CLVU is seeking a savvy and creative communications professional to lead City Life’s communications efforts. This full-time position will generate increased visibility for our movement’s messaging through press, social media, website and promotional materials.

Position Title:  Communications Director
Reports to: Co-Executive Directors

Organizational description: 

City Life/Vida Urbana (CLVU) is a 48-year old multilingual community-based organization committed to building the power of low income and working class people to fight for social, racial and economic justice and gender equality. Our focus is stopping housing displacement through organizing communities, building our base, leadership development, direct action and policy campaigns. Our current work supports tenants and small homeowners facing eviction, rent increases, unhealthy conditions, foreclosure, or gentrification and is focused in Dorchester, Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Hyde Park, and East Boston.

CLVU also plays an anchor role in our statewide and local housing justice movement. We provide infrastructure support (including communications support) to the Homes for All Massachusetts network as well as the Right to the City Boston alliance.

Current situation:

Prior to the initial COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, CLVU and our organizational partners were beginning a public campaign to lift the ban on rent control in Massachusetts. This remains an important policy campaign but we are also pushing for emergency legislation responding to the immediate needs of tenants and homeowners. Our in-person operations are currently on hold although we are likely to return to some hybrid work model this fall.

Role of the Position:

CLVU is seeking a savvy and creative communications professional to lead City Life’s communications efforts. This full-time position will generate increased visibility for our movement’s messaging through press, social media, website and promotional materials. The Communications Director will guide and coordinate the development of the Digital Communications Organizer, Communications fellow, other staff, and member leaders on the effective use of media as part of campaign work. 

Responsibilities:

• Strengthen CLVU’s communications strategy and plan aimed at 4 major target audiences--- our organizing base, local media, policy makers, and funders.
• Create, manage, and support organizational, organizing, and coalition communications.
• Direct message development for print, social and online media to further organizing campaigns;
• Identify and cultivate relationships with print and broadcast media and content creators;
• Work with Digital Communications Organizer to coordinate training for coalition partners, organizers and member leaders on use of media as part of campaign work.
• Ensure production of high-quality content for our website, social media, policy campaigns, and print
• Supervise Digital Communications organizer and part-time Communications Fellow
  
  

The Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate is a media-maker or artist with some journalistic experience. They would be experienced communicators who have been a part of, volunteered with or worked in community organizing spaces. They would have some connection and experience with how displacement impacts families and communities.

Qualifications:

• Experience in developing communications strategy, messaging and products with teams and coalition groups;
• Experience cultivating relations with print and broadcast media, and web-based/online and social networks;
• Minimum of three to five (3-5) years in journalism, campaign communications, broadcast media, independent media production or related field;
• Strong writing, editing, graphic design and communication skills;
• Ability to work as part of a multicultural team;
• Commitment to building grassroots communications capacity of our member base and coalition partners 
  
  

Salary & Benefits:

Salary for this position is approximately $61K annually. Full-time staff receive medical and dental insurance coverage at no cost to the employee, including family coverage; healthcare expense reimbursement; retirement plan with employer contribution; 2-4 weeks paid vacation per year and 12 paid holidays annually. 

City Life/Vida Urbana is committed to hiring people represented by the diverse communities we serve. People of color, LGBTQ people are strongly encouraged to apply. 

TO APPLY: Send cover letter and resume to [email protected].