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Public Affairs & Strategic Communications (PASC) Director

Employer
Center for Popular Democracy
Location
Brooklyn, New York and Washington, D.C.
Closing date
Apr 13, 2019

Position Location: New York, NY or Washington, DC strongly preferred; other locations considered

About CPD + CPDA

The Center for Popular Democracy/CPD Action (CPD/CPDA) promotes equity, opportunity, and a dynamic democracy in partnership with innovative base-building organizations, organizing networks and alliances, and progressive unions across the country. We currently work with more than 53 affiliates and partners across 131 cities in 34 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC. and build the strength and capacity of democratic organizations to envision and advance a pro-worker, pro-immigrant, racial and economic justice agenda. CPD is a rapidly-expanding, changing organization that partners with organizations across the country to build political power and win tangible victories that improve the lives of low-wage workers, immigrants, and communities of color.

About the Position:

The Center for Popular Democracy/CPD Action (CPD/CPDA) is seeking an experienced and energetic senior communications and public affairs strategist to lead our digital and strategic communications teams. Qualified candidates will have a strong perspective on how to advance CPD’s work through strategic communications, digital organizing, storytelling, and creative movement building. Reporting to the co-executive directors, the PASC Director will be responsible for the development of CPD and CPD Action’s communication, brand management, and digital organizing strategies in close coordination with CPDs development and senior leadership teams. This position directly supervises the Communication Manager(s) and the Digital Director.

A strong candidate will have significant experience managing communications, digital and marketing staff in crafting and implementing comprehensive communications strategies that include traditional and social media; digital communications; special events; and the integration of cultural work that engages diverse audiences ranging for grassroots and grasstops leaders to national advocates from various backgrounds and spheres of influence.

The ideal candidate will have deep alignment with CPDs theory of change, which focuses on building strong people’s institutions and a community of action committed to building a world in which we are all free to thrive together.

Primary responsibilities

  • Develop and implement an integrated strategic communications plan to advance CPDs brand identity; broaden awareness of its programs and priorities; and increase the visibility of its programs across key stakeholder audiences.
  • Create marketing/public relations strategy that will allow CPD's leadership to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, including the media and key influencers.
  • Actively engage, cultivate and manage press relationships, in conjunction with the Director of Communications and any Communications consultants, to ensure coverage surrounding CPD programs, special events, public announcements, and other projects.
  • Develop and execute varied and integrated communications products including c4 website, c4 print publications, c4 newsletters & online communications, as well as media and public relations products for both the c3 and c4 organizations.
  • Create and launch new media and marketing,  (i.e. a CPD blog, podcast, and webinars.)
  • Work with the Co-EDs and Network President to achieve organizational goals and objectives by administering the communications and public relations initiatives as determined by the larger organizational strategic planning process.
  • Serve as executive editor for the development, production and maintenance of the company's internal and external non-development communication vehicles, including the main c4 website, c4 marketing materials, c4 publications, and c4 annual reports, as well as helping to advising around the c3 materials to ensure consistency and excellence across CPD and CPDA’s brand and materials.
  • Identify challenges and emerging issues faced by the organization. Work with leadership team and staff to recognize internal and external communications opportunities and solutions, and define and execute appropriate strategies to support them.
  • Exercise judgment to prioritize media opportunities, and manage the preparation of talking points, speeches, presentations, and other supporting material as needed.
  • Oversee the day-to-day activities of the communications function, in collaboration with the Director of Communications,  including budgeting, planning, and staff development.
  • Recruit and manage a communications team to support the development and execution of the communications strategy, in collaboration with the Director of Communication .
  • Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.
  • Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach on a consistent basis.
  • Establish and monitor staff performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish priorities, conduct annual performance appraisals, and administer salary adjustments for both the Communications and Digital Teams at CPD/A.

Qualifications

  • Communications: Proven success at leading strategic internal and external communications efforts through the development of communications plans, message development, media efforts (including new and social media), public relations, marketing, and targeted distribution strategies. Skilled in creating powerful, compelling written and oral communications. Ability to convey complex ideas through brief, reader-friendly materials. Experience identifying and crafting stories that engage and compel an audience. Superior writing and proofreading/editing skills are critical. Video production experience preferred.
  • Leadership: Experience in planning, leading, and managing creative communication projects and working in ways that haven’t been tried before. Ability to participate on a leadership team to advance the organization’s broader goals and a willingness to roll up your sleeves to execute as needed. Experience coordinating with peers across functional teams to achieve desired outcomes. Ability to work independently to organize and prioritize multiple projects.
  • Tools and Resource Development: Expertise overseeing the production of multimedia resources to ensure relevance to target audiences.
  • Events: Experience designing and executing events with a focus on culture, creativity, and experiential learning.
  • Collaboration: Effective at working with others to reach common goals and objectives. Comfort in an informal, entrepreneurial environment that values innovation, risk, and results.
  • Relationship Building: Skilled at establishing and cultivating strong relationships with peers, across different levels of the organization and externally.
  • Management Experience: Excellent people skills with demonstrated experience managing others and working with a dynamic team internally and externally. Able to multitask; comfortable working in an ambiguous, fast-moving environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions.
  • Project Management: Ability to implement project management methodology to advance multiple endeavors simultaneously, providing project participants and suppliers with clarity related to vision, deliverables, and timelines.

Job Qualifications

  • Minimum 5 years experience in a senior management role either in-house or with an agency, including experience in planning, writing, editing, and production of newsletters, press releases, annual reports, marketing literature, and other print publications and directories
  • Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, OR related field and/or relevant job experience is required, an advanced degree is preferred
  • Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with top tier reporters and editors, and in successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high-impact placements
  • Demonstrated experience and leadership in managing a comprehensive strategic communications, media relations, and marketing program to advance an organization's mission and goals
  • Creative and thoughtful on how new media technologies can be utilized
  • Innovative thinker, with a track record for translating strategic thinking into action plans and output
  • Experience in building, mentoring, and coaching a team of communications specialists
  • Excellent judgment and creative problem solving skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution skills
  • Self reliant, good problem solver, results oriented
  • Ability to make decisions in a changing environment and anticipate future needs
  • Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive; a team leader who can positively and productively impact both strategic and tactical finance, and administration initiatives
  • Strong fundraising capacity

Preference for candidates based in Washington, DC or New York. Exceptions may be made for exceptional candidates.

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is competitive and commensurate with experience. We have a generous benefits package, including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 15 vacation days per year, 10 sick days per year, 12 paid holidays per year, and contributions to individuals’ 401K plans.

CPD/A is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and actively recruits people of color, women, individuals with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community.

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