Chief Public Affairs Officer

FFAA is seeking a Chief Public Affairs Officer to start as soon as March 2019. The CPAO should be an individual deeply committed to advancing LGBTQ equality and LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections, as well as someone comfortable working independently in a remote work environment.

The Chief Public Affairs Officer is responsible for leading, developing and managing a comprehensive public affairs strategy for FFAA that drives a cohesive and urgent imperative for nationwide, comprehensive LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections. The CPAO leads a team of 7-10 staff and consultants who implement FFAA’s earned media and digital engagement in key states and nationwide.

The Chief Public Affairs Officer reports to the CEO. People of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender diverse people; women; and people of all political backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development, maintenance, and execution of a national communications plan that drives an ongoing and aggressive narrative about the urgency and momentum for securing comprehensive nondiscrimination protections.
• Ensure all public affairs work is tied to the overall national communications plan, including addressing targeted audiences to drive FFAA’s strategic plan.
• Work across the organization to identify and elevate opportunities that can help drive the national narrative, particularly FFAA’s role in holding the line on past victories, making the case that nondiscrimination is an urgent need, and demonstrating that America is ready for a national solution.
• Oversee efforts to drive a movement-wide narrative, including the work to coordinate proactive messaging and rapid response efforts across national and state LGBTQ organizations through the Equal Treatment Communications Center.
• Ensure public affairs department effectively integrates media and digital projects so that FFAA’s brand and expertise are successfully leveraged and uniformly conveyed at the local, state and national levels; across earned media; and in communications for key stakeholders including business partners and funders.
• Work closely with other staff on the development and dissemination of timely and effective messaging guidance and research.
• Maintain and grow FFAA’s visibility on Capitol Hill, representing FFAA with partner organizations on key federal issues, as-needed.
• Oversee the development of a public affairs budget for FFAA and its priority states.
• Oversee the development and execution of earned media strategies in state campaigns and the development of resources for longer-term messaging strategies across the country.
• Supervise individual members of the public affairs department in fulfilling their responsibilities and manage their continued growth as movement communication leaders.

QUALIFICATIONS

Our ideal candidate will:

• Be deeply committed to advancing LGBTQ equality and nondiscrimination protections.
• Have a combination of 10 years of general nonprofit, public education, management, advocacy and/or campaign communications and digital media experience and LGBTQ movement work.
• Be extremely detail oriented, responsive, organized, communicative, and flexible.
• Demonstrate ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, including prioritizing appropriately and tracking and reporting progress internally and to funders.
• Have the ability to comprehensively manage, support, and grow multiple remote staff members.
• Have excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Have experience and comfort working with Cision or other PR software, mail tools, Microsoft Suite, and other technology for fostering a supportive remote work climate.
• Thrive in a fast-paced, campaign environment.
• Adapt to a quickly changing landscape.
• Significant experience with LGBTQ-related communications and messaging preferred.
• Simultaneously work independently and collaboratively in a team-based remote environment with minimal supervision.
• Be able to travel frequently and work remotely.

LOCATION AND TRAVEL

This is a remote position that can be based anywhere in the U.S. Candidates must be able to work from home and feel comfortable frequently engaging with colleagues and partners by phone, video conference, email, and other digital communications tools.

This position requires significant travel, including at least 2 staff retreats, ad hoc organizational meetings, movement gatherings, and more.

FFAA will provide all of the tools necessary to succeed in this position.