and implementing budgetary adjustments as appropriate and necessary.
- Maintain accurate records related to personnel matters, performance documentation, and HR processes in coordination with the Human Resources department.
- Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional communications experience, including at least three (3) years in a leadership, management, or senior strategist role with supervisory responsibility.
- Demonstrated experience leading communications strategy in an advocacy, nonprofit, political, governmental, or comparable agency environment -- including experience navigating sensitive, high-stakes, or crisis communications situations.
- Proven track record developing and executing integrated, multi-platform communications campaigns from strategy through evaluation, including earned, owned, and digital media components.
- Experience managing, coaching, and developing communications staff or teams, with a demonstrated commitment to building diverse, high-performing, and collaborative workplaces.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and editorial judgment across a broad range of formats – including press materials, op-eds, public statements, and long-form narrative -- with the ability to translate complex legal and policy issues into compelling public-facing content.
- Demonstrated media relations expertise, including cultivating press relationships and securing coverage at the local, state, and national level in support of advocacy priorities.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with experience overseeing multiple concurrent initiatives, managing deadlines, and allocating resources effectively.
- Experience with budget development, oversight, and administration in a nonprofit or comparable organizational setting.
- Unwavering commitment to the mission of the ACLU, including a demonstrated commitment to equity, racial justice, and the full protection of civil liberties.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Deep knowledge of civil rights law, litigation strategy, and advocacy tools, with experience translating legal developments into accessible and compelling public communications.
- Experience communicating on one or more of the ACLU of Florida’s core issue areas, including voting rights, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, criminal justice reform, or First Amendment issues.
- Demonstrated servant leadership qualities -- including a commitment to developing others, building collaborative team cultures, and leading with humility and purpose.
- Knowledge of current and emerging digital communications strategies, platforms, and tools, with experience integrating digital strategy into broader communications campaigns.
- Experience working across coalition partners and diverse communities, with an ability to build trust and alignment across stakeholders with varying priorities and perspectives.
- Skill in developing, managing, and interpreting budgets, contracts, and financial reports in a nonprofit or advocacy context.
- Oral and written proficiency in a second language, particularly Spanish, to support engagement with Florida’s diverse communities.
- Proven ability to build and sustain effective working relationships across lines of difference, including race, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and cultural and linguistic background.
The Deputy Communications Director is a full-time exempt position under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Compensation will be commensurate with experience, within the range of $93,000 – $125,000. A combination of education and experience may be considered.
The ACLU of Florida offers a generous total rewards program including but not limited to:
- Comprehensive employer paid health benefits package with individual employee coverage 100%
- Employer paid life, long-term and short-term disability insurance
- Up to twelve weeks of paid medical leave after one year’s service
- Defined Contribution 401K Retirement Plan with employer match
- 5 weeks of paid vacation
- 13 paid holidays and 2 personal days
- 12 sick days
- Annual wellness allotment
- Professional development and access to educational platforms
- Employee Resource Groups
- Additional subscription services and wellness tools
To apply for the Deputy Communications Director position, visit this link. All attachments should be in Microsoft Word or PDF format.
Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Priority will be given to candidates who apply by May 29, 2026. Please note that we will only be able to follow up with those candidates under consideration. No phone calls, please.
This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required for the Deputy Communications Director position. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU of Florida reserves the right to change the job description and/or posting at any time without advance notice.
The ACLU of Florida is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU of Florida encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, LGBTQIA+, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, or veteran status. If selected for an interview, please inquire if financial assistance is needed to attend.
The ACLU of Florida makes every effort to ensure that its recruitment and employment efforts provide persons with disabilities with full opportunities for employment in all positions.
The ACLU of Florida undertakes affirmative action strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to assure that persons with disabilities have full opportunities for employment in all positions.