Director, Policy and Communications

The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), established in 1911, is a nongovernmental, not-for-profit international organization dedicated to addressing the needs and rights of refugees and immigrants. USCRI defends the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced persons worldwide. USCRI, working with nearly 200 affiliates, provides legal, social, and health services to refugees, unaccompanied migrating children, trafficking survivors, and other immigrants in all 50 states, El Salvador, Honduras, Kenya, and Mexico. USCRI advocates for the rights of refugees and immigrants nationally and globally, helping drive humanitarian policies, practices, and law. To learn more about our work, please visit our website at www.refugees.org. 

OVERVIEW

For nearly 70 years, USCRI Policy and Advocacy Division has defended the rights of uprooted people regardless of their nationality, race, religion, ideology, or social group. USCRI’s Policy and Advocacy Team leads the development of the organization’s position on legislation; federal, state, and UN organizations and foreign government policies; litigation; and the root causes and conditions of crisis, movement, and resettlement for refugees and other uprooted populations. USCRI’s Communications Team handles the internal and external communications to elevate the agency and its work, highlighting solutions for refugees, unaccompanied children, victims of trafficking, and other immigrants and raising them to the attention of the public, policymakers, and organizations of influence.

This is an in-person position at the agency's headquarters in Arlington, VA. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the Policy and Advocacy team and Communications departments, including supervising policy analysts, Communications department staff, and interns.
• Work with senior staff to chart the organization’s policy and advocacy direction, setting goals, deliverables, benchmarks, and timetables.
• Engage in fieldwork, research, recommendations, and writing for publications highlighting the refugees, displaced persons, and migrants in line with the organization’s policy and advocacy direction.
• Maintain ongoing partnerships with international advocacy organizations and UN agencies focused on refugee and migration.
• Write, edit, and distribute content, including publications, press releases, op-eds, web content, annual reports, speeches, and other marketing material communicating the organization's activities, products, and/or services.
• Will be responsible for directing policy analysts expected to present their research and recommendations in various venues, including public briefings, press releases, and op-eds for media outlets, in-depth, and topic-specific issue papers. 
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with journalists, keeping a media database and collating analytics and metrics, arranging interviews for senior staff, and responding to media inquiries.
• Conduct outreach to print and electronic media, direct and assist in the production of communications and information materials, edit USCRI stories and other publications, and arrange public appearances and speaking engagements for USCRI Board and staff.
• Work closely with senior staff to develop and seek opportunities to enhance the reputation of the agency, and coordinate publicity events as required.
• Oversee and contribute to the production of materials for social media platforms and USCRI websites.

The above duties and responsibilities are essential job functions subject to reasonable accommodation. All job duties indicated are not to be an exhaustive statement, and other job-related duties may be assigned as the supervisor(s) require.  

REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s degree is required, preferably in international relations, political science, journalism or a related field in history or social sciences.
• Minimum of 7 years supervisory and management experience in the nonprofit advocacy or international humanitarian sectors is required. 
• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in immigration, human rights or related fields, including experience with media and communications work. Knowledge specific to refugees, unaccompanied children, trafficking, asylum and/or immigrations issues required.
• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communications skills across all media platforms.
• Networking and relationship-building skills, including excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to work and foster multi-cultural teamwork and strong engagement. 
• Must be a self-starter with sound judgment, knowledge, curiosity, creativity, integrity and dedication to the human rights of refugees, immigrants, asylum seekers and displaced people.
• Excellent time-management, attention to detail, and organizational skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

• Use of manual dexterity, tactile, visual, and audio acuity.
• Use of repetitive motion, prolonged periods of sitting and standing, and sustained visual and mental applications and demands.
• Occasional lifting (up to 25 pounds), bending, pulling, and carrying.

ADDITIONAL NOTES  

• Please submit a resume with a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications with your online application. 
• References will be required at time of the final interview.
• No telephone calls please. Position will remain open until filled. 
• Work Location: In-person (possible consideration for a hybrid work environment).

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY  

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, domestic partnership status, marital status, physical or mental disability, AIDS/HIV status, age, political affiliation, genetic information, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.