National Center for Youth Law 

The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) is a national nonprofit that puts children — especially those pushed to society’s margins — at the center of every fight for justice. For more than 50 years, we have partnered with young people, families, and communities in efforts to dismantle racism, discrimination, and inequity wherever they appear. We recognize that harmful policies don’t affect children in isolation. Each young person’s well-being depends on their family’s stability, their community’s resources, and the opportunities they can access. By working across all systems that shape young people’s lives in a rapidly evolving society, we advance solutions that are holistic, intersectional, and transformative. 

At NCYL, communications is a strategic function. It helps shape public understanding, elevate urgent threats and solutions, and ensure that the rights of children and youth remain part of the national conversation. 

Position 

NCYL seeks a strategic and nimble Communications Manager to drive earned media and external visibility for the organization and its senior leaders. 

This person will monitor daily developments across our issue areas, identify the moments that require a public response, and turn those moments into meaningful media and thought leadership opportunities. They will build relationships with reporters, editors, producers, podcast hosts, and other influential partners, while working closely with NCYL’s writers to shape an editorial calendar that strengthens the organization’s public voice. The position will also work to help support cross-team relationships with organization leadership, program leads, development, and others to identify communications goals 

This is a high-judgment role for someone who understands how to connect policy, litigation, and advocacy to the news cycle and how to elevate leaders and experts in ways that are timely, disciplined, and impactful. 

The position reports to NCYL’s Managing Director, Public Affairs & Advancement.  

Essential Functions 

• Manage NCYL’s earned media strategy, monitoring daily news and developments relevant to NCYL’s work, identify emerging opportunities and risks, and recommend when and how NCYL should engage publicly, including securing interviews, podcast appearances, and other thought leadership opportunities for NCYL’s leaders 
• Help implement the strategic communications plan for the Communications team and organization, including setting priorities and goals, measurable objectives, strategies, and tactics.  
• Manage strong cross-functional partnerships with organizational leadership, program leads, and the development team to identify communications goals, define target audiences, and execute timely, strategic opportunities that advance shared priorities—while delivering effective communications support and project management to NCYL’s program teams. 
• Build and maintain strong relationships with reporters, editors, producers, podcast hosts, newsletter writers, and other external partners, with a focus on high-impact and national outlets. 
• Draft and edit press releases, statements, talking points, media materials, and other public-facing content. 
• Partner with NCYL’s writer to develop and maintain an editorial calendar for blogs, op-eds, statements, and related thought leadership content. 
• Ensure earned media, thought leadership, and digital distribution are aligned and mutually reinforcing and lead digital rollout for major moments, including reports, campaigns, events, rapid-response efforts, and fundraising communications. 
• Help manage strategies and priorities with communications consultants (creative and website), including needs assessment, timelines, and budgeting.  
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications 

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in media relations, strategic communications, journalism, public affairs, advocacy communications, or related fields. 
• A deep record of securing media coverage, interviews, podcasts, op-eds, and other thought leadership opportunities. 
• Experience elevating the public profile of senior leaders, experts, or spokespersons. 
• Sharp news judgment, strong editorial instincts, and a clear understanding of how to move quickly without losing discipline. 
• Experience working with advocates, attorneys, youth, elected officials, and/or community leaders. 
• Excellent writing and editing skills, including experience drafting for media, executive, and public audiences. 
• Experience managing editorial calendars and translating complex issues into compelling public language. 
• Experience with promoting responsible, human-centered storytelling – including thoughtful partnership working with people affected by systemic racism and other injustices. 
• Strong knowledge of values-based or asset framing and working with diverse audiences to advance solution-oriented messages. 
• Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment across multiple complex issue areas. 
• Meticulous attention to detail, sound editorial judgment, and a high bar for execution. 
• Experience supervising the work of a small team. 
• Strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, with the ability to apply a racial and social justice lens to advocacy while centering the marginalized voices of children, youth, and their families. 

Physical Requirements  

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. This position will require some travel.  

  
Salary, Benefits, and Location  

This is a full-time, exempt position with a competitive salary range of $105,000.00 to $130,000.00 annually. Once an offer is made, the salary is not open to negotiation.
 

A geographic salary differential may be applied if the candidate resides somewhere other than the Oakland, Los Angeles, Boston, New York City, Washington, DC or equivalent metro areas. This means that the salary would be reduced if the candidate resides in an area where the cost of labor is less than that of the San Francisco Bay Area.

NCYL provides a robust benefits package including health, dental, vision, and life insurances, generous vacation and sick benefits, paid family leave, flexible spending account, employer contribution to a retirement plan, paid sabbatical, and short-term and long-term disability insurance.

NCYL is registered to do business in the following 13 locations: California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington DC, and Wisconsin. The candidate must reside in one of these locations.

All positions at NCYL are at-will and paid for by grants and donations, thus employment with NCYL will be contingent upon continued receipt of funding. Nothing in the statement changes the at-will employment relationship.

This position is part of the bargaining unit represented by the National Organization of Legal Services Workers (NOLSW). While a collective bargaining agreement is not currently in place, it is anticipated in the future.

How to Apply  

Please submit a cover letter and resume at the link below. Please, no emails or calls.  

We welcome applications from individuals with different ideas, experiences, and perspectives. Applicants who meet the above criteria with lived experiences within any of our practice areas are strongly encouraged to apply.

It is the policy of NCYL to provide equal employment opportunities to all Applicants (including Employees) regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding, national origin, age, abilities/disabilities, neurotypicality, socioeconomic status, veteran status, marital status, prior convictions, or any other protected classifications under federal, state, or local law. NCYL makes all employment decisions based on job-related factors.