Employees of FAMM are deeply motivated to help fight the injustice and burden of mandatory minimum sentencing. The work is meaningful and the impact is profound. Whether you work as a paid full-time staff member or volunteer at one of our events, your contributions will help us to achieve our mission.
Employment at FAMM is based upon qualifications and competency. FAMM does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, color, sexual/gender orientation, marital status, parental status, veteran’s status, union activity, political affiliation, physical or mental disability unrelated to an individual’s ability to perform the job or any other basis prohibited by law.
Current Openings:
Director of Federal Legislative Affairs
FAMM is seeking an energetic Director of Federal Legislative Affairs to manage FAMM’s federal sentencing and prison reform advocacy efforts in the U.S. Congress and White House. We are looking for someone ready to wear out the soles of their shoes educating members of Congress and the administration about the need to repeal mandatory minimum sentencing laws, create more opportunities to have sentences reconsidered, and create a federal prison system that is truly rehabilitative so that people succeed after they leave prison. The prime candidate will be passionately committed to our mission, able to think strategically and act pragmatically, willing to work with anyone who can help (regardless of party or ideology), and adept at explaining complex stories, data, and facts about federal sentencing and prisons to members of Congress, the media, and the general public. Strong writing skills, agreement with our Second Chances Agenda, and ability to work with a team are musts.
Position tasks:
- Meeting with congressional staff members of both parties, on and off of key committees, and with members of the administration, to advocate for sentencing and prison reforms;
- Drafting and developing legislative proposals and strategies to pass them into law;
- Responding promptly, accurately, and strategically to new legislation and media requests for information or comments;
- Finding and developing new legislator champions, and supporting current ones;
- Organizing briefings, symposia, sign-on letters, grassroots campaigns, and other events that educate lawmakers, the public, and the media about sentencing and prison reforms;
- Drafting opinion editorials, press releases, letters to the editor, action campaign emails, factsheets, bill summaries, and other materials for lawmakers, the public, and the media;
- Analyzing and presenting complex sentencing and prison legislation and data to laypeople and policy experts alike;
- Developing current and former prisoners and their loved ones as advocates for sentencing and prison reform;
- Working with and developing coalition partners from across the political spectrum.
Preferred qualifications:
- 2-3 years of experience with advocacy on federal legislation, or as a Capitol Hill staffer;
- A demonstrated passion for and knowledge of criminal justice reform – specifically, the reform of federal sentencing laws and prison policies;
- Ability to work independently and with a team;
- Demonstrated ability to craft messages and talking points for people of all political persuasions, and to know which messages are most effective;
- Excellent writing skills, and ability to write for a lay audience;
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, Twitter, Facebook, and FiscalNote (or other similar legislative tracking software)
People of color, people impacted by the criminal justice system, and LGBTQ+ applicants are encouraged to apply.
Please send a resume and cover letter to jobs@famm.org.
Vice President of Communications
How would you like to work in a highly rewarding job in a fun fast-paced work environment with great people—and try to make the world a better place at the same time? Consider joining FAMM!
For more than two and a half decades, FAMM’s mission has been to create a more fair and effective justice system that respects our American values of individual accountability and dignity while keeping our communities safe. And one of our most powerful tools in this work has always been stories. By sharing the impact of unjust sentencing and prison policies on incarcerated individuals, their families, and their communities, FAMM has helped create urgency around the issue. Our stories and videos make the problem feel real to policymakers who have to be moved to make meaningful change, as well as the general public.
In support of this work, FAMM is seeking a talented Vice President of Communications to lead FAMM’s strategic communications, media, and marketing efforts. You will get to manage an extremely talented communications team complete with two media relations professionals, a social media and community manager, a digital communications director and video team. This position is part of FAMM’s leadership team and reports to the President.
The ideal candidate has a passion for advancing criminal justice reform, extensive experience in strategic communications and is an experienced people manager.
What You Get to Do:
- Oversee and manage FAMM’s strategic communications efforts.
- Actively engage, cultivate and manage press relationships to ensure coverage surrounding FAMM’s issues, special events, public announcements, and other projects.
- Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of an overarching organizational communications plan that engages members, the media, and the public.
- Build a compelling brand identity and voice for FAMM that is rooted in our organizational values and our vision.
- Oversee and manage the editorial direction, design, production, and distribution of all FAMM electronic and print communications from concept to completion, including event marketing and collateral, social media content, e-mail, reports and video content.
- Oversees writing, editing and graphic design of publications and reports.
- Oversee and direct FAMM’s internal and external messaging and narratives, including messages from the President to the membership and editorial oversight of member-produced content.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate targeted digital marketing strategies for FAMM programs, focusing on email campaigns, and social media engagement.
- Serve as a thought partner for other FAMM leaders to envision and articulate key program messages and takeaways.
- Lead the content and user experience strategy for the FAMM website, email, and social media.
- Hire, manage, recruit and retain communications staff, and consultants.
- Partner closely with colleagues across departments to build the organization’s use of data to inform digital engagement strategies.
- Supervise the communications staff, providing direction, supervision, coaching, and professional development to ensure retention and growth within the organization.
- Coordinates with the President, and the leadership team, to ensure the mission and vision of FAMM’s strategic plan are achieved.
- Actively engage, cultivate and manage press relationships to ensure coverage surrounding FAMM’s leadership, special events, public announcements, and other projects.
- Works with consultants, if necessary, on special projects;
- Manage crisis communications and reputational issues as needed.
- Work with FAMM leadership to establish department accountabilities, including talent acquisition, staffing, succession planning, employee relations, and retention.
What We Need in You:
- A minimum of 12-15 years of experience in communications or related work.
- At least five years at a managerial or leadership level, preferably in the nonprofit or advocacy field.
- Four-year college degree
- Strong background in media relations and strategic communications.
- Extensive successful writing and editing experience (externally focused) with a variety of print and online communications media
- A minimum of 10 years of experience in planning, writing, editing, and production of newsletters, press releases, annual reports, marketing literature, and other print publications and directories.
- Experience managing the production of videos and other digital media is a plus.
- Experience developing and executing highly effective strategic communications plans, building an organization’s brand identity and unique voice, creating marketing campaigns, engaging audiences via email and social media, and catalyzing stakeholder engagement.
- Demonstrated experience in selecting and managing outside vendors to produce high‐quality projects within time and budget constraints, especially for print and digital production.
- Proven ability to lead, develop, and retain a high‐performing team to achieve excellent results.
- Comfortable flexing between a high-level strategic leadership and being hands on and in the weeds when needed.
- Experience developing and deploying website and knowledge management or CRM platforms, social media, and digital communication tools.
- Demonstrated understanding of the role of a membership association.
- Demonstrated understanding of structural racism and the role it plays in communications, both external and internal.
To apply, send resume, writing samples and cover letter to jobs@famm.org.