Executive Communications Strategist

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve the systems of democracy and justice in the United States. We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. The Brennan Center’s work ranges from voting rights to campaign finance reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving Constitutional protections in national security policies.

Part think‑tank, part advocacy group, part cutting‑edge communications hub, we start with rigorous research. We craft innovative policies and fight for them – in Congress and the states, in the courts, and in the court of public opinion.

The Brennan Center seeks an individual with excellent writing skills, a strong grasp of current events and public policy, and a keen sense of messaging to provide strategic assistance to the President & CEO of the Brennan Center, Michael Waldman, and the Brennan Center’s Managing Director, Jeanine Chirlin. The Executive Communications Strategist will work closely with the President and Managing Director on all aspects of their roles at the Brennan Center, with particular attention to internal and external communications.

The role is part project management, part thought partnership, and part research and writing. It will require building and maintaining positive relationships with staff members of all levels, an up‑to‑date awareness of work happening across the organization, and an ability and willingness to assist with projects outside formal job responsibilities as needed.

Note:

This is an in‑person position based in New York City, with occasional travel to Washington, D.C.

• Working with the President on public writing including the weekly newsletter The Briefing, which goes to 140,000 subscribers, op‑eds, tweet‑threads, etc.
• Serving as an associate producer of The Briefing weekly podcast, including conducting research, booking guests, drafting questions and scripts, maintaining an editorial calendar, etc.
• Crafting internal communications efforts, including drafting and editing talking points, and identifying the best ways to communicate with staff.
• Researching, editing, and writing for books, articles, speeches, and reports.
• Opportunity for bylined work including articles and Brennan Center reports.
• Drafting weekly emails to Brennan Center staff and board of directors, weaving together updates collected from all programs and departments.
• Strategizing messaging and drafting talking points for use by the President and other members of the organization externally.
• Elevating the media presence of the President through engagement and relationship‑building with producers at various TV networks, publications, and radio programs/podcasts.
• Assisting the organization’s Managing Director with planning and programmatic and communications work.
• Organizing monthly events series in Washington, DC, for lawmakers, journalists, and others.
• Producing memos for meetings with lawmakers, journalists, donors, and others.
• Assisting with events run by the Office of the President through development of content, scripts, and questions for panel discussions.
• Hiring and supervising spring, summer, and fall interns for the Office of the President.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 2–5 years of experience in politics, government, journalism, communications, or at a nonprofit required.
• Excellent writing, editing, and analytical skills, including talent for translating complex, detailed legal and policy work into clear and compelling language for different audiences. High‑level speech writing experience a plus.
• Keen political and public communications strategic sense.
• Ability to work constructively and professionally across multiple issue areas and under deadline pressure.
• Experience managing communications efforts that have multiple stakeholders and audiences inside and/or outside the organization/company.
• Deft ability to understand and discuss the Brennan Center’s policy and legal goals, the activities and strategies employed to reach them, and the political…