Communications Manager

Chicago, IL
Full Time
Mid Level

The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights invites applications for the full-time position of Communications Manager to be based in any YC site.  

The Communications Manager plays a key role in shaping how The Young Center shares its mission, impact, and values with internal and external audiences. This role leads brand storytelling, content development, and internal communications while supporting fundraising campaigns and organization-wide initiatives. The Communications Manager works collaboratively across departments to ensure YC’s voice is consistent, mission-centered, and aligned with ethical storytelling practices. The position partners closely with the Development Team, Policy Team, Program staff, and the in-house designer (or external agency partners) to translate organizational priorities into compelling, accessible, and strategic narratives. 

ABOUT THE YOUNG CENTER 

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights is a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights and best interests, safety, and well-being of immigrant children in the United States. We center children's voices, celebrate their strengths, and recognize their fundamental need to be with family and in community, not detention.  

For more than 20 years, the Young Center has accompanied and advocated for over 10,000 children from more than 70 countries worldwide. We are the only organization that takes an integrated approach to protecting and advancing the rights of children, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and state and federal law, through direct services, stakeholder support across child welfare systems, systems and narrative change, and litigation. Further, we fight tirelessly to bring greater equity to the child welfare system, demanding accountability from systems and people in positions of power, so children in immigrant families who face court cases remain safe, free, and with families in communities where they are supported. 

The Young Center has offices in Houston, San Antonio, and Harlingen, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York; Washington, D.C.; Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, California; and Grand Rapids, Michigan. We also serve children through our programs in New Jersey. To learn more about the Young Center, visit www.theyoungcenter.org. 


DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  

Storytelling & Brand Strategy 

  • Partner with the communications team to create organizational objectives into storytelling opportunities across YC platforms. 

  • Co-create and maintain the annual Strategic Marketing & Communications editorial calendar. 

  • Ensure storytelling reflects YC’s mission, values, and ethical storytelling practices.  

Content Creation 

  • Write, edit, and develop content for YC platforms including the blog, website, email campaigns, printed and digital collateral, and social media as needed. 

  • Coordinate with the in-house designer or external agency resources to produce high-quality collateral materials. 

  • Ensure all content aligns with YC brand guidelines and messaging. 

Internal Communications 

  • Support internal communications channels and workflows. 

  • Maintain and update the Communications Team intranet site. 

  • Partner with teams across the organization to ensure clear, timely, and consistent internal updates. 

Fundraising Support 

  • Partner with the Development Team to plan and execute communications and marketing strategies for fundraising campaigns. 

  • Manage and segment email databases and donor-facing audiences. 

  • Draft engaging newsletters, event outreach, and campaign communications. 

  • Support messaging and promotion for in-person and virtual events. 

Analytics & Reporting 

  • Track, measure, and analyze the impact of communications strategies, campaigns, and donor-focused initiatives. 

  • Report on audience engagement trends and make recommendations for improvement. 

Project & Workflow Management 

  • Partner with Communications Team members to integrate external, media, digital, and internal communications strategies. 

  • Lead project intake, develop project briefs, and manage work plans and deadlines. 

  • Coordinate cross-functional communications needs, ensuring alignment and timely execution. 

  • Other duties as assigned.  


MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS 

  • 3 years of experience in communications, marketing, content strategy, or related field.  

  • Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills with experience crafting content for diverse platforms and audiences.  

  • Demonstrated experience managing communications workflows, calendars, or multi-step projects.  

  • Experience with donor-facing or fundraising communications preferred.  

  • Ability to translate complex topics into accessible, compelling messages.  

  • Strong collaboration, planning, and communication skills.  

  • Experience with project management, analytics, and reporting tools (project management software, email platforms, website metrics, etc.).  

  • Commitment to The Young Center’s mission, values, and principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and ethical storytelling 


PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

  • Experience—lived, volunteer, or professional—with immigration matters 


PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

Physical demands include regular attendance, keyboarding, sitting for long periods (at least 5 hours a day), driving. Ability to use computer, telephone, and copy machines. Ability to travel by plane, car and other conveyances within U.S. Occasional lifting for event setup/preparation. 


APPLICATION DETAILS 

The Young Center is an "at-will" and equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in and affirmatively factors diversity into its hiring practices. Young Center encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, marital or parental status, pregnancy, citizenship, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, genetic information, or veterans’ status. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process; no applicant will be penalized for requesting an accommodation. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application. 

$75,550.80 to $86,509.28 is the standard new hire range for this position ($83,105.58 - $95,159.90 for those residing in the Los Angeles and DC metropolitan areas; $86,882.45 - $99,485.73 for those residing in the NYC metropolitan area). Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to location and experience. The Young Center does not ask for prior pay history from our candidates and our offer-making process is negotiation-free for salaries and benefits. We offer our best possible salary based on relevant experience. The range listed is just one component of the Young Center’s total compensation package for employees. The Young Center provides excellent benefits, including health/dental/vision insurance (employee & dependents) at no cost to the employee, paid vacation, sick time, and a 401(k) plan with employer match. 

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please apply on the Young Center website with a cover letter, resume, three references, and a writing sample of any published work you may have done. Only complete applications will be considered.  

To learn more about the Young Center’s work, please visit www.TheYoungCenter.org. 

Important Email Notice for Candidates 
To ensure you receive all communications regarding your application and candidacy with the Young Center, please add the following domains to your email safe sender list: @jazzhr.com; @jazz.co; @applytojob.com 

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