Senior Communications Manager

States United Democracy Center, a nonpartisan organization focused on the critical role states play in election protection, is seeking a Senior Communications Manager to be part of our Strategy and Communications team.

About the Organization:

The States United Democracy Center is a new and growing nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. We focus on connecting pro-democracy state and local officials, law enforcement leaders, and other partners across the U.S. with the tools and expertise they need to safeguard our democracy. During the 2020 election, then as the Voter Protection Program, we quickly became a go-to resource for state leaders, the press, and partner organizations. By bringing together current and former governors, secretaries of state, attorneys general, and law enforcement leaders for the first time, we helped build a nonpartisan firewall against those trying to undermine democracy. Now as States United, we support these partners in protecting the integrity of elections, holding those who seek to undermine democracy accountable, and preventing acts of political violence.

Job Overview:

The Senior Communication Manager is a core member of the organization’s Communications team, focused on supporting and driving proactive communication strategy and media outreach, relationship building, and helping to shape narratives about free, fair, and secure elections in key regions of the country. They will serve as the primary communication strategist for multiple projects, working with cross-departmental teams to provide communication guidance and support to the organization and to key partners related to elections, voting, and democracy.

This role reports to the Deputy Director of Communications and works closely with the full communication team as well as other departments.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with senior members of the communications team to develop and execute communications strategies around key priorities, research, and States United projects.
• Serve as the primary communications lead for a set of key states and issue areas, monitoring developments and engaging the broader team as needed.
• Work with cross-departmental state and issue area teams to develop and implement proactive and rapid response communications strategies for States United and our clients around elections, voting and democracy topics in assigned states.
• Act as a main point of contact and funnel for media requests and pitches for assigned regions and priorities, evaluating opportunities, developing response plans, and mitigating potential risks.
• Monitor national and state developments. Help lead media work, identifying hooks for States United issues and target reporters for relationship building and pitching those opportunities.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with top national and state reporters, producers, correspondents, and editors as well as communications professionals at partner organizations as needed.
• Draft talking points, press releases, statements, media advisories, newsletters, op-eds, and backgrounders on a variety of issues related to States United’s mission.
• Serve as a rapid response lead for States United and assist in managing media situations impacting the organization, clients, and key stakeholders.
• Coordinate outreach to States United stakeholders and allies for media around States United programs, priorities, and key moments.
• Support organizational spokespeople for media opportunities and events, including coordinating interviews, prepping staff and messaging, drafting op-eds, and staffing interviews and press calls.
• Manage and/or support communications consultant relationships including coordinating meetings, guiding strategy and tactics, and monitoring execution.

• Collaborate closely with the other members of the communication team to help States United maintain a cohesive and integrated communication strategy.
• Manage some press-related administrative work including tracking and reporting on media coverage and impact, tracking media relationships and press lists, and managing press events and activities in assigned states and issue-areas.

Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum of six (6) years of relevant experience in communications, news media, and/or advocacy; including at least two (2) years of experience working in a communication role in an agency, government office, or on political campaigns.
• Experience and comfort managing and implementing rapid response communication strategy.
• Experience with client and/or principal management.
• Demonstrated track record working with reporters, crafting communications plans, and shaping the narrative or breaking through in challenging communications environments at the local and national level.
• Attention to detail and accuracy—especially across the drafting process with multiple editors or stakeholders in a remote environment.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely about complex topics.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in a demanding and fast-paced environment.
• Strong project management and troubleshooting skills that enable the juggling of multiple tasks, allocating and optimizing resources and managing timelines.
• Display a positive attitude, show concern for people and community, demonstrate presence, self-confidence, common sense, and good listening ability.
• Active follower of news cycle and basic understanding of how traditional media and social media intersect.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working on issues of election protection, voting rights, and/or democracy protection.
• Experience working with state and local officials.
• Experience working in both national and state media landscapes
• Experience working with external contractors or vendors.

We encourage individuals to submit their application for consideration even if they believe they do not have all of the preferred qualifications.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary will be between $85,000 and $95,000 commensurate to experience as well as 100% employer paid health, vision, and dental plans; matching retirement benefits; generous paid time off.

Our offices are located in Boston, MA, New York, NY, and Washington, DC.

This position will include flexibility to be remote.

States United Democracy Center is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.