JOB: Communications Director, New Organizing Institute (Washington, DC)

[Jennifer Perrone]

Position: Communications Director

Benefits: Healthcare (vision, dental, and health insurance), 12 paid vacation days, 5 paid days to volunteer (after one year of employment), 11 paid holidays plus a paid break at the end of December, $50/month or 50% cell phone reimbursement, Smart Trip benefits, and a professional development budget for all permanent staff.

Location: Washington, DC

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The New Organizing Institute seeks a leader to join our team as Communications Director. The Communications Director will plan and implement our strategic communications and branding, and will manage our digital, creative, and community staff. As such, experience as a manager of both people and projects is a must.

Since our founding in 2005, NOI has built a strong reputation through excellent and strategic programs as a powerhouse of progressive talent. Recently, the Time political blog Swampland described NOI as “an infrastructure to train and nurture the next generation of campaign operatives and develop cutting-edge techniques.” Our Communications Director will help shape our public narrative and take the NOI brand to the next level.

Our ideal candidate is someone who can ensure that we’re delivering sharp, strategic content, so NOI can become a true go-to for stories about organizing, campaigns, data, and technology. The most important qualities we’re seeking are a keen eye for messaging, experience with press, and track record as a strong manager. Preferred are a basic understanding of digital advocacy, event planning, and community engagement. Experience in both electoral and issue campaigns is preferred, and experience in field organizing is also a big plus.

You don’t have to be an expert at all that stuff, but you’ve gotta be able to understand, explain, and contribute to all the work we do. The Communications Director is a senior position at NOI and will report directly to the Executive Director.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with NOI leadership team to plan and articulate our mission and vision in a variety of media, especially press and including digital, promotional, and in-person (trainings, conferences, and events).

• Manage our digital, creative, and community staff to ensure delivery of high-quality work product and build a great team.

• Oversee branding with all NOI staff projects.

• Act as a collaborative member of NOI’s senior staff.

• Contribute to NOI trainings as appropriate based on your skills.

• Work with partners and allies to tell the story of engagement organizing and build credibility for the work of campaigning.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

While no candidate will possess every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following qualifications and personal attributes:

• Existing press relationships and proven track record of generating positive press

• Bigtime hustle

• Superb writing and editing skills (this one’s required)

• Experience managing staff

• A big, broad network in progressive advocacy and campaigns work

• Understanding of the role of digital advocacy

• Comfort with technology (even if you can’t make it, understanding it is important)

• Field experience preferred

• ”Big Picture” vision and an ability to understand how complex pieces fit together, but also...

• ...Attention to the most minute detail (like a missing Oxford comma)

• Ability to quickly switch gears and jump in where needed

We’re looking for a truly outstanding candidate for this challenging post. You’ll have significant opportunity to help shape NOI’s future and build a name for our work, but you’ll also need to be comfortable focusing in on the smallest details and executing clean programs.

This position is based in our office in Washington, DC, and may require occasional travel.

There are no education requirements for this position.

APPLICATION AND PROCESS

Applications will be accepted and interviews held on a rolling basis.

Qualified applicants should submit the following information for consideration to jen.p...@neworganizing.com. Please put “Communications Director” in the subject line, and save all materials as PDF files.

• A cover letter formatted as a press pitch about you and your qualifications for this job.

• A resume of applicable experience relative to the responsibilities and qualifications listed above.

Applicants who meet our desired criteria will have the opportunity to complete a test to demonstrate their qualifications.

Based upon the application and test results, individual interviews and reference checks will be conducted and the final applicant will be selected for the position.

The New Organizing Institute is proud to be an AA/EOE M/F/D/V.

ABOUT US

Here’s what our team members have to say about our values and workplace:

“NOI welcomes and values people (and their stories, contributions, personal lives) more than any other organization I’ve worked with”

“I love that we focus on long term capacity building, rather than short term fights”

“I love being part of a team of ‘finishers’ – people who, once they start something, will see it through”

“There is a clear appreciation not just for the accomplishment, but for the people who made it possible”