Assistant Director of Digital Strategy in New York, New York at New York Civil Liberties Union Foundation

Position: Assistant Director of Digital Strategy

Department: Communications

Terms of Employment: Regular Full-Time/Exempt (NYCLU staff are currently working in a hybrid model; in-office requirements are two (2) days per week or eight?(8) days per month.

Location(s): New York Civil Liberties Union,125 Broad Street, NY, NY 10004

Salary: $105,000 - $115,000

Application Deadline: Until the position is filled.

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) is one of the nation's leading advocates on behalf of constitutional rights and liberties. Founded in 1951, as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the NYCLU is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization with more than 90,000 members and supporters, and eight offices statewide. We work in the courts, in the legislatures and on the streets to advocate for racial and economic justice, free speech, freedom of religion, privacy and equality before the law for all New Yorkers. For more information, please visit our website: www.nyclu.org.

The NYCLU is committed to building an equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist workplace that centers the voices of marginalized and directly impacted communities. This commitment strengthens our mission to protect civil liberties and advance justice across New York. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, and others whose experiences reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

The Assistant Director of Digital Strategy supports the management of digital strategy and production, ensuring the organization’s digital outputs are compelling and consistent. The role oversees the production and distribution of multimedia content across various digital platforms, ensuring all multimedia outputs — videos, graphics, podcast, web content — are aligned with the brand’s voice, are high quality, relevant, and timely. Reporting to the Senior Director of Digital & Design, the Assistant Director will supervise two to three members of the Digital Team and co-lead on team strategy and growth. The ideal candidate is a compelling and dynamic storyteller with strong scripting and editing skills.

Multimedia Strategy & Content Production

• Execute Content Strategy: Translate high-level goals from the Senior Digital Director into actionable, creative multimedia plans that support the organization’s advocacy campaigns and strategic goals.
• End-to-End Content Creation: Script, edit, and direct compelling, human-centric narratives that translate complex issues into emotionally resonant digital content.
• Oversee Multimedia Outputs: Manage the production pipeline for a diverse range of digital assets, including short and long-form videos, podcasts, graphics, web content, and social media assets, ensuring assets are high quality and timely. Supervise two digital/multimedia roles.
• Maintain Brand Integrity: Act as a creative gatekeeper, ensuring all digital and multimedia outputs strictly align with the organization's voice, visual brand identity, and messaging guidelines.

Team Leadership & Vendor Management

• Manage Creative Teams: Supervise and mentor a cross-functional team of internal creatives (videographers, graphic designers, audio editors, etc.) and manage external freelancers.
• Vendor Relations: Vet, onboard, contract, and manage external vendors and freelancers, clearly communicating project scopes and upholding high creative standards.
• Workflow Optimization: Oversee the project management lifecycle for creative assets, ensuring internal teams and external partners meet tight deadlines across multiple simultaneous projects.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Distribution

• Cross-Departmental Integration: Partner closely with Media and Editorial teams to seamlessly integrate multimedia content into broader digital campaigns and organizational initiatives.
• Platform Optimization: Ensure all digital content is tailored, formatted, and optimized for maximum engagement across specific channels, including social media platforms, email campaigns, and the NYCLU website.
• Visual Asset Creation: Serve as a hands-on contributor, developing and supporting the digital team to produce high impact work.

Analytics, Reporting & Innovation

• Performance Tracking: Monitor and analyze the performance of digital content using various analytics tools to measure audience engagement.
• Data-Driven Reporting: Compile and present comprehensive, quarterly reports on content analytics to the Communications department, highlighting successes and areas for growth.
• Drive Innovation: Stay ahead of emerging digital storytelling trends, platform algorithm updates, and new creative tools to continuously innovate the organization’s digital presence.

Key Skills + Competencies

Storytelling & Content Creation

• Editorial Excellence: Exceptional scripting, copywriting, and editing skills with a sharp eye for detail, tone, and brand consistency.
• Dynamic Storytelling: Ability to translate complex issues into compelling, human-centric, and emotionally resonant narratives for a digital audience.
• Multimedia Fluency: Deep understanding of the distinct nuances, best practices, and optimization strategies for various digital platforms (social media, website, email, video).

Technical & Production Skills

• Digital Production: Hands-on experience or deep familiarity with the creative processes of short and long form video production and graphic design.
• Creative Software: Proficiency with standard industry tools (e.g., Adobe CS, Canva).
• Data & Analytics: Ability to use analytics tools to track content performance, derive actionable insights, and compile reports.

Collaboration & Communication

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills with a track record of working effectively across different departments and teams (e.g., Media, Editorial, Digital Strategy).
• Vendor Relations: Experience vetting, onboarding, and directing freelance creatives to maintain high quality and brand compliance.
• Strategic Alignment: Ability to take high-level strategy from leadership and translate it into actionable, creative multimedia plans.

• Professional Experience: 8+ years of experience in digital communications, multimedia production, or digital strategy, preferably within a nonprofit, advocacy, or campaign environment.
• Leadership & Management: Proven experience managing creative professionals, including managing cross-functional internal teams and external vendors/freelancers.
• Project Management: Demonstrated ability to manage complex creative project pipelines, balance multiple deadlines, and align content calendars with broader organizational campaigns and goals.
• Portfolio of Work: A strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional multimedia storytelling, including video, podcasts, graphics, and written digital content.

Desired Qualifications

• Photography skills a plus

Please submit your resume, a portfolio, and cover letter that includes your unique qualifications for this position, and where or how you learned of this job posting via https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/4347383/New-York-Civil-Liberties-Union-Foundation/Assistant-Director-of-Digital-Strategy If feasible, please submit these materials as a single PDF.

The NYCLU is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, religion, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and having a workforce that reflects the communities that we serve.

The NYCLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please e-mail ldecicco@nyclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request accommodation for the interview process.

This position may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.