Communications Director

Communications Director

Status: Full-time, exempt
Salary: $90,000-$105,000 with Benefits
Location: Main office in Raleigh, NC; hybrid (2 days in office / 3 remote). Requires frequent travel across the Triangle and other parts of the state.

About the Organizations

North Carolina Asian Americans Together (NCAAT) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to supporting equity and justice for all by fostering community among Asian American communities and allies in North Carolina through civic engagement, leadership development, grassroots mobilization, and political participation.

NCAAT in Action (NCAATIA) is committed to supporting equity and justice for all by building political power among Asian Americans and allies in North Carolina through voter education, progressive advocacy, and leadership development.

Benefits

NCAAT and NCAAT in Action offer full-time employees health, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off for vacation and wellness; and an optional 401k plan. To support work-life balance, we offer flextime and occasional remote work depending on project needs. Employees also receive a yearly professional development stipend that may be used for Asian language courses and/or other training opportunities.

Position Summary

The Communications Director will lead an integrated communications strategy to elevate NCAAT and NCAATIA’s visibility, amplify the voices of Asian American communities, and advance organizational goals in civic engagement, advocacy, and community power-building.

This role is both strategic and hands-on: developing narratives, engaging press and media, managing digital platforms, and guiding branding, while also supervising a small communications team. The Communications Director will serve as one of the organization’s primary spokespersons and play a critical role in shaping NCAAT’s public presence.

The Communications Director reports to the Deputy Director of Programs and serves on the Directors Team.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement a year-round communications strategy aligned with organizational priorities, election cycles, and policy campaigns.
• Design and execute strategic comms priorities that counter disinformation and misinformation, and plan for rapid response needs.
• Develop and execute an earned media strategy
• Build and maintain key press (reporter, booker, outlet) relationships for the organization.
• Develop talking points and background information to prepare Executive Director for media interviews and other speaking engagements
• Identify strategic opportunities to write letters to the editor (LTEs), op-eds and statements, and provide support to staff for earned media placement.
• Serve as a key member of the Directors Team, collaborating across departments to integrate communications into all organizational work.
• Supervise, mentor, and build the capacity of the Communications Team.
• Propose & implement Digital Ad Buys to enhance our social media presence & strategy.
• Manage the communications budget and ensure resources are allocated effectively.
  
  

Media & Public Relations

• Serve as one of the primary spokespersons for the organization by crafting talking points, managing tone, and overall response to advance the goals of NCAAT & NCAATIA
• Build and maintain strong relationships with the press, including ethnic-language and community media.
• Draft and distribute press releases, internal talking points, and media advisories.
• Represent NCAAT in coalition, funder, and community spaces, and support rapid response communications as needed (including nights/weekends).

Messaging & Branding

• Maintain an organizational brand to ensure consistency across platforms and materials.
• Manage the creation and approval of external communications, vendor deliverables, and development-related communications.
• Oversee organizational websites and social media, ensuring accurate, timely, and engaging content with a strong emphasis on short form video storytelling and multimedia engagement

Campaigns & Engagement

• Monitor communications trends and refine strategies to reflect the political and cultural moment.
• Use data-driven methods to assess impact and inform continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with the Development Team to align messaging with fundraising and funder engagement.
• Contribute to political team discussions and the NCAATIA endorsement process.

Core NCAAT Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Thinking and Decision-Making – Leads communication strategies that align with organizational mission and long-term goals.
• Leadership and Influence – Guides and motivates the Communications Team, fostering leadership development across the department.
• Communication Skills – Serves as spokesperson; adapts communication to multiple audiences including media, community members, and funders.
• Relationship Building and Stakeholder Engagement – Builds partnerships with media, coalition partners, funders, and stakeholders.
• Innovation and Creativity – Develops innovative approaches to narrative building, digital engagement, and campaign communications.
• Program and Project Management – Oversees communications projects, vendors, and campaigns to ensure quality, timeliness, and alignment.
• Data-Driven Decision Making – Uses data to measure communications impact and guide adjustments.
• Cultural Competency and Inclusion – Ensures messaging reflects and uplifts the diversity of AAPI communities in North Carolina.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant experience (5+ years) in communications, media relations, or related roles, ideally in political campaigns and/or advocacy organizations.
• Experience developing and leading communications strategies, including digital, print, and media outreach.
• Strong writing, editing, and public speaking skills.
• Experience supervising staff and managing budgets.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, including rapid-response work.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial equity, social justice, and AAPI community empowerment.
  
  

Equal Opportunity

NCAAT is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender, gender identity, age, or disability. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others from historically marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply.