Director of Communications

About CAA

Chinese for Affirmative Action was founded in 1969 to protect the civil rights of Chinese Americans and to advance multiracial democracy in the United States. Today, CAA is a progressive voice in and on behalf of the broader Asian American and Pacific Islander (API) community. We advocate for systemic change that advances equity and addresses challenges facing our community.

At the grassroots level, our community building work nurtures the ability of immigrants to participate fully in civic life. These activities include leadership development for Chinese American immigrants, employment services for limited-English proficient newcomers, outreach for immigrant legal services, and community education underscoring issues that impact our constituency.

CAA also leads advocacy to inform and shape public discourse, enact improvements to public policy, generate systemic change, and build social justice movements.  This advocacy includes community-based research;  public policy, budget, and legislative work; grassroots community education and media campaigns; multi-lingual strategic communications; and active coalition and movement building across a variety of communities.  

With local offices anchored at its San Francisco Chinatown headquarters, CAA also maintains an active State policy presence through an office and partnership in Sacramento, and statewide and national advocacy through English and Chinese-language strategic communications and a variety of active relationships with allies.

Position Overview 

Reporting to the CAA Co-Executive Directors, the primary role of the CAA Director of Communications is to lead the planning and implementation of communications that advances our work in social justice and civil rights. The ideal candidate should bring experience in communications strategy and narrative building, social justice marketing, and communications leadership.

We are looking for a creative leader and experienced strategist who can manage a communications team. This role is responsible for the successful execution of the CAA marketing and communications strategy, which will span digital and traditional media and involve brand development, creative storytelling, stakeholder communications, and more.  This role will also support Communications efforts related to Stop AAPI Hate’s work.

An exempt position, the Director of Communications will work 100% remotely until Winter 2021 but will eventually work hybrid in person and remote from Chinese for Affirmative Action’s San Francisco office. 

Areas of Responsibility 

Strategy & Leadership Responsibilities

• Lead the development of a comprehensive communications strategy for CAA, in addition to playing a leading role in Stop AAPI Hate’s communications
• Amplify, strengthen, and identify new ways to enhance CAA’s voice and brand
• Manage the development and use of CAA’s mailing and donor lists, Board updates, and other stakeholder communications
• Coordinate with leadership on internal communications
• Work with program leadership to develop storytelling strategies to demonstrate impact and influence to donors, supporters, and other stakeholders 
• Build a culture of narrative storytelling, and communications across the organization as a tool for driving social change

Management Responsibilities:

• Prepare and manage communications budget
• Manage a growing communications team that consists of a Communications Manager and contractors such as writers and designers
• Maintain proactive and responsive relationships with vendors supporting digital communications, website development, writing, marketing, earned media/public relations, and content development

Identity & Content Strategy Responsibilities

• Maintain and grow relationships with third-party communications vendors that manage design, web developers, media listening, community management, print production, and other services. 
• Review, strengthen, and manage CAA’s branding, visual identity, and style guidelines 
• Develop and implement digital media strategy for CAA 
• Play a leading role Stop AAPI Hate’s digital media strategy 
• Lead the generation of online, print, and media content and storytelling that engages varying audience segments with specific metrics
• Develop a strategy to measure impact, influence, and reach of communications activities 
• Manage the development, distribution, and maintenance of all print and electronic collateral including, but not limited to, e-newsletters, annual report, and fundraising appeals
• Lead website redevelopment and coordinate website maintenance to ensure that new and consistent information is updated

Public Relations and Press

• Guide the strategy on press outreach, including messaging in press releases, creation of press kits and materials, interview preparation, and responses to media requests
• Expand the organization’s capacity to engage with AAPI-language press and work closely with the Chinese Digital Engagement team to drive coverage in Chinese-language earned media 

Desired Qualifications 

• 7-10+ years experience in communications, public relations, or a related field
• Proven experience in the design and execution of narrative strategy, nonprofit and/or social justice marketing and communications, digital strategy, and public relations
• Management experience inspiring a team and highly collaborative style 
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent writing/editing and verbal communication skills
• Self-starter, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives
• Strong decision-making instincts
• Excellent knowledge of social media platforms and social media marketing

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to employment@caasf.org. In the subject line, please write “CAA Director of Communications.” In your cover letter, please address the following questions:  What about our mission or values inspires you? What has been your most impactful work or life experience so far, and why?

CAA is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and immigrants are encouraged to apply. We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

https://caasf.org/position/director-of-communications/