Manager of Communication

MIRC’s Manager of Communications will lead the organization’s strategy and communication efforts to optimize processes and opportunities, ensuring that issues impacting Maine’s immigrant communities remain in the public eye. This role (reports to the Executive Director) oversees and implements communication strategies, manages internal and external communication channels, and ensures consistent messaging to promote MIRC's image and goals.

The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, political orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Our mission is to improve the legal, social and economic conditions experienced by Maine’s immigrants.

MIRC’s 2025 work is centered on strategic advocacy, coalition-building, and leveraging our legislative successes to further our mission as we begin one of the most challenging years for immigrant work in our country’s history. Our paramount goals within rapid advocacy response are to safeguard immigrant communities from discrimination and to protect their civil rights. The core responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Communications 

Oversee the organization's strategic direction and communication efforts, optimizing procedures and opportunities to maintain high public visibility regarding issues affecting Maine's immigrant populations.

Developing and Implementing Communication Strategies

• Serve as a representative of the organization with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in interactions with advocacy partners, the public, and the media.
• Craft messaging, and identify  MIRC target audiences with appropriate culturally sensitive communication channels.
• Produce well-researched testimony, speeches, and presentations for engagements with policymakers, including the Maine State Legislature and municipal City Councils. When needed, testimony for public events, legislative hearings, and city council meetings on matters concerning Maine's immigrant communities.
• Compose and issue official press releases and organizational statements on a range of subjects as required.
• Provide timely responses to inquiries from local, state, national, and international media representatives.
• Develop and execute MIRC's strategic communications and marketing plan.
• Organize and conduct media training sessions for MIRC coalition members.

Managing Internal and External Communication:

Disseminating organizational news, updates, and announcements to MIRC personnel and coalition partners, along with overseeing media engagement and public communication initiatives.

• Stay informed on current legislative, campaign, election, and other advocacy/policy developments by following updates and news from various local, state, and national media outlets, organizations, think tanks, and advocacy groups.
• Represent MIRC in interactions with media, legislators, city councilors, and other high-profile individuals.
• Oversee MIRC's statewide press relations; manage the scheduling of interviews and requests from media representatives, including those from the Portland Press Herald and the New York Times.
• Collaborate with staff to develop MIRC’s yearly "advocacy priority agenda" to guide community advocacy efforts and disseminate it to members, policymakers, media, and the broader community.

Content Creation and Management:

Responsible for the composition and revision of content disseminated across diverse MIRC platforms, encompassing websites, databases, social media outlets, newsletters, and press releases.

• Oversee the creation and dissemination of press releases, organizational announcements, website updates, and media statements in collaboration with the Executive Director and/or Advocacy Manager.
• Manage social media campaigns for initiatives in partnership with MIRC collaborators and coalition members, such as Maine Equal Justice and the National Partnership for New Americans
• Promote MIRC's Bill Tracker and Election Results Tracker.
• Promote collaborative initiatives for immigrant voter registration.
• Develop and disseminate culturally appropriate and translated educational materials for social media and/or in-person distribution, in partnership with the Executive Director, Program Manager, member organizations, and state and community leaders.
• Create multilingual graphics (images, videos, flyers, etc.) to support educational opportunities for immigrant families and English Language Learners in Maine.
• Design basic visuals and materials to support office closures, events, and organizational communications planning.
• Author or co-author MIRC columns for publication in outlets such as Amjambo Africa.
• Create social media posts, images, and flyers (with multilingual translations as appropriate) to raise public awareness of relevant issues and events.
• Take a lead role in sharing and creating social media posts on behalf of MIRC, our coalition members, and our local, state, and national advocacy partners.

Crisis Communication Management

Development and execution of communication strategies for addressing potential crises and managing public perception.

• Create a Narrative Infrastructure and Support System: 
• Enhance our organization's media presence and establish clear lines of communication with our members/partners.
• Serve as the organization's lead role in coordinating ECBO/Partner orgs regular issue-based campaigns on issues and policies impacting immigrants.
• Develop linguistic information, education, and training opportunities.
• Promote preparedness workshops (e.g., "Know Your Rights" sessions).
• Ensure immigrants know "What and Who" to contact regarding immigration law enforcement.
• Create pro-immigrant narratives to combat fear and panic.
• Manage MIRC Rapid Advocacy - Multilingual Resources & Language Access For New Mainers Google folder.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Evaluate and measure the efficacy of MIRC's communication campaigns, modifying strategies as necessary.
• Working to maintain the organization’s press list and media query tracker.
• Support tracking MIRC’s annual Bill Tracker for the Maine State Legislature.

Systems Organizer - Rapid Response Advocacy 

• Act as the organization's primary liaison for the MIRC Rapid Response Advocacy Collaborative, facilitating collaboration and optimizing information dissemination.
• Develop and cultivate robust relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, encompassing employees, clients, collaborators, and media representatives.
• Provide expert technical support and guidance to advocates and service providers assisting immigrants in response to evolving immigration policies, ICE apprehensions, and deportation proceedings.
• Collaborate with staff to implement comprehensive advocacy, policy, and communication strategies in conjunction with mainstream and community organizations to mitigate language and cultural barriers.
• Take a lead role in supporting the ICE Watch Community and Hotline Services to connect immigrants with legal experts and emergency services in response to federal policy modifications and immigration enforcement activities.
• Manage staff/interns responsible for ICE Watch & Hotline Rapid Response Systems.

General Management & Administration

• Support community outreach efforts like the Maine Immigration Forum(MiF).
• Support community organizations in the planning and execution of community events and collaborative initiatives to foster integration and unity among immigrant and minority communities.
• Support MIRC’s Election Day immigrant community support call centers and ongoing voter registration initiatives in collaboration with key civic engagement stakeholders, including Democracy Maine, the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, and Amjambo Africa.
• Represent MIRC as needed at virtual, in-person, and/or hybrid meetings with key stakeholders and partners in relevant operational areas, including occasional travel to locations such as Portland, Augusta, Lewiston/Auburn, Bangor, Brunswick, York County, Downeast Maine, Washington, DC.
• Participate in developing and implementing MIRC organizational plans.
• Develop organizational reports for the Executive Director and Board.

Qualifications

• A proven commitment to MIRC's mission, vision, and values, and to the rights of diverse immigrant communities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to develop and implement communication strategies that align with organizational goals
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively
• Proven efficiency in oral, written, and interpersonal communications, including occasional confrontational or stressful interactions
• Ability to identify and resolve communication challenges
• Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and communicate effectively in various situations
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to motivate and guide team members

Technical Skills

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Virtual meeting technology (Zoom, Windows Teams, Google Meet, Webex)
• Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar)
• Social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
• Graphic design experience (Canva or similar) is preferred

Education and Experience

• Requires a BA/BS degree in Public Relations, Journalism, Communications, or a related area; 2 - 5 years of related experience with issues management and crisis communication, with a strong focus on mission-based work; or any combination of education and experience, which would include international experience.
• Experience working with multilingual/multicultural populations is highly preferred.
• Fluency in a language common to Maine immigrants is not required but would be beneficial.
• ** 15 to 25 hours

To apply, send a letter of interest, resume, and three references @mufaloc@maineimmigrantrights.org. The position remains open until filled.