Pennsylvania Communications Director at For Our Future PA - Philly, PA

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Ashley McBride

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Jun 25, 2019, 5:39:30 PM6/25/19

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About For Our Future

Founded in 2016, For Our Future Action Fund and For Our Future run the largest, permanent progressive field program across key states. Our vision is to expand the progressive infrastructure and advance economic prosperity for all, strong community schools, climate justice, and civil rights. Along with community partners and volunteers, we consistently engage with people in face-to-face conversations around what issues matter most to them. By organizing people in lasting relationships, we win elections, drive local progress, make a community’s collective voice heard, and help build the transformative power needed to improve people’s lives.

In 2018, we made over 9 million door knocks and held 1.3 million face-to-face conversations with voters in 7 states. Our turnout operation and innovative program helped restore voting rights to 1.4 million Floridians, expand Medicaid coverage to 400,000 in Virginia, and resulted in sizable electoral progress at the state and federal level, including the pick up of 3 Governor mansions, 1 Senate seat, 13 Congressional seats, and 22 state legislative seats. In Pennsylvania, FOF was the largest IE program with more than 1 million doors knocked. FOF-PA helped secure wins for governor and senate in addition to 11 pickups in the state’s General Assembly.

FOF will continue to grow and win through 2020, building power across issue fights and elections. Headquartered in Washington, DC, our current state programs include: Florida, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Are you passionate about the intersection of progressive politics and communications working to make real change? If so, consider joining our team as the Communications Director! We are seeking a communications professional with excellent writing skills and experience placing earned media stories in Pennsylvania. You’ll work with every department, from field to political, to create unified messaging that educates, inspires, engages, drives messaging and pushes people to take action on our various campaigns. You will also manage the digital department and advertising budget. This is your chance to make a difference while honing increasingly valuable skills for any communicator working in the digital age. Each day, you will lead a team of communications and digital organizers to modernize the landscape of political organizing by reaching out to voters in new, innovative ways. Our ideal candidate is a clear communicator, a strong writer, a new media harnesser and enthusiastic leader who can contribute to our operation for social change. Applicants should be team players who will meet new challenges with ambition and creativity.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Pennsylvania Communications Director is responsible for all internal and external communications under For Our Future Pennsylvania, building key relationships with local and national media, and overseeing all digital operations around our core issue-areas: climate, economic fairness, education, and racial justice. The Communications Director will develop a comprehensive communications plan outlining strategy for earned media, outreach to FOF-PA’s existing listserv and social media. This person will work with For Our Future Pennsylvania’s digital manager to identify the best way to utilize organic and paid digital posts to reach new and existing audiences. This position reports directly to the Pennsylvania State Director.

PA’s existing listserv and social media. This person will work with For Our Future Pennsylvania’s digital manager to identify the best way to utilize organic and paid digital posts to reach new and existing audiences. This position reports directly to the Pennsylvania State Director.

JOB SUMMARY

Design and implement short- and long-term earned media and digital plans
Manage digital and communications staff and any communications vendors and consultants
Serve as on-the-record spokesperson
Develop FOF messaging for in-state political campaigns and issues, and to set a cohesive organizational message
Oversee paid digital advertising strategy and budgeting
Develop relationships with reporters; pitch stories, written materials, and events to media
Increase FOF visibility in the media and online
Identify and lead execution of rapid-response opportunities for media and digital engagement
Write press releases, media advisories, memos, talking points, op-eds, and digital content (including advertising copy), and other materials
Provide strategic counsel and drafting support on organizational planning
Work closely with partners and allied organizations in order to foster a cohesive progressive communications infrastructure in state
Work closely with political, field, and training staff in order to successfully integrate programs for increased impact
Organize and build press conferences, press calls, and other media events
Proactively seek out news opportunities and creative placement strategies
Report communications department activity and accomplishments to the national office and stakeholders on a timely basis.

Qualifications:

A passion for progressive causes and politics;
Demonstrated experience with successfully placing print and online stories, and op-eds and ensuring appropriate messages are placed in proactive and reactive stories;
Strong understanding of the Pennsylvania media market;
Experience in media relations with a preference for advocacy/political communications;
Strong writing and copy-editing skills;
Experience leading communications staff and/or coalitions;
An understanding of digital communications and digital advertising and how they integrate with earned media and traditional communications;
A dedication to consuming news;
Solutions-oriented approach, with a willingness to take initiative, while juggling several priorities that may change quickly;
Ability to develop long-term plans, set objectives, and track progress toward achieving objectives;
Exercise good judgment in high-pressure situations;
Flexibility and a willingness to take on new tasks as the responsibilities of the position evolve;
Experience working on projects in a fast-paced environment;
Strong verbal communications and interpersonal skills;
Maintaining enthusiasm and calm demeanor in stressful situations;
The person filling this position must be nimble, committed to teamwork, have an exceptional ability to stay organized and to manage their time effectively, and possess a keen attention to detail;
Ability to work both independently and as a team member in a busy office with personal enthusiasm, optimism, and a sense of humor;
Professional or volunteer experience working in an organizing environment, and with labor and social justice groups a plus.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Incumbent may directly supervise one or more staff members.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in an open office environment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands of the job include bending and sitting for extended periods.
Ability to lift a minimum of 25 pounds.

EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

Employees may be required to work outside of normal business hours including weekends, holidays, and nights.
Employees may be required to abide by certain blackout dates during a campaign cycle, and generally not allowed to take more than 2-3 days off consecutively during blackout periods. Emergencies will not be affected by this policy.

For Our Future offers the following benefits to all full-time employees:

Health Insurance Coverage - 95% Employer Paid and 5% Employee
Retirement Savings Plan with matching contributions up to the first 5%
$100 Monthly Cell Phone Bill Reimbursement
10 Days Paid Time Off granted at the start of every new calendar year, as well as all paid federal holidays

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

For Our Future Action Fund is an equal opportunity employer. This application will not be used for limiting or excluding any applicant from consideration for employment on a basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law, including race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or parental status, creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, personal appearance, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, arrest record, conviction record, ancestry, military service, or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws or ordinances. Should an applicant need reasonable accommodation in the application process, they should contact a company representative.

AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT

The relationship between you and the For Our Future Action Fund is referred to as employment at will. This means that your employment can be terminated at any time for any reason, with or without cause, with or without notice, by you or the For Our Future Action Fund/For Our Future. No representative of For Our Future Action Fund has authority to enter into any employment agreement with you that is contrary to the foregoing employment at will relationship. By signing below, you hereby affirm your that your employment is at will, and that you acknowledge that no oral or written statements or representations regarding your employment can alter your at will status, except for a written statement signed by you and our Chief Executive Officer or duly authorized representative as determined by a resolution of the Board of Directors of For Our Future Action Fund.