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Communications Director - Wisconsin
Madison, WI
Job Description
Position: Communications Director
Job Location: Madison or Milwaukee
Position Type: Full Time, Exempt
Position Classification: Not Union Eligible
Compensation: $67,000 - $80,000
Position Travel Percentage: 25%
Driving Percentage: 25%
Reports to: Wisconsin State Director
About For Our Future
Founded in 2016, For Our Future Action Fund and For Our Future run the largest, permanent progressive field program across key states. Our vision is to expand the progressive infrastructure and advance economic prosperity for all, strong community schools, climate justice, and racial and social justice. Along with community partners and volunteers, we consistently engage with people in face-to-face conversations around what issues matter most to them. By organizing people in lasting relationships, we win elections, drive local progress, make a community's collective voice heard, and help build the transformative power needed to improve people's lives.
Classification
For Our Future recognizes a staff bargaining unit, affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 2304, a labor union. This position is NOT included in the For Our Future bargaining unit.
About the Role
For Our Future Wisconsin (FOF-WI), seeks a motivated, outgoing, and results-driven Communications Director to develop and implement an aggressive earned media and communications strategy with state and local press. This position offers strategic guidance as well as planning and implementing long and short-term communications campaigns in the state. We are committed to helping community partners build their own communications capacity and to seek new and innovative ways to cultivate community-based progressive voices, arm them with compelling content, and train them to be effective communicators.
This position runs through at least November 14, 2024.
Essential Functions
- Design and implement short- and long-term earned media and digital plans; Create and maintain a communications calendar.
- Establish, build and maintain relationships with key Wisconsin reporters.
- Secure positive media coverage for FOF-WI issue campaigns, the organization, endorsed candidates, and partners.
- Proactively seek out news opportunities and creative placement strategies.
- Organize and build press conferences, press calls, and other in-person and virtual media events.
- Write media and communications materials including press releases, media advisories, op-eds, LTEs, talking points, and other materials.
- Leverage stories and storytellers in earned media.
- Serve as an on-the-record spokesperson.
- Develop messaging for in-state campaigns and issues, align messaging with national priorities, and set a cohesive message for the FOF program and external audiences.
- Track and stay current on relevant news, social media, research, and polling on core issues and candidates.
- Identify and execute rapid-response opportunities.
- Coordinate with progressive organizations across Wisconsin.
- Collaborate with the WI State Director to ensure communications are in step with overall strategic plan and goals.
- Work with in-state organizing staff to identify storytellers and messengers to elevate through earned media strategies.
- Collaborate with the HQ communications team on strategy.
Skills and Qualifications
- Creativity in message delivery and plan design, ability to look at communications challenges differently, and respond with innovative solutions.
- A passion for progressive causes and advocating and communicating authentic stories about Wisconsinites.
- Demonstrated experience with successfully placing stories, op-eds and ensuring appropriate messages are placed in proactive and reactive stories.
- Experience in media relations with a strong preference for political and campaign communications experience.
- A clear sense of the political media landscape, the Wisconsin media markets, and a thirst for consuming media.
- Solutions-oriented approach, with a willingness to take initiative, while juggling several priorities that may change quickly.
- Ability to develop long-term plans, set objectives, and track progress toward achieving objectives;
- Exercise good judgment in high-pressure situations.
- Flexibility and a willingness to take on new tasks as the responsibilities of the position evolve; Experience working on projects in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong verbal communications and interpersonal skills.
- Maintain enthusiasm and calm demeanor in stressful situations.
- Committed to teamwork, have an exceptional ability to stay organized and effective time management, and possess a keen attention to detail.
- Must have access to reliable transportation, a valid driver's license/insurance/registration, and clean driving record for at least 1 year, per organizations drivers policy.
This position comes with a comprehensive benefits package.
- Health Insurance Coverage - 95% Employer Paid and 5% Employee
- Paid parental leave
- Retirement Savings Plan with matching contributions up to the first 5%
- $150 Monthly Cell Phone and Internet Reimbursement
- Monthly Mileage Stipend
- 13 days paid time off every calendar year, as well as other paid holidays.
Expected Hours of Work
- Normal hours of business are from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Central Time Monday through Friday, however employees may be required to work outside of normal business hours including weekends and nights.
- Employees are required to abide by certain blackout dates during a campaign cycle or other key deadlines, and generally not allowed to take off during blackout periods. Emergencies are not affected by this policy.
Work Environment
Employees will be required to work and interact, in an office environment or otherwise, with coworkers, volunteers, voters, or community partners on a regular basis. If state and government stay-at-home orders, phased reopening orders, or other factors related to the COVID-19 virus (or any other reason) limit For Our Future's ability to engage safely in in-person work, employees may be assigned other duties to be conducted from their homes.
Health and Safety
For Our Future Action Fund ("FOF") is fully committed to the health and safety of our colleagues, candidates and the communities we serve. We encourage all employees to stay "up to date" with their COVID-19 vaccines and once eligible, to get COVID-19 boosters; however, this is not a requirement for employment atFOF. All employees are required to adhere to the health and safety policies and procedures, when appropriate as implemented by the organization. Upon request, reasonable accommodations will be considered on a case-by-case basis for exemptions to this requirement in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Applicants may request a reasonable accommodation form by emailing FOF Human Resources at: hr@forourfuturefund.org. Be advised that health and safety policies and procedures around COVID-19 may change in the future to stay in compliance with public health guidance and applicable laws.
EEO Statement
For Our Future is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Opportunities are provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (including transgender status), marital or parental status, creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, personal appearance, family responsibilities, genetic information, ancestry, matriculation, political affiliation, arrest record, conviction record, ancestry, military service, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws or ordinances. Equal opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation and training.
We are also committed to the full inclusion of every qualified individual. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please contact hr@forourfuturefund.org
Job Summary
Company
Start Date
As soon as possible
Employment Term and Type
Regular, Full Time
Required Experience
Open
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