Communication Director - Safe Passage Project

About Safe Passage Project 

Safe Passage Project (SPP) is a highly focused nonprofit immigration legal services organization that provides free lawyers to immigrant children facing deportation. Founded in 2013, SPP has grown to include 50+ employees, two offices, and an annual budget of over $5 million. It manages over 1,300 open cases a year.

To date, SPP has supported more than 3,000 young people in NYC and Long Island. The New York Immigration Courts, some of the busiest immigration courts in the US, have more than 15,000 juveniles on their dockets, many of whom are fleeing trauma in their countries of origin such as gang violence and recruitment, abuse, and sexual assault. Immigrant children are not afforded free legal representation by the government, regardless of their age. As a result, more than half of immigrant children in immigration proceedings must go to court without the aid of a lawyer. Among unaccompanied children with legal representation, immigration court data shows that 73% are allowed to remain in the United States, whereas only 15% of unrepresented children are allowed to stay. This is where Safe Passage Project steps in, both through providing immigrant youth with direct representation by staff attorneys and through a robust network of pro bono attorneys who SPP attorneys train, mentor, and supervise.

About the Role  

Safe Passage Project is seeking a strategic and passionate Communications Director to lead our communications and marketing efforts. The Communications Director will be responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive communication strategies that effectively convey our impact, engage our supporters, and raise awareness about the challenges faced by immigrant children.

Responsibilities  

Communications Strategy and Management

• Develop and implement a comprehensive, long-term communications strategy aligned with Safe Passage Project's mission and goals.
• Use ethical storytelling practices to craft compelling narratives that effectively communicate our work.
• Manage media relations and serve as the primary point of contact for press inquiries.
• Oversee the development of all print and digital communications materials, including website content, social media, newsletters, press releases, and annual reports.
• Collaborate with the development team to create consistent messaging for fundraising efforts.
• Build and maintain a story bank, collecting impactful narratives from clients and staff.
• Ensure all communications adhere to brand guidelines and maintain a consistent voice.

   Leadership and Team Management

• Oversee the communications department, including budgeting, planning, and reporting.
• Identify staffing needs and manage any future communications team members or consultants.
• Collaborate with leadership and other departments to identify communication opportunities and develop appropriate strategies.
• Participate in organizational leadership discussions and decision-making processes.

Qualifications

The strongest candidates for this position will have most, though likely not all, of the following

qualifications and characteristics:

• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in communications, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing successful communications strategies.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to adapt tone and style for various audiences and platforms.
• Strong public speaking and media relations skills.
• Proficiency in digital communications tools and platforms.
• Experience in non-profit communications is highly desirable.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred.

Qualities We're Looking For

• A commitment to Safe Passage Project's mission and desire to make a difference in children's lives.
• An understanding of and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion principles.
• The ability to work effectively with underserved communities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A high level of discretion in handling confidential information.
• Adaptable and flexible in a dynamic environment.
• Proactive problem-solving skills.
• A spirit for collaboration and being a team player.

• Appreciation of details and organization.

Compensation and Benefits

Safe Passage Project offers a competitive salary in the range of $115,000 to $125,000 annually and offers the following benefits:

• In a hybrid work environment
• Open Paid Time Off
• Medical plans (which includes 1 plan that has 100% premium coverage).
• Dental plans, Vision plans, and telehealth services.
• An employer-sponsored retirement savings plan- we provide up to 6% employer match of your 401(k) contributions
• 12 weeks of Paid Family Leave along with Unpaid Leave of Absence
• Short-term disability (STD) & Long-term disability (LTD) Coverage
• Flexible spending accounts (FSA) and Health savings accounts (HSA)
• Commuter benefits
• Voluntary Life Insurance plans
• Pet Health Insurance
• Yearly Professional Development Stipend
• Time off from December 24th to January 1st
• Home Office Stipend
• Paid Holidays
• Flexible work schedule

The team works on a beautiful campus at a terrific office location in Tribeca and in our Long

Island office in Farmingdale, NY. Safe Passage Project is proud to have a top-down, bottom-up commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Safe Passage Project is an equal-opportunity employer. Women, people of color, LGBTQ people, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

For more information on Safe Passage Project, please visit www.safepassageproject.org.