Director of Narrative Strategy

About Bend the Arc

Bend the Arc is building a multiracial, multiethnic, intergenerational movement of Jews and allies across the country who are rising up to build an American future free from white supremacy, antisemitism, and racism. We’re investing in systems that keep our communities safe and divesting from systems that uphold white supremacy. We organize, advocate, tell stories, and develop the leaders we need to build the multiracial democracy that’s been promised in America but never achieved. And we’re fighting for the joyful future we deserve: one where Black liberation is realized and where all of us — within and beyond our Jewish family — are safe and thriving.

The Bend the Arc family of organizations consists of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, our 501(c)(4) organizing and advocacy arm; Bend the Arc Jewish Action PAC, the first and only Jewish PAC to advocate exclusively for progressive policies in the U.S.; and Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice, our 501(c)(3) education and leadership arm. We are proud to be a Union shop and to be working with the Non-profit Employees Union (NPEU) toward achieving our goals.

Headquartered in New York City, we have remote staff nationwide with clusters in Los Angeles and Washington DC, with a network of staffed chapters, volunteer-led local groups, and affiliates organizing nationwide.

Do you believe the Jewish community has a stake in and a role to play in building a country where we can truly all be safe and thrive? Are you excited by the opportunity to develop and promote a pro-Black prophetic voice that brings Jews of all backgrounds into the fight against fascism? Are you a narrative leader ready to connect the dots between Black liberation and freedom for all of us? Do you find joy in building power through story and using stories to reimagine our futures? As Bend the Arc’s Director of Narrative Strategy, you will lead our strategic communications work to engage thousands of activists and donors in the work of creating a new story of what is possible for our multiracial democracy.

In this newly created leadership role, the Director of Narrative Strategy will lead our communications team and serve as a key leader on the newly formed Vision and Campaign teams. They will make sure we have a comprehensive communications strategy from which to engage in long-arc campaigning, jump into rapid response, build our base, strengthen our brand and amplify our work and impact to the community, volunteers, funders, and donors, as well as in movement spaces.

Key Responsibilities:

Develop and amplify Bend the Arc’s public story

Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive communications strategy to:

expand our power as a bold Jewish movement organization working toward Black liberation and multiracial democracy

evolve our public voice brand identity to match and strengthen our vision and strategies

Identify and create earned media and public voice opportunities for the organization, and support key spokespeople in these activities

Craft key content, such as op-eds, essays and other forms of thought leadership

Help win campaigns

Contribute to the development and steering of our campaign work

Track the movement landscape and pursue strategic communications opportunities, including in rapid response and crisis moments, that amplify our vision, neutralize opposition and strengthen our campaigns, positioning and brand

Develop and disseminate internal and external narrative and messaging guidance for our advocacy, organizing, and development work

Lead on the creation of tools and resources that support the broader organization to incorporate our story and analysis into their work

Lead the communications team/Leadership and Supervision

Supervise the team that defines our website, digital, and social media presence

Model a leadership stance and nurture team culture that aligns with and strengthens Bend the Arc’s commitment to being a pro-Black, pro-Jewish organization

Supervise and support direct reports and colleagues to do their best work and to achieve measurable goals by clearly communicating performance expectations, giving actionable feedback, and fostering an environment that builds trust

Track effectiveness of communication strategies for ongoing learning and strategic decision-making

Ensure that narrative strategy is informed by and informs the work of all Bend the Arc teams through open communication, deep relationship building, and collaboration

Manage the communications budget and use of team resources

Skills and Qualifications

Successful candidates will demonstrate the following qualities, skills and experiences:

Demonstrated commitment to the mission and vision of Bend the Arc, specifically around mobilizing Jewish communities to achieve Black liberation and becoming a pro-Black organization

At least 3 years of management and/or leadership experience, preferably leading a communications team

Demonstrated experience in leading development and implementation of narrative strategy and brand identity using a wide range of communication and digital tools

Ability to run an in-house press shop, and experience working with traditional earned med,” including demonstrated relationships with reporters and editors and a strong track record of placing content

Strong communication and design skills, especially to communicate brand identity and complex ideas in accessible ways to a variety of audiences and to craft messages that are grounded in Jewish tradition(s), histories, and spiritual/cultural technologies as well as pro-Black

Adept at fostering shared learning, collaboration, and commitment among key stakeholders with different priorities and values

Knowledgeable about and holding relationships in the progressive movement and Jewish social justice field

Strong project management, goal-setting, systems thinking, and time management skills

Experience managing individuals and leading teams, including knowledge and/or applied experience of anti-racist, pro-Black management and leadership practices that can be applied to management of multiracial or majority-white teams.

Experience connecting teams across disciplines and managing communications staff toward an integrated and interdisciplinary approach to reaching organizational goals

Experience with press management software, content management system (CMS) and constituent relationship management (CRM) software, or comfort learning digital tools quickly