Overview
JOB TITLE: Senior Director of Strategic Communications and Content Strategy
REPORTS TO: Vice President of Communications and Digital
SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Editorial Team
LOCATION: New York, NY preferred; Anywhere ADL has an office considered.
Grade/Class: Grade I, Exempt, Non-Union
About the Organizations:
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is "to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all." Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism, and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to ensure a just and inclusive society for all.
Primary Function:
The Senior Director of Strategic Communications and Content Strategy serves as a key partner to the Vice President of Communications and Digital, helping to translate and implement strategies across ADL’s communications ecosystem. This role ensures consistent, compelling, and mission-aligned messaging across all communications touchpoints, overseeing editorial strategy and content development for earned media outreach, social media platforms, partner with marketing and development teams and organizational publications. The Senior Director translates complex policy and research into accessible, impactful content that advances ADL’s mission and engages diverse audiences.
Responsibilities
Core Responsibilities:
Communications Editorial Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and implement the editorial strategy aligned with priorities, leading cross-functional meetings and driving communications content calendars to execute campaigns.
- Establish and maintain all editorial standards and messaging frameworks across all communications channels.
- Provide creative and visual direction for all communications content (social video, reports, multimedia), developing innovative approaches to break through the noise and engage audiences.
Team Management & Development
- Manage and mentor a diverse team of content creators and professionals, overseeing performance reviews and professional development while fostering a collaborative, mission-driven editorial culture.
- Coordinate cross-departmental editorial workflows and approval processes to ensure alignment with established strategies.
Crisis Communications & Rapid Response
- Lead rapid-response editorial execution during breaking news and crises, implementing approved strategies to ensure accurate, timely, and impactful multi-platform messaging.
- Manage team performance and maintain organizational discipline in high-pressure situations, ensuring brand consistency, quality, and composure.
Integrated Media Strategy
- Translate defined integrated strategies into actionable editorial plans and frameworks for communications campaigns across all paid, earned, and owned channels.
- Ensure all content is channel-optimized and message-consistent, collaborating with media relations, marketing, and other departments to maximize amplification.
Content Development & Management
- Lead integrated content strategy and creation: Oversee the editorial process for all earned media (press releases, op-eds), social media, and digital reports, innovating to make complex topics accessible and align with strategy.
- Enforce universal communications consistency: Direct editorial standards across all platforms and formats (social, video, publications) to ensure communications integrity and optimize engagement.
- Manage cross-functional content approvals: Serve as the central communications marketing, fundraising, and donor-facing content.
Analytics, Insights & Performance Leadership
- Lead communications analytics strategy: Operationalize priorities by developing insights, monitoring real-time risks/trends, and delivering executive readouts with clear recommendations to guide decisions.
- Own the communications performance measurement ecosystem: Establish and manage the organization-wide KPI framework, the master analytics dashboard as the single source of truth, and all vendor/tool relationships.
- Drive data-driven campaigns and insights: Build integrated campaign measurement plans (e.g., test-and-learn) and translate complex data into actionable recommendations for communications and other departments.
- Foster a data-literate culture: Mentor team members on analytics to elevate a culture of data-informed creativity and continuous improvement.
This job description provides a general overview of the role and its key responsibilities. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, and ADL reserves the right to assign additional tasks as needed.
Qualifications
Skills:
- Demonstrable ability to remain calm and effective under intense pressure and during crises;
- Creative vision with a track record of innovative content concepts and campaigns;
- Deep understanding of paid, earned, and owned media integration and optimization;
- Proven experience managing and developing high-performing creative teams;
- Strong visual/design sensibility for multimedia content across formats;
- Deep understanding of social analytics and data-driven optimization;
- Experience with influencer marketing and partnership strategies;
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; adaptable tone/style for diverse audiences;
- Crisis communications and rapid-response experience;
- Proficiency with CMS, social platforms, and digital publishing tools.
Attributes:
- Committed to building a culture where everyone thrives;
- Collaborative team player who excels in matrixed organizations;
- Creative and innovative; takes initiative and ownership;
- Results-oriented problem solver with resilience under pressure;
- Comfort managing multiple priorities;
- Demonstrated passion for fighting antisemitism and extremism;
- Energized by ADL’s mission and work.
Work Experience:
- The ideal candidate has significant years’ experience of progressive communications and editorial experience, with a strong communications background in agency or in-house environments, and several years in a senior leadership and team management role.
Education:
- BA/BS degree or equivalent experience required;
- Advanced degree preferred.
Work Environment:
- Flexibility for after-hours/weekend work for breaking news and crises.
- ADL maintains a hybrid work environment; this role may require up to three days in person per week.
Compensation:
- This position has a salary range of $160,000 to $175,000. This salary range is reflective of a position based in (New York, NY). Please note that actual salaries are commensurate with experience and reflect the budget for a given position, and since ADL has a location-based compensation structure, there may be a different range for candidates in other locations. For an overview of our total rewards package, please visit https://www.adl.org/about/careers.
ADL aims to create a working environment where every employee can thrive professionally. Our mission-driven work is best accomplished in an environment that supports belonging. ADL values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages people of all races, religions, nationalities, genders, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and veterans to apply.
ADL is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment, hiring, promotions and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment shall be maintained in a manner which does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, marital status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or military status, or in violation of any applicable Federal, state or local laws.
ADL will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation to support the interview process, please contact the People & Culture department at talentacquisition@adl.org.
ADL will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and all other applicable State, Local, and Federal laws. The information in this job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, or be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job, nor is it to be interpreted as a contract for employment.
