The Washington State Budget & Policy Center is looking for a campaign communications specialist to join our hardworking, fun, and small-but-mighty communications team. (This is a six-month position – with a possible extension.)
We’re seeking a specialist to advance our efforts to enact and expand state and federal cash assistance policies to help put cash in the pockets of people with low incomes – with a primary focus on passing legislation to provide a tax credit to approximately one million low-income households in Washington state.
The communications specialist will implement campaign communications for the Working Families Tax Credit coalition. They will work to advance the organizing and legislative goals of this highly collaborative coalition of more than 30 regional, statewide, and national organizations that seek to pass cash stimulus policies that: ensure people with low incomes can meet their basic needs, help undo racial inequities and barriers to wealth, include cash assistance for undocumented immigrants, and strengthen local economies.
The specialist will also implement communications strategies for the Washington State Budget & Policy Center’s related policies aimed at ensuring people in Washington have economic security. These kinds of policies are especially critical during the COVID-19 public health and economic crises.
The role is a six-month, term-limited position (with a possible extension, contingent upon fundraising). This role will be remote until the Budget & Policy Center determines it is safe to go back to in-person work at our Seattle office.
Deadline to apply is September 30.
Responsibilities
- Manage communications and serve as a lead for the communications subcommittee for the WFTC coalition, working and planning alongside the field organizing and policy/lobbying team leads
- In collaboration with the WFTC field organizing committee, help build out a story bank of personal stories from people who can talk about what extra cash would mean for them – and create opportunities to share those stories on social media, online, with reporters, etc.
- Develop and implement proactive earned media outreach. This involves:
- Writing, releasing, and doing follow-up on press releases and media advisories
- Making targeted pitches to reporters and potentially organizing press calls or webinars
- Occasionally preparing spokespeople
- Manage social media and online campaigns. This involves:
- Designing campaign graphics (or working with a designer)
- Creating and generating stakeholder engagement with social media toolkits
- Using other online tools (such as e-communications) to communicate with key audiences about our work
- Work with Budget & Policy Center staff and WFTC coalition partners to ensure they’re using consistent messaging
- Write, edit, and produce original content including email and text blasts, recorded video messages, and content for various website
- Perform other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Required:
- Demonstrated commitment to equity in all forms, and to the Budget & Policy Center’s goals of justice and prosperity for all Washingtonians
- A demonstrated understanding of the need to undo racial inequities in public policies and institutions, as well as an understanding of the systemic barriers to opportunity and wealth that lead to disproportionate rates of poverty among people of color
- Experience working with the media, implementing social media actions, and collecting personal stories
- Experience working in a communications role or similar role in previous statewide or regional campaigns (related to legislation or ballot initiatives or candidates)
- Attention to detail and ability to coordinate multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines with a range of different partners
- Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills
- Strong writing, editing, and copy-editing skills. Ability to communicate effectively and compellingly with a wide range of audiences
- Skills with social media – primarily Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube
Desired:
- Ability to translate sometimes complex policy concepts into accessible written materials
- Skills in WordPress, email-distribution systems, and graphic design software/platforms – Adobe InDesign and Illustrator, and Canva preferred
Compensation
This full-time, six-month position has a monthly salary of $5,000 (and an annualized compensation of $60,000). The Budget & Policy Center offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, vision, and dental insurance, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement, and flexible spending accounts. We also offer four weeks of paid vacation and five personal days per year in addition to 10 paid holidays and generous sick leave – which will be pro-rated for this term-limited position. If our organization goes back to in-person work during the timeframe of this position, our office is located in downtown Seattle, with service from bus routes, light rail, and trains from around the region.
This position works weekdays during regular business hours; however, limited evening and weekend coverage of Seattle or Olympia events or social media actions may be required. The role reports to the Budget & Policy Center communications director and works closely with the Working Families Tax Credit coalition manager, members of the policy and communications teams at the Budget & Policy Center, and team leads with the WFTC coalition.
To Apply
Send a cover letter, resume, two writing samples, and one optional graphic design sample to [email protected]. In your cover letter, please address your campaign communications experience and your commitment to advancing racial equity.
The Budget & Policy Center values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and people of color; immigrants; people with disabilities; people of any sexual orientation or gender identity; and people with low-income backgrounds and other diverse life experiences.
Deadline to apply is September 30.
