Communications Consultant for the National Newcomer Network

Remote Contract Position | Length: 12–15 months, estimated average of 30 hours per month | Compensation: $60-$100/hour

This position will be a member of the National Newcomer Network’s “Elevating Voices of Educators of Newcomers (EVEN) Project” team.

Over the past decade, American immigration politics have become increasingly divisive, sparking a range of acute crises for immigrant families in the United States. Persistent misinformation has badly skewed how many in the United States understand immigrants’ places in and contributions to their shared communities. This narrative has produced ugly, cynical, and dangerous policy proposals seeking to convert this public misunderstanding into political power.

Now more than ever, we must elevate the voices of trusted messengers: K–12 educators. They are on-the-ground everyday, and they can tell timely, compelling, and specific stories about their immigrant students, neighbors, friends, and loved ones. These voices can combat largely false, impersonal, partisan-coded debates in the lived experiences of real individuals who stand to be hurt by vindictive, capricious new policies. 

The “Elevating Voices of Educators of Newcomers” (EVEN) Project will:

1. Recruit educators working with newcomer students and English learners, and provide them with media and messaging training;
2. Platform these educators’ voices, sharing their stories (with editorial and multimedia support) directly through National Newcomer Network (NNN) and Century Foundation channels.
3. Actively pitch these voices to contribute to media coverage and public discourse at the intersection of education and immigration, helping them tell their stories via media outlets (e.g. cable news segments, radio show panel discussions, local news outlets, education-specific outlets, and more). 

Role

The Century Foundation seeks a mid-career media and communications consultant to manage the NNN EVEN project. This consultant will report to NNN Director Alejandra Vázquez Baur. 

The consultant will work with the NNN director to:

• Implement a recruitment and onboarding strategy for EVEN cohort members; 
• Co-develop and execute training on core project topics and skills, including:
  • Persuasive public writing and speaking;
  • Effective media engagement;
  • Elements of compelling pro-immigrant narratives;
  • The past, present, and future of immigration policy—and its impacts on K–12 education;
  • Risk management and digital security for participants’ privacy and protection
• Schedule trainings and manage core logistics for each training session (i.e. coordinating agendas, guest speakers, registration pages, et al); 
• Set and manage timelines for key cohort outcomes—primarily published pieces by cohort members and subsequent media hits;
• Disseminate EVEN cohort members’ published work—and engage education and mainstream journalists to elevate cohort members’ pro-immigrant narratives into their coverage.

The consultant will be a contractor and will need to submit regular invoices throughout the duration of the contract to receive payment. During the time of this contract, the consultant will not be an employee of TCF and, therefore, will not receive employee benefits. 

Qualifications

Ideal candidates will have significant experience 1) working to polish and elevate authentic written voices in public discourse, 2) driving media coverage of issues at the intersection of immigration and education, 3) driving narrative change on controversial issues, and 4) coordinating convening logistics for work groups and/or communities of practice.

Additionally, we are looking for a passionate candidate with the following qualifications:

• Excellent analytical writing and editing skills;
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities, including experience with public speaking and training stakeholders;
• Proficiency in Google Suite, particularly sheets and docs, as well as familiarity with Mail Merge;
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage priorities and meet deadlines;
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with a variety of stakeholders;
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively; 
• Ability to craft narratives using a balance of ethos (credibility and lived experience), pathos (emotional resonance), and logos (data-driven reasoning) to effectively reach diverse audiences, including policymakers, educators, media, and the general public;
• Strong professional networks including journalists covering immigration, organizations working with immigrant communities, and advocates supporting immigrant communities;
• An interest in shaping narratives around difficult topics in the meda and politics, such as immigration, and a solid understanding of the current media coverage on the issue;
• A personal connection (lived and/or professional) to immigrant communities, including but not limited to community-based experience, allyship, or advocacy;
• Passion for advancing policies centered in dignity and opportunity for all people, including immigrants; and
• An eagerness to learn.

To apply, please upload a cover letter, resume, and one to three public writing/speaking/media samples via BambooHR. We are looking for the best candidates and encourage interested applicants to apply even if you do not meet all of the stated qualifications or if you come from a non-traditional background.

About TCF

Founded in 1919, The Century Foundation is a progressive, independent think tank that conducts research, develops solutions, and drives policy change to make people’s lives better. We pursue economic, racial, gender, and disability equity in education, health care, and work, and promote U.S. foreign policy that fosters international cooperation, peace, and security.

The Century Foundation is committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds. Everyone is encouraged to apply, especially candidates from historically marginalized groups including people with disabilities, women, LGBTQIA people, people of color, immigrants, and first-generation college graduates. 

About the National Newcomer Network (NNN)

The National Newcomer Network is a coalition of educators, community leaders, advocates, researchers, and policymakers from across the country committed to improving access to high quality public educational programs and equitable policies and practices for K-12 newcomer students. The coalition is housed at The Century Foundation.