Development and Communications Manager

Worker’s Justice Project (WJP) (workersjustice.org) was founded in 2010 to address the racial and economic injustices that low-wage immigrant workers face in New York City by building collective power to win institutional change. WJP runs two long-standing worker’s centers in Brooklyn. We promote justice and opportunity for low-wage immigrant workers in New York City by pushing for systematic enforcement and expansion of workplace protections, which include labor and occupational health and safety standards while advocating for industry-specific efforts to improve working conditions. WJP also offers skills-building training to workers in health & safety and industry-specific areas, and we educate immigrant communities about their rights in the workplace and how to exercise those rights.

WJP is a fiscally sponsored project of TSNE (www.tsne.org).

The Development and Communications Manager (DCM) provides critical capacity and expertise to support strategic fundraising and community engagement efforts to further the vision, mission, and values of WJP and its Divisions such as Los Deliveristas Unidos, Liberty Cleaners, and Construction Workers.

This position will be involved in all aspects of fundraising and communications at the organization, including but not limited to grant writing, donor relations, special events fundraising, press relations, website management, and management of social media platforms, electronic newsletters, and print materials.

Essential Functions

In collaboration with the senior management team, this position will help develop and implement fundraising and communication strategies that strategic objectives, mission, and vision, amplify the organization’s message and campaigns and generate critical resources for WJP’s work. Major responsibilities include:

Fundraising and Donor Relations

• Collaborate with the Director of Development and Communications to manage and grow a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, moving them through the stages of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Take ownership of developing donor-specific strategies, meeting preparation, and timely follow-up;
• Ensure regular communication, reporting, and renewals of support with donors and funders;
• Work with the Development and Communications Director to cultivate relationships with new potential donors, partners, and supporters through a variety of engagement strategies and networks, as well as examination of existing donors who may have greater capacity. Build a pipeline of planned giving prospects;
• Oversee the production of prospect/donor briefings, ensuring they are completed on time with input from appropriate staff leads;
• Track development operations, including funding pipeline and forecasting, revenue reporting, and database use and implementation;
• Research of funding opportunities and evaluate potential sources;
• Assist efforts to develop, execute and manage WJP’s multi-year fundraising plan;
• Draft and finalize grant proposals, letters of interest, and foundation reports;
• Strengthen donor trust, deepen relationships, and increase donor retention by ensuring that donors are thanked in a timely fashion and have a clear sense of the impact of their gifts;
• Develop and execute WJP’s annual fundraising Gala and other fundraising events by outreaching to and soliciting sponsorships, and overseeing the event promotion, logistics planning, and planning of event program and messaging. May include collaborating with a third party event-planning contractor;
• Track and update all donations, funder and donor prospects, and fundraising efforts using WJP’s database (PowerBase);
• Provide support in government grant management by drafting proposal narratives for all government grants and working with the Development and Communications Director to submit applications (city, state, federal)in a timely manner.

 Communications

• Assist the Development and Communications Director with press and earned media relations;
• Collaborate with WJP’s divisions and programmatic teams to develop communications and press/social media strategies for their work;
• Create donor-facing communications, such as pitch decks, reports, and written and online appeals. Leverage data, results, and stories in communications;
• Develop content for print and digital media, including collateral materials such as newsletters, annual report, and event invitations, website design, social media, and email to support annual communications strategy with key audiences (donors, WJP members, employers of WJP Members volunteers, activists;
• Develop communications materials for supporters, allied, donors and stakeholders;
• Participate in the creation of media content such as press releases and media advisory;
• Develop social media content and work with the communications team on managing the social media outlets;
• Monitor messages from the community through social media accounts and properly reply and/or channel it to WJP’s appropriate team or division;
• Track and report on community engagement metrics and co-create innovative ways to increase metrics in the various media outlets;
• Assist the Development and Communications Director in coordinating and preparing WJP internally for speaking engagements such as funder briefings, panels, conferences, etc.;
• Draft and distribute external communication material for marketing purposes.

Other duties as assigned.

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

• 4+ years of fundraising and communications experience including experience securing and managing foundation grants, handling donor and press relations, and managing social media;
• Strong written and verbal communications skills in English and Spanish. Spanish fluency is required;
• Experience working in a non-profit and fast-paced environment;
• Commitment to racial and economic justice;
• Excellent written, verbal, and listening communication skills;
• Self-motivated, hardworking individual with ability to work independently;
• Demonstrated experience building strong relationships with high-level allies and donors;
• Detail-oriented while prioritizing big-picture strategies;
• Strong project management skills and ability to juggle multiple deadlines and priorities;
• Excellent people and relationship building skills;
• Ability to handle multiple priorities at the same time;
• Competent knowledge of social media, computer operations (Google Apps, Word, Excel, etc.) and equipment operation such as copiers, fax machines and telephones;
• Proficiency with Microsoft office software (Microsoft Word, Excel, Mail, etc.;
• Administrative and organizational skills necessary to carry out the job description responsibilities;
• Love of teamwork and a good team player while working in a collaborative work environment;
• Dedication and ability to work a flexible schedule including early mornings, evenings, and/or weekends as needed;
• Deep knowledge of the funding community in New York City and beyond;
• Strong track record of building, sustaining, and growing long-term donor relationships with individuals, foundations, corporation, and government agencies;
• Familiarity with managing external relations and marketing plans;
• Experienced public speaker who is able to effectively communicate WJP’s programs and mission;
• Tactical, multitasking thinker who can work simultaneously on immediate goals and long-term strategies;
• Special interest in building power among low-income people of color to fight for social economic and racial justice.

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:

• There may be a need to lift and/or move materials or equipment up to 30 pounds
• Able to work outdoors in inclement weather conditions.
• Able to commute using the NYC public transportation system.
• Able to work in an open office space.
• Able to work a flexible schedule including early mornings, evenings, and/or weekends as needed.
• Handle, or feel objects, tools or controls.
• Reach; traverse; sit or stand (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move.
• Extended periods of time in front of a computer screen is an essential aspect of the position.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight.
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Compensation and Benefits

Location:Work will be primarily performed at the Sunset Park and/or Williamsburg Worker Centers and on the field. Will travel periodically. This role is eligible for some remote work. Work is not eligible to be 100% remote.

Schedule:This role requires the ability to work regular business hours and on early mornings, evenings and weekends, as needed.

Compensation: The annualized salary range for this position is $72,000 - $77,500/yr.

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

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): twelve paid holidays, three weeks of vacation, one week of personal holiday, and ability to accrue up to 487.5 hours of health leave time for benefited staff.
• 80% Employer-paid, offering some $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim along with several low-deductible plans;
• Low-cost Guardian Dental and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care.
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance.
• Employer-paid Pension and Employee-paid 403b plan through TIAA.
• ...and more!

TSNE/WJP strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/WJP prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/WJP celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/WJP's EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.