Communications Director (REMOTE)

[Kristina Sepulveda]

The Democratic Socialists of America is a member-run, socialist
organization with more than 280 groups in every state and the District
of Columbia engaged in movement-building, public education, direct
action, advocacy, and electoral politics. Our immediate goal is to
build working-class power against the capitalist class while advancing
transformative reforms like Medicare for All and a Green New Deal,
supporting a robust labor movement, electing socialists to office, and
shifting the public framing around capitalism and democratic
socialism. DSA is a “big tent,” multi-tendency organization that
welcomes everyone committed to democracy and socialism.

Reporting to the National Director, the Communications Director will
work with DSA’s elected leaders and volunteers to direct and shape
DSA’s internal and external communications. The ideal candidate will
have a finely-tuned sense of “what sells” in media, be comfortable
working with and leading teams of volunteers, have experience liaising
with the press, and have a firm grasp on the political context in
which DSA operates.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Oversee Communications Strategy:
• Work closely with elected leadership on all aspects of DSA’s
political messaging, both
internal and external.
• Develop, promote, create infrastructure for and deliver a
multi-faceted communications
strategy for democratic socialism, and by extension DSA, nationally.
• Ensure that internal and external communications strategies further
campaign goals,
continually expand our audience, and provide avenues for members to
become more active.
Expand Messaging Influence:
• Increase coverage of socialism and other DSA issues by cultivating
relationships with
reporters, editors, producers, bookers, bloggers and other media professionals.
• Increase our digital footprint by expanding our relationships with
relevant platforms and
aligned communities and organizations on social media.
• Identify and seize opportunities to promote DSA messages and
spokespeople in reaction to
events in the news cycle.
• Delegate creation of internal and external content, including
talking points, statements,
membership emails, news releases, op-eds, letters to the editor, blog
posts, and social media
content including video, memes, ads, etc.
• Oversee DSA communications, including the organization’s website,
social media, and
membership emails, ensuring that content meets a high standard of
quality and is in line with
the organization’s political messaging, as determined by elected leadership.
• Guide DSA’s messaging across publications, including coordination
with quarterly online
publication Socialist Forum, and quarterly print and online magazine
Democratic Left.

Build Leadership and Capacity:
• Identify and train DSA spokespeople, taking care to ensure adequate
representation of
traditionally marginalized voices.
• Supervise Internal Communications and Digital Organizing Coordinator
and Program
Associate - External Communications and Creative Assets and manage
media training
pipeline to further media sophistication amongst DSA’s chapter
leadership and membership.
• Recruit and lead national committees of communications, social
media, and design
volunteers to assist the communications team in its duties.


EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Required
• Minimum of 5 years of campaign communications, journalism, and/or
public relations
experience, with 1 to 2 years supervisory and management experience of
teams of three or
more.
• Experience securing earned press coverage and engaging the press and
executing strategic
communication plans through traditional and digital communications.
• Proven experience designing, executing, and tracking successful
email, SMS, social media,
and other digital advocacy programs.
• Experience working with the media and existing relationships with
print, radio, television and
online journalists.
• The ability to work with, inspire, and develop volunteers. Able to
work with a wide variety of
stakeholders and bring others along.
• Ability to communicate persuasively, accessibly and professionally
in writing and orally to
diverse audiences. Strong writing and editing skills. Ability to
produce clear, concise content
within tight deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to thrive in a
fast-paced, detail-oriented environment.
• A firm grasp of the political environment in which DSA operates and
a demonstrated
commitment to building socialism within our time.

Preferable
• Proficiency in Google Office and Associated Press style.
• Experience in organizing campaigns.
• Fluency in Spanish.

Reports to: National Director

Work Schedule: Full-time. Work hours will fluctuate according to
campaign needs and members'
availability.

Location: Remote

Salary: $60,000 to $76,000, exempt, depending on experience.

Benefits: We offer employer paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
for employees and their
spouse/partner and/or dependent children, and three weeks of vacation
in the first year of
employment, then four weeks each year thereafter.

Application Deadline: Apply as soon as possible, as interviews begin
immediately.

To Apply: Email the following documents to jobsw...@dsausa.org with
the subject line:
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR LAST NAME.
• Resume
• Cover letter with statement of your qualifications related to
external and internal
communications, organizing, and project management.
• 3 references with direct supervisory knowledge of relevant work

No phone calls or recruiters, please.

Democratic Socialists of America is an equal opportunity employer and
committed to a staff that
reflects the working class. We strongly encourage and seek
applications from women, people of color, as well as members of the
LGBTQ communities.