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Director of Communications
American Sociological Association
Organizational Context: The American Sociological Association (ASA) is a nonprofit
membership association dedicated to serving sociologists in their work, advancing sociology as a
science and profession, and promoting the contributions and use of sociology to society. ASA’s
national office is located in Washington, DC.
Reporting Structure: The Director of Communications reports to the Executive Director and has
supervisory responsibility.
Job Classification: Exempt
Essential Functions:
This is a new position leading a new department that reflects an increasing organizational focus
on public engagement with sociology. The new Director of Communications will be responsible
for planning and implementing an integrated communications strategy that advances the
association and its mission.
 Lead media relations, digital and social media activity, and marketing efforts
 Identify, translate, and disseminate sociological scholarship that is relevant to a variety of
public audiences through an integrated content development strategy
 Manage the development, distribution, and maintenance of all print and electronic
communications including, but not limited to, newsletters, website, blog, and reports
 Identify new and creative opportunities for the association to engage the media, the
public, and policymakers with sociology
 Liaise with the Consortium of Social Science Associations and other advocacy
organizations in which ASA holds membership
 Help to foster a culture of public engagement among sociologists
 Collaborate with relevant organizational committees and other volunteer leadership
groups in the interest of supporting ASA’s related activities
 Develop a new department and manage staff
 Serve as a member of the association’s senior leadership team and manage additional
related responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director
Preferred Qualifications:
Several profiles could be well-suited to this position. If you think you have the necessary
experience and expertise to successfully manage the essential functions of this job, please do not
hesitate to apply.
 MA or PhD in sociology or a related discipline
 At least 10 years of relevant professional experience
 Experience in institutions of higher education, foundations, or other nonprofit
organizations focused on research
 Media relations expertise; relevant journalistic experience
 Extensive experience working with new media
 Experience with content integration across channels
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Exemplary writing, editing, and verbal communication skills
Ability to effectively translate scholarly material into content that is accessible to nonacademics
Strong work ethic; willingness to respond quickly to media and other time-sensitive
requests
Maturity and organizational savvy; ability to work independently and in collaboration
with teams; excellent interpersonal skills
Managerial experience
Compensation: Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. A full and rich
benefits package is provided to all ASA staff members, including domestic partner benefits for
same-sex and other-sex partners of employees.
To apply: Please submit a substantive cover letter and a resume to Nancy Kidd, Executive
Director, at [email protected]. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue
until someone has been hired.
ASA is an equal opportunity employer.