Director, Strategic Communications & Public Relations Job at Our Rescue in Murra

Director, Strategic Communications & Public Relations

Organization: Our Rescue
Department: Marketing & Communications
Reports To: SVP of Marketing & Communications
Location: Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN or Salt Lake City, UT preferred; Remote considered for exceptional candidates
Employment Type: Full-Time | Exempt

About Our Rescue

Our Rescue is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to ending sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation worldwide. We do this by partnering with law enforcement agencies domestically and internationally to identify, arrest, and prosecute traffickers, provide care for survivors and advance prevention and trainings. We mobilize communities, equip frontline responders, and drive lasting systemic change to protect the most vulnerable.

Job Summary

The Director, of Communications Strategy & Public Relations is a strategic, mission-driven communications leader, responsible for stewarding the voice, narrative, and public reputation of Our Rescue. This role owns the organization’s core messaging architecture, content strategy, and media engagement efforts while serving as lead for thought leadership content, reputational management, and crisis communications. Reporting to the SVP of Marketing & Communications, this role is crucial in managing both internal and external communications, enhancing the organization's reputation, and engaging key stakeholders, employees, donors, and the public. The Director will guide a multidisciplinary communications function that integrates brand storytelling, digital content, social media, media relations, and executive visibility to advance Our Rescue’s mission, authority, and fundraising goals. This role will leverage strong connections with regional, national and international media outlets, to elevate the organization’s visibility and impact. All work in this role must be executed through a survivor-centered, trauma-informed lens ensuring that every story, message, and media engagement upholds the dignity, safety, and agency of survivors while advancing the mission with integrity.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Messaging & Narrative Leadership

• Maintain and evolve Our Rescue’s core messaging architecture across all external and internal communication channels.
• Ensure consistent brand voice, tone, and narrative alignment across digital platforms, campaigns, donor communications, training programs, and executive communications.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on public positioning, narrative risk, and reputational strategy.

Strategic Content Oversight

• Lead strategic content strategy, including web, editorial, social, and donor storytelling.
• Partner closely with SVP of Marketing/Communications lead, Digital Team, Content Team, Creative Services, and Development teams to ensure content drives awareness, engagement, and revenue conversion.
• Guide SEO-aligned website and editorial strategy to maximize discoverability, authority, and donor acquisition.

Brand Content & Reputation Ownership

• Own management of all brand content and organizational reputation across platforms, including online reputational and informational sites.
• Monitor brand sentiment, public perception, and narrative risk, responding proactively to protect organizational trust and credibility.
• Ensure governance, accuracy, and consistency across all public-facing content and profiles.

Stakeholder Communication

• Lead donor communication strategies to support acquisition, retention, and re-engagement through newsletters, recognition programs, and campaign communications.
• Develop and manage strategic partner communication plans in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Support internal communication strategies to promote transparency, engagement, and organizational alignment.

Thought Leadership & Corporate Speaker Platform Development

• Lead research, development, and activation of Our Rescue’s thought leadership strategy across the pillars of law enforcement support, survivor care, and Training & Prevention.
• Develop executive and subject‑matter‑expert speaker platforms for conferences, panels, media appearances, and public forums.
• Identify emerging social, technological, and industry trends to position Our Rescue as a leading authority in the global anti‑trafficking and anti‑online exploitation movement.

Media Relations & Pitching

• Proactively and reactively pitch media organizations at local, national, and international levels about Our Rescue’s work and impact.
• Cultivate and manage long‑term relationships with journalists, producers, and media outlets.
• Oversee press releases, media kits, briefing documents, and spokesperson preparation.

Crisis Communications & Issue Management

• Support crisis communications planning, messaging, and execution across operational, legal, reputational, and programmatic scenarios.
• Develop and maintain crisis response protocols, message matrices, and escalation workflows.
• Serve as communications lead or support during active incidents and high‑risk reputational moments.

Survivor‑Centered & Trauma‑Informed Communications

• Ensure all organizational communications adhere to trauma‑informed, survivor‑first storytelling principles, prioritizing safety, consent, dignity, and ethical representation.
• Partner closely with Survivor Care, Legal, and Programs teams to establish and maintain content safeguards, survivor consent protocols, and storytelling approvals.
• Train and equip internal teams, spokespeople, and external partners on trauma‑informed communications best practices.
• Serve as a senior reviewer for all content narratives to mitigate ethical, legal, and reputational risk.

People Leadership & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Build, mentor, and manage a high‑performing communications team.
• Establish clear performance expectations, workflows, and professional development pathways.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with marketing leadership and with the organization to ensure alignment and executional excellence.

Qualifications & Experience

• Brings the grit to push through reputational complexity, the courage to lead with honesty, the focus to drive results, and the emotional intelligence to lead with compassion and grounded optimism.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning abilities, with a track record of implementing successful public relations and communication campaigns.
• Proficiency in digital communication tools and platforms, including social media.
• Strong working knowledge of SEO, website content strategy, and digital storytelling.
• Leadership experience in communications, media, or public relations.
• Experience building and scaling thought leadership content and corporate speaker platforms.
• Demonstrated success managing, developing and inspiring a team.
• Proven ability to navigate highly sensitive survivor narratives with discretion, empathy, and sound judgment.
• Ability to manage crisis communication effectively and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Bachelor’s degree.

Preferred

• Experience working in nonprofit, humanitarian, or mission‑driven organizations.
• Background in news media, journalism, or broadcast production.
• Demonstrated experience applying trauma‑informed communication practices.
• Existing relationships with national, tier‑one, or investigative media outlets.
• Master’s degree in related field.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Communications Leadership
• Media & Public Relations
• Crisis & Issue Management
• Brand Stewardship
• Content Strategist and Thought Leadership Development
• Trauma-Informed & Survivor-Centered Storytelling
• Digital & SEO-Driven Content Strategy
• Executive Communications
• People Leadership & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

Benefits

Our Rescue offers competitive pay, generous paid time off, wellness days, and paid holidays, along with comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage, retirement savings with employer match, and other valuable benefits—all while working alongside a passionate team dedicated to making a meaningful impact.

Seniority level: Director
Employment type: Full‑time
Job function: Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing
Industries: Non‑profit Organizations