Strategic Communications Specialist II

The Fairness Project; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Fairness Project is seeking a skilled communications professional to lead the strategy and execution of campaigns across organizing, contract, legislative, and political priorities. The role involves creating print, digital, and press materials, videos, and training for staff and affiliates.

You will work with national and affiliate teams, volunteers, and members to drive messaging, campaigns, and outreach, including rapid response under tight deadlines and irregular hours.

Qualifications

• Experience developing creative, multi-dimensional communications strategies.
• Knowledge of earned media and media relations.
• Experience running multi-channel digital campaigns; knowledge of web content management systems, email tools, social media, etc.
• Experience with design and video editing tools, such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere).
• Excellent verbal and written communications; ability to write leaflets, brochures, direct mail pieces, video scripts, and other materials.
• Ability to develop a campaign message and enforce message discipline in fast-paced campaigns.
• Ability to analyze research data and draw logical conclusions.
• Ability to set priorities, work under pressure, handle multiple projects, meet deadlines, and take initiative.
• Must thrive under tight deadlines, changing priorities, high-pressure and irregular hours.
• Ability to communicate in a foreign language is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop and drive comprehensive communications strategies for campaigns in coordination with national union staff and affiliates.
• Draft communications plans with measurable goals, messaging, tactics, and timelines.
• Draft campaign messaging and talking points.
• Draft campaign materials including leaflets, brochures, mail pieces, social content, scripts, and videos.
• Drive earned media through press events; draft op-eds and letters.
• Develop online campaigns that engage members using websites, email, social media, and texting.
• Train staff and affiliates on messages, tools, and best practices.
• Support worker mobilization and outreach for campaigns.
• Enhance communications capacity of affiliates.
• Perform other duties to support the department.

Skills

Creative strategy

Earned media

Digital campaigns

Adobe Creative Suite

Written communications

Campaign messaging

Data analysis

Project management

Deadline management

Independent work

Foreign language

Education

Bachelor's degree

Labor relations

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

CMS platforms

Email tools

Social media platforms

Video editing tools

Job description

This position is responsible for the communications strategy and implementation of the national union’s major organizing, contract, legislative, political and other priority campaigns. This includes developing plans and creating print, digital, and press materials, videos and other assets. Works closely with international staff, affiliate staff, unorganized workers and members. Provides communications training for staff and affiliates.

DUTIES

• Assists in developing and driving comprehensive communications strategies for organizing, contract, legislative, electoral and other priority campaigns in coordination with national union staff and affiliates.
• Drafts communications plans with clearly defined and measurable goals, messaging, tactics, and timelines.
• Drafts campaign messaging and talking points.
• Drafts copy and design of campaign communications, including leaflets, brochures, direct mail pieces, social media and other online content, phone scripts, videos and other assets.
• Assists with driving earned media, including conceiving and holding events such as press conferences and actions; also drafts op-eds and letters.
• Assists in developing and executing comprehensive online campaigns that engage members and potential members, utilizing a range of channels (websites, email, social media, texting, etc.).
• Assists with trainings on campaign messages, digital tools and communications best practices for campaign staff, members, volunteer organizers and others.
• Assists with worker mobilization as well as community and political outreach efforts associated with targeted campaigns.
• Supports enhancing communications capacity of affiliates.
• Performs other duties as required to support the department and its mission.

Education and Experience

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with course work in labor relations, communications, political science or liberal arts and a minimum of five (5) years of experience in advocacy communications for labor, political or community organizing campaigns, or an equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the following required knowledge, skills and abilities:

Skills

• Experience developing and implementing creative and multi-dimensional communications strategies, including identifying and creating opportunities to drive messages.
• Knowledge of and experience with earned media and media relations.
• Experience running multi-channel digital campaigns and knowledge of digital media platforms including web content management systems, email tools, social media, etc.
• Experience with design and video editing tools, such Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere).
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills; and ability to write and create leaflets, brochures, direct mail pieces, video scripts and other materials.
• Ability to develop a campaign message and enforce message discipline in fast-paced campaigns.
• Ability to analyze research data and make logical conclusions.
• Ability to set priorities, work under pressure, handle multiple projects simultaneously, meet established deadlines, and use initiative to execute projects that may be vaguely defined.
• Must thrive in an environment with tight deadlines, changing priorities, high-pressure and irregular hours.
• Requires a high level of judgment and ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Ability to communicate in a foreign language is desirable.

Travel and work hours

Extensive travel, extended work hours, including weekends may be required. Valid driver’s license required.