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Communication Strategist

Human Rights First • Full-time • New York, NY, US • $70k - $78.50k / year • 19h ago

Job Posting

Job Title:

Reporting Office:

New York, NY

Department:

External Relations

Job Classification:

Full time; Exempt

Supervisor:

Digital Director

Union Classification:

Union

Accountable To:

Vice President, External Relations

Last Updated:

May 4, 2026

Purpose of the Job

The Communication Strategist will play a central role in advancing Human Rights First’s external engagement strategy by producing compelling content, strengthening digital systems, and expanding partnerships that drive audience growth and donor engagement. This role sits at the intersection of storytelling, digital strategy, and organizational growth.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Content Development & Storytelling (30%)

Produce high-impact, donor-facing content, including at least four major client stories annually (e.g., written features, interviews, or creative storytelling formats).
Collaborate closely with Development to align content with fundraising priorities and deepen donor engagement.

Social Media & Staff Engagement (20%)

Design and implement a staff-driven content program to expand authentic storytelling across channels.
Develop and deliver training and guidance to increase staff participation in content creation.
Integrate user-generated content (UGC) into social media strategy to broaden reach and engagement.

Content Operations & Workflow Management (15%)

Strengthen internal content production systems to improve efficiency and reliability.
Manage interns or junior support staff to execute content projects.
Partner with the Digital Director to streamline workflows across drafting, approvals, and publishing.
Ensure high rates of on-time content delivery across platforms and campaigns.

Analytics & Performance Optimization (10%)

Establish and manage a consistent analytics framework across digital platforms.
Define and track key performance metrics, including social media and partnership performance.
Contribute to quarterly reporting and use data insights to refine content strategy and increase engagement.

Partnerships & Creator Engagement (15%)

Build and manage relationships with external creators and strategic partners.
Expand collaboration opportunities and track performance across partnerships.
Develop proposals for new initiatives, including pilot creator programs and continued engagement strategies.

Website & Digital Presence (10%)

Support the development, launch, and ongoing maintenance of website content.
Ensure digital content is clear, compelling, and optimized for user engagement.
Collaborate across teams to maintain consistency in messaging and improve user experience.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Competencies (DEIA)

Human Rights First acknowledges the existence of systemic and structural biases and believes it is necessary to be strategic and intentional in pursuing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in all aspects of governance, operations, and programming. As an employee, you are expected to:

Support adoption of best practices to create a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible work experience for colleagues and external partners.
Strive to consider the people, places, and cultures that might be missing from your work and look for opportunities to increase inclusivity in all the work you do.
Support the mission of Human Rights First in all interactions with colleagues and stakeholders.
Dedicate efforts to enriching DEIA consciousness throughout our office-wide interactions.
Foster a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by promoting adherence to the standards delineated in the Culture of Respect and Teamwork statement in the Employee Handbook.

Required Knowledge, Skill, and Experience

5–8+ years of relevant experience in communications, digital content, or storytelling—preferably within advocacy, human rights, nonprofit, or mission-driven organizations.
Proven track record of developing high-impact, audience-focused content (written, social, multimedia) that drives engagement and supports fundraising or advocacy goals.
Demonstrated experience managing social media strategy and growth, including integrating user-generated content and staff-driven storytelling approaches.
Strong background in content operations and project management, with the ability to manage multiple workflows, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
Experience managing interns or junior staff, with a focus on building efficient, scalable systems.
Familiarity with digital analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, platform insights, social dashboards) and ability to translate data into actionable strategy. Basic HTML and web editing, Canva, Microsoft Office Suite.
Experience building or supporting external partnerships, influencer/creator collaborations, or cross-sector initiatives.
Experience contributing to or managing website content (CMS platforms) and optimizing for user experience and engagement.
Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into clear, compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, particularly with development/fundraising teams, policy experts, and external partners.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

Knowledge of second language such as Spanish
Experience with Quorum and eCRM databases (or similar systems)
Background in human rights, immigration, democracy, or related policy areas.
Experience working in fast-paced, advocacy-oriented environments with a focus on impact and responsiveness.
Familiarity with donor engagement strategies and storytelling for philanthropic audiences.