American Civil Liberties Union of Texas Foundation
Media Coordinator

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a national public interest organization, is the leading defender of civil liberties guaranteed by our nation’s Bill of Rights. The ACLU of Texas*, a private, non-profit organization, is the state’s guardian of freedom that works to promote and defend civil liberties in Texas. To achieve our mission, we manage legal, legislative and public education programs on a broad range of constitutional issues including discrimination, free speech, immigrant rights, police accountability, youth and school issues, death penalty, religious freedom, reproductive rights, GLBT rights, and privacy. Founded in 1938, the ACLU of Texas is headquartered in Austin, with a regional office in Houston. It has 16,000 members and an annual budget of $1.5 million. To learn more about the work of the ACLU and the civil liberties principles we uphold, or to find the ACLU of Texas Chapter in your community, please visit www.aclutx.org and www.aclu.org.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals to apply.

Position Overview:
The ACLU of Texas is seeking a full-time Media Coordinator to work in our Austin office. This position will report to the Public Education Director and manage and coordinate the organization’s web site, online communications, newsletter and other functions within the scope of the Public Education Department. This position will serve as primary point person for new media communications for the ACLU of Texas. Directs efforts to use new media to tell the organization’s story and support its communications and marketing efforts, including the anticipated redesign of the website. Provides leadership, strategic planning, and Web development and consulting services to the entire organization. Coordinates the production and maintenance of all new media projects

Job Responsibilities:

Web Site Development and Management: Develop and manage the ACLU of Texas web site and blog to make more interactive, increase traffic, attract membership and augment media coverage. Plan and manage electronic communications with members and press. Serve as the Public Education Department’s primary ACLU-TX web site coordinator; act as the point person for the Department’s freelance web programmer and assist the Legal, Field and Development Departments with their online needs, including launching special online projects, writing action alerts, updating the action page and monitoring the growth of the online action list, posting all event ads and news releases.

Communications and Media Relations: Assist in media planning and media relations for the Public Education Department including production of internal and external communications such as opinion pieces, letters to the editor, press releases, board communications, talking points, fact sheets, organizing press conferences and media availabilities. Also share duties as a Public Education Department liaison with the Legal and Policy Departments and serve as an ACLU of Texas spokesperson when needed.

Speakers Program: Assist with the development and implementation of a Speakers Program for ACLU of Texas Chapters, collaborating with Field Director and Public Education Director. For specific events, provide background information to speakers and assist in planning and evaluation.

Event Coordination: Assist with public and chapter events such as the annual membership meeting and board of directors’ meetings and other meetings as required.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent combination of education and experience with at least five years experience in new media content, journalism, media relations, editing, message development and/or creating advocacy materials (e.g. newsletters and brochures);
• Computer proficiency, including web site management, familiarity with web site maintenance and ability to create and upload web content;
• Excellent writing skills with the ability and willingness to produce copy under tight deadlines, synthesizing complex information from a variety of sources, including attorneys, ACLU of Texas personnel and volunteers, Chapter members and volunteers, policy makers, lobbyists and public-relations professionals, and other colleagues and turn it into clear, dynamic copy that is understandable and appealing to a specific audience.
• Ability to quickly produce clear, persuasive, well-organized and fact-checked materials, as needed;
• Confident oral communication skills with the ability to present and explain concepts clearly and succinctly;
• Experience and skill in creating publications using desktop publishing software;
• Creative, result-oriented, self-starting, willing to learn, able to manage an aggressive schedule, willing to travel occasionally and work beyond 9-5 as needed.
• Able to work as an effective team leader and/or with other departments for special projects;
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and a commitment to diversity; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of all types, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability and socio-economic circumstance.
• Must strongly support priority issues of the ACLU and be familiar with social justice, civil rights or civil liberties issues;
• Obsession with the media in general and new media in particular;
• Ability to speak and write Spanish fluently.

Compensation and Benefits:
Salary based on experience. Excellent benefits currently offered by the ACLU of Texas include paid vacation, medical and dental insurance, pension plan, life and long-term disability insurance and generous paid holidays. All benefits are subject to change and may be subject to applicable waiting periods and other conditions stated in the summary plan description.

To Apply:
Complete our online application form and send it to us, along with your resume and a letter of interest explaining your interest in the position and anything you would like us to consider that is not included in your resume. You may submit the entire package via e-mail to jobs@aclutx.org or via regular mail to:

Glenna Bargsley
ACLU of Texas
P.O. Box 12905
Austin, Texas 78711.

Applications accepted until position is filled, which shall not be before Sept. 1. Please indicate in your cover letter how you learned of this job opening.