Communications Director

Witt/Kieffer; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 85,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Eligible Health Benefits

Paid Time Off

Sick Leave

Paid Observed Holidays

Job summary

The Arizona Democratic Party (ADP) seeks a Communications Director in Phoenix to lead the development and execution of our brand messaging. You will coordinate with party partners, manage crises, and supervise the Communications Department, ensuring consistent, effective communications across all platforms.

You will craft talking points, speeches, and public-facing content while guiding digital strategy, media outreach, and event communications for a wide range of campaigns and surrogates.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a communications team or department.
• Ability to craft messaging for diverse audiences and platforms.
• Excellent writing and editing skills for speeches, releases, and talking points.
• Ability to coordinate with campaign partners and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications plan for the ADP brand.
• Oversee crisis communications and media relations.
• Coordinate messaging across party partners and surrogates.
• Write speeches, talking points, and public-facing documents.
• Supervise the Communications Department and staff.

Skills

Brand development

Press communications

Strong writing

Design for digital

Digital advertising

Spanish preferred

Job description

The Communications Director is responsible for developing the ADP brand. They develop messaging in careful coordination with party partners and spearhead crisis communications and public relations to manage the party's image. The Communications Director is a key collaborator for the Party Chair, Executive Director, Finance Director, and Political Director as the author and manager for the production of talking points, speeches, literature, and public‑facing documents and presentations. The Communications Director manages the Communications Department and any and all Communications Department staff.

In addition to playing a critical role internally, the Communications Director maintains successful consultative relationships with other campaigns, candidates, and allied groups. They manage relationships with the press and serve as the party's principal staff spokesperson.

The Communications Director reports to the Executive Director and the Chair.

The expected pay range for this position is $85,000-$90,000 annually.

Essential Job Functions

Strategy/Messaging

• Develop and implement a robust communications plan that tells ADP’s story through a variety of platforms.
• Plan content calendars that advance the party brand and message.
• Ensure there is coherent messaging alignment amongst all party surrogates and execute issue topic research.
• Coordinate regularly with Communications Teams for Elected Officials, DSCC, DCCC, DNC, ADLCC, and Democratic nominees/candidates to ensure message cohesion and party platform consistency.
• Provide messaging training and talking points to ADP principals, candidates, and local affiliate organizations.

Press/Events

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with national and statewide media members.
• Approve all external communications as they pertain to the party platform, party spokespeople, surrogates, and party leadership.
• Monitor daily news events, apply sound judgment when speaking on the record, and positively represent the party.
• Work with the ED and other party staff as applicable to plan media and logistics around large party events such as State Committee Meetings, fundraisers, and party‑building events.
• Write speeches, talking points, and handle media preparation for party surrogates and spokespeople.

Digital

• Create a coherent digital strategy that supports ADP’s brand and electoral goals.
• Create and execute all aspects of social media.
• Partner with the Finance Director to manage and execute digital advertising across multiple platforms, and direct vendors on digital fundraising campaign tactics.
• Manage ADP’s website maintenance—updates, content, analytics tracking, etc.

Management

• Supervise ADP Communications Department staff, provide regular feedback, and hold staff accountable to expectations.
• Routinely assess direct reports’ and interns' skills and performance. Provide feedback to develop their individual skills to benefit the performance of the team through weekly staff meetings and one‑on‑one check‑ins.
• Routinely assess departmental progress on objectives and targets.
• Maintain an effective, transparent relationship with the Chair of Chairs in order to ensure an efficient line of communication to the County Chairs.

Position Requirements

Skills

• Brand development/management.
• Communicate with the press in a professional, politically sensitive manner.
• Excellent writing ability, specifically press releases, speeches, presentations, talking points, and social media content that are engaging.
• Intermediate design skills for digital and print.
• Digital advertising and digital marketing methodologies, programs, platforms, and management.
• Spanish proficiency is preferred, but not required.

Expected Outcomes

• Strengthen party presentation at events by taking a hands‑on approach in coordinating advance teams ahead of press conferences, fundraisers, and other party‑building events. Generate a comprehensive content calendar that keeps the entire party aligned on messaging.
• Increase efficiency for the Communications department and how talking points are generated for key party spokespeople.
• Manage Communications with internal and external stakeholders.

Benefits: Eligible Health Benefits (at no monthly premium), Paid Time Off, Sick Leave, and Paid Observed Holidays.

EOE Statement: The Arizona Democratic Party (ADP) is committed to diversity among its staff, and recognizes that its continued success requires the highest commitment to obtaining and retaining a diverse staff that provides the best quality services to supporters and constituents. The ADP is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination of employment, promotion, compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment on the basis of gender, disability, race, age, national origin, color, creed, sexual orientation, sex (including marital and parental status), gender identity and expression, religion, economic status, ethnic identity, veteran's status or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.