Associate Director Communications

A Way Home America (AWHA) (awayhomeamerica.org) is a national initiative to build the movement to prevent and end homelessness among young people. We are homeless youth providers, advocates, researchers, government agencies, philanthropists and young people uniting behind a common goal:

• Prevent and end homelessness among all youth and young adults;
• Ensure that homelessness among youth and young adults is rare, and if it occurs, experiences of homelessness are brief and one-time.

AWHA is deeply and daily guided by the following core principles:

• Recognize and Center Intersectionality
• Name and Challenge White Supremacy
• Engage in Principled Struggle
• Practice Targeted Universalism
• Generate Transformative Visions Toward Liberation
• Create a Culture of Accountability

A Way Home America is a fiscally sponsored organization of TSNE (tsne.org).

The associate director will manage AWHA’s pipeline of communications to keep advocates, service providers, funders, and other stakeholders engaged in the movement to end youth homelessness. This person will be a nimble, hands-on team member energized by the challenge of managing a high volume of communications on topics ranging from community-level engagement to national policy discussions. The ideal candidate will be poised to grow professionally alongside the movement and our organization as both reach an important inflection point. 

Responsibilities include but aren’t limited to the following.

• Further develop and maintain AWHA’s communications infrastructure, including its digital channels, branding, and materials;
• Partner with AWHA staff and ensure all AWHA communications maintain clear, consistent voice and branding;
• Author social media content, send email blasts, share relevant data and materials, follow up with communication and feedback seeking guidance from AWHA leadership and/or TSNE, as needed;
• Author and co-author, with partners, reports that support the movement to end youth homelessness;
• Assess and update website user experience; 
• Track, analyze and report on engagement of social media platforms and use the data for strategic planning and increased traffic;
• Develop and adapt AWHA’s communications strategy and messaging in parallel with the organization’s evolving work;
• Collaborate with partners to provide resources to the community and serve as a medium for information sharing ensuring that what is being shared aligns with AWHA’s values;
• Maintain the organization’s editorial calendar of communications to coordinate regular updates to the movement with rapid response communications on emerging issues;
• Be AWHA’s point person on media relations, including proactive outreach, managing reactive inquiries, and supporting AWHA leadership in writing statements and op-eds;
• Promote AWHA events on all platforms (including website, MailChimp, social media, etc.;) with logistics from Events Coordinator;
• Engage with other communications leaders across the movement to amplify efforts and provide communications technical assistance to community partners as needed.;
• Be a thought partner on how to increase AWHA’s digital footprint in our external communications and social media platforms;
• Monitor social media and email inboxes, sharing relevant messages with appropriate divisions;
• Grow AWHA’’s presence and content creatively across all social media channels, being receptive to constructive criticism and feedback;
• Gather content (interviews, pictures, etc.) to creatively showcase our work through social media platforms;
• Gather and lead communication squad meetings to advance strategic plans, understand the shifts in messaging on youth homelessness;
• Record and edit short clips, podcasts, videos and other content and upload to social media outlets and other platforms to obtain and increase momentum around our initiatives.

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

• 5+ years of communications, public affairs, or public relations experience, preferably in a non-profit environment with multiple stakeholders;
• Ability to think strategically while acting tactically to maintain a steady flow of communications to AWHA’s various audiences;
• Hands-on experience managing websites, social media, email marketing campaigns, and other digital communication channels for an organization;
• Impeccable writing skills - from pithy short-form social copy to long-form explanations of complex policy issues;
• Superb project management skills with an ability to juggle multiple communications channels and audiences; 
• Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision, prioritizing workload and flagging potential issues before they arise;
• Flexibility, a bias toward action, and comfort executing communications within a rapidly evolving organization;
• Ability to work under deadline pressure handling multiple tasks accurately, with composure, and according to procedure;
• A demonstrated commitment to youth collaboration, LGBTQ+ and racial equity, and ending youth homelessness;
• Experience with using web and social analytics to improve performance;
• Experience with nonprofit or philanthropy communications;
• Basic photography experience to photograph members and events;
• Basic video recording experience to record and edit short clips and upload to social media outlets;
• Prior experience working on housing and youth issues, preferred but not required.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and G Suite, email marketing services, MailChimp, basic HTML, WordPress, Tweetdeck or other relevant media management tools;
• Working knowledge of design tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Piktochart;
• Knowledgeable with Microsoft Office, and Google Suite;
• Thorough knowledge of social media platforms, such as but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Additional Qualifications

• Valid driver’s license;
• Ability to travel for events and meetings;
• Ability to work occasional nights and weekends;
• Experience in building relationships with diverse populations;
• Align with A Way Home America’s core values:
  • Recognize and Center Intersectionality
  • Name and Challenge White Supremacy
  • Engage in Principled Struggle
  • Practice Targeted Universalism
  • Generate Transformative Visions Toward Liberation
  • Create a Culture of Accountability
• Open to understanding young people;
• Passionate about the mission to end youth homeless and impact change in existing systems;
• Able to give and receive feedback with love, rigor, and respect, honoring individual differences and promoting a healthy life/work balance;
• Has integrity and accountability;
• Holds all accountable for anti-black racism and colorism;
• Be adaptable to the workload and self-sufficient;
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize work;
• Attention to detail and problem solving skills;
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask;
• Lived experience in homelessness, child welfare, juvenile justice, a plus;
• Research experience, a plus;
• Bi-lingual ability, a plus (Spanish preferred).

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• May require extended periods at a computer.
• Reach; traverse; sit (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move;
• Walk to extended periods of time, particularly at events;
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds;
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate;
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards;
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight;
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Regarding COVID-19: TSNE considers the health and safety of our employees of the utmost importance, and due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and subject to your state and local laws, our policy requires that all employees performing in-person work at a TSNE designated office are fully vaccinated. For the purpose of this policy, fully vaccinated indicates that you have received a single dose of the Janssen vaccine, or both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Certain exemptions may be requested and will be considered by Human Resources.

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Work will be primarily performed remotely.

Compensation: The starting salary for this position is $65,000/yr and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package including:

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): 12 paid holidays, 3 weeks vacation, 1 week personal holiday, and sick time for full-time staff;
• 80% Employer-paid, $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim;
• Low-cost MetLife Dental and Vision;
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care;
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance;
• Employer-paid Pension through TIAA;
• ...and more!

To Apply

Please include your resume and a one-page cover letter specifically highlighting why you would like to join the A Way Home America initiative.

TSNE/AWHA envisions a society grounded in the principles of social and economic justice. As such, we strive to achieve excellence through a diverse and inclusive workplace that honors the unique talents and lived experiences of each person. Our vision and values are reflected in all our employment-related decisions, including hiring practices. Accordingly, TSNE actively seeks people who bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives to join us in our work.

As an EOE/AA employer, TSNE/AWHA will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, genetic information, veteran or disability status or any other factor prohibited by law.