Director of Communications

Joint Center; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and life insurance

Annual leave

Federal holidays

Job summary

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington, DC seeks a Director of Communications to lead all external communications, media relations, and digital strategy for the organization. The role will coordinate messaging across newsletters, the website, and social channels while shaping policy-focused communications with policymakers and partners.

This senior leader advises leadership, manages a small team and contractors, and continues to produce content when needed, ensuring a

Qualifications

• 10+ years of strategic communications experience.
• Experience earning national media coverage.
• Experience managing staff and vendors.
• Experience leading newsletters or email programs.
• Understanding of how policy communications works in DC.
• Experience leading website projects and multi-channel campaigns.
• Data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Joint Center’s senior communications leader and advise the President and leadership on messaging, positioning, and reputation.
• Develop and carry out a communications strategy across traditional media, digital properties, and newsletters.
• Turn research releases and campaigns into coordinated communications campaigns.
• Protect and strengthen the Joint Center’s brand, voice, and reputation across channels.
• Set goals and report performance metrics to staff and leadership.
• Manage communications staff, contractors, and vendors.
• Oversee the communications budget and project timelines.

Skills

Strategic communications

Media relations

Team leadership

Content strategy

Crisis communications

Policy communications

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

WordPress

Mailchimp

Sprout Social

Adobe Creative Cloud

Google Analytics

Asana

Job description

Job Title: Director of Communications
Reports To: President
Supervises: Communications Associate, plus contractors and freelancers
Location: Washington,DC
Work Arrangement: This position is based in Washington, DC, and candidates must live in the DC area. The Director works from the Joint Center’s office at least two days a week and must be available for onsite work, media requests, and DC events throughout the work week.
Employment Status: Full-time, exempt

ABOUT THE JOINT CENTER

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies (the Joint Center), America’s Black think tank, provides compelling and actionable policy solutions to eradicate persistent and evolving barriers to the full freedom of Black people in America. We are the trusted forum for leading experts and scholars to participate in public policy debates and promote ideas that advance Black communities. We use evidence-based research, analysis, convenings, and strategic communications to support Black communities and a network of allies.

The Joint Center’s work focuses on four policy areas:

• Tax and Wealth Policy:centers Black communities in policy debates about small business, economic development, tax policy, and household economic security.

• Workforce Policy:centers Black workers in policy debates about the future of work, workforce development, and access to good jobs.

• Technology Policy:examines how emerging technologies affect Black communities and develops policy solutions to improve their lives.

• Government Diversity:analyzes staff diversity on Capitol Hill and Black representation among government appointees and elected officials.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Director of Communications is the Joint Center’s top communications leader. A senior strategist, the Director leads all external communications, including media relationships and press coverage, and positions Joint Center experts in relevant media. In 2025, Joint Center experts published more than 25 op-eds and were cited in more than 1,500 media stories. The Director will build on that momentum with one integrated strategy that turns our research into coverage, engagement, and influence with policymakers, partners, funders, and Black communities across the country.

The Director is responsible for the Joint Center’s public-facing digital properties as well, including our four monthly newsletters and the Joint Center website and social media channels

This role suits a senior, hands‑on strategist who advises leadership, manages a small team and outside vendors, and still writes, edits, and produces content when needed.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy and Leadership

• Serve as the Joint Center’s senior communications leader and advise the President and leadership on messaging, positioning, and reputation.
• Develop and carry out a communications strategy that covers traditional media outlets, digital properties, as well as our monthly newsletters in support of the Joint Center’s policy, programmatic, and fundraising goals.
• Work with the Policy and Development teams to turn research releases, events, and campaigns into coordinated communications campaigns.
• Protect and strengthen the Joint Center’s brand, voice, and reputation across every channel.
• Set goals and key results for each channel, track performance, and report clear takeaways to staff and leadership.
• Manage and develop communications staff, and oversee contractors, freelancers, and vendors (web, design, video, and hosting).
• Manage the communications budget and project timelines.

Media Relations and Traditional Communications

• Build and maintain relationships with reporters and editors, with an emphasis on national, Black-owned, and policy press.

• Write, edit, and distribute press releases, statements, and media advisories.

• Pitch Joint Center experts and research, edit, and place op-eds in national and community outlets.

• Prepare experts for interviews with talking points and media training.

• Track coverage and keep media lists current.

• Lead rapid-response communications on breaking policy news.

• Oversee major communications products, including the annual report.

Newsletters and Emails

• Lead strategy, editorial calendars, and production for the Joint Center’s four newsletters:
  • theJoint Center newsletter(organization-wide)
  • theTechnology Policy newsletter
  • theEconomic Policy newsletter
  • theGovernment Diversity newsletter
• Work with policy directors and their teams so each program newsletter is timely, accurate, and consistent with the Joint Center’s voice.
• Coordinate email campaigns for events, publications, and fundraising with the Development team.

Website and Multimedia

• Direct the strategy for video, audio, and design work, including versions tailored for social media and funders (for example, year-end and president’s videos).

• Oversee the Joint Center’s website including content, accessibility, security, analytics, and daily operations.

• Lead website redesigns and updating.

• Keep domain and hosting registrations current.

Social Media and Digital Marketing

• • Oversee daily management of the Joint Center’s accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and other platforms.
  • Develop a distinct, consistent Joint Center voice that grows reach, engagement, and influential followers.
  • Run digital campaigns and paid advertising (Meta Ads Manager, Google Ads) tied to policy and organizational goals.
  • Use social listening and analytics to adjust tactics and spot opportunities.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

• 10 or more years of strategic communications experience covering both media relations and digital strategy.
• At least 5 years managing staff and/or vendors.
• A track record of earning national media coverage and placing op-eds.
• Experience running newsletters or email programs, including growing subscribers and engagement.
• A solid understanding of how policy communications works in DC and how policymakers and their staff consume information.
• Experience leading website projects and multi-channel campaigns from start to finish.
• A history of using data and analytics to make decisions.
• Commitment to the Joint Center’s mission and to advancing Black communities.

Skills

• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills, and an ability to adapt one message for press, policy, web, social, and email audiences.
• Sound news judgment and the ability to move quickly under deadline without errors.
• Strong organization and the ability to manage various priorities and deadlines.
• Diplomacy, good listening, and the ability to build productive relationships with policy experts, leadership, consultants, journalists, and partners.

Tools (proficiency in most, ability to learn the rest)

• WordPress (Beaver Builder or a similar content management system), plus working knowledge of HTML and CSS
• Mailchimp or similar email software
• Sprout Social or similar social media management and listening tools
• Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Audition), Canva, and Audacity
• Google Analytics, Meta Ads Manager, and Google Ads
• Asana or similar project management software
• Short-form video (Instagram Reels, TikTok, LinkedIn video)

Education

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Regular in-office presence is required to support employees, visitors, facilities, and operational needs.

• Occasional early-morning, evening, or off-site availability may be required for meetings, events, or urgent operational matters.

• The role requires the ability to move throughout the office and occasionally lift or move office supplies and equipment, with or without reasonable accommodation.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The hiring salary range is $120,000–$150,000. The Joint Center offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, and life insurance, annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays.

THE Joint Center is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other status protected by applicable law.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT

The Joint Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace environment for all employees.