Associate, Messaging and Events

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) is a nonpartisan research and policy institute that advances federal and state policies to help build a nation where everyone — regardless of income, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ZIP code, immigration status, or disability status — has the resources they need to thrive and share in the nation’s prosperity.

CBPP combines rigorous research and analysis, strategic communications, and effective advocacy to shape debates, affect policy, and inform effective implementation both nationally and in states. It works closely with a broad set of national, state, and community organizations to design and advance policies that promote economic justice; improve health; broaden opportunity in areas like housing, health care, employment, and education; and lower structural barriers for people of color and others in communities that continue to face systemic barriers to opportunity. CBPP promotes policies that will build a more equitable nation and fair tax policies that can support these gains over the long term. CBPP also shows the harmful impacts of policies and proposals that would deepen poverty, widen disparities, and worsen health outcomes.

CBPP seeks an Associate, Messaging and Events to join the Communications team. This two-year term position offers an opportunity for an individual with previous communications writing and/or editing experience and some event coordination experience to provide messaging guidance and event support for CBPP in pursuit of its policy goals.

The Associate will report to the Deputy Director, Messaging and Events and will work closely with CBPP policy teams, government affairs, the executive support team, and external partners to distill and promote our messaging and develop event curriculum that raises CBPP’s profile and connects with external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Draft written communications for CBPP spokespeople and analysts such as talking points, speeches, press releases, statements, and presentations to help CBPP staff speak about and promote their research and advocacy work in a compelling and accessible manner.
• Contribute to internal polling and message research projects and monitor external polling and message research projects, provide regular polling updates to relevant CBPP staff, maintain CBPP polling and message-research bank, and work with Deputy Director, Messaging and Events to distill findings into clear and accessible messaging guidance.
• Provide messaging and editing support to help CBPP analysts convey data-driven research clearly and accessibly.
• Provide communications support for events such as drafting event invitations, promotional materials, speeches, talking points, programs, and supporting the creation of event presentations.
• Collaborate with office services, executive support staff, and policy teams to plan and execute CBPP events, including by helping to oversee event logistics and provide day-of-event staffing.
• Maintain written resources to support messaging and polling work.
• Provide administrative support to the communications team, such as scheduling meetings, overseeing approval processes, or disseminating communications resources to analysts, on an as-needed basis.
• Perform other job-related duties within the role’s scope as assigned to support the team’s goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with at least two years of communications writing and/or editing experience; some event coordinating and administrative experience is a plus. A relevant graduate degree may be substituted for two years of work experience.
• Prior experience drafting messaging guidance.
• Ability to thrive in a high-volume, dynamic environment and to work collaboratively on tight timelines and manage competing priorities.
• Ability to learn to write in the Center’s voice and style.
• Ability to incorporate feedback constructively.
• Excellent command of spelling, grammar, and usage.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Understanding of current political landscape and some policy experience and/or familiarity with the legislative process.
• Proficiency in Office 365, particularly Word and PowerPoint.
• Commitment to the Center’s mission to improve the well-being of low- and moderate-income people.
• Commitment to advancing multiple dimensions of equity and inclusion, including racial and gender equity, in written products as well as in the Center’s internal and external relationships.

This position reports to the Deputy Director, Messaging and Events.

Work Location and Hybrid Schedule Expectations: Employees are expected to work in the Washington, D.C. office for this position. CBPP is currently operating on a hybrid work schedule of two full in-office days (Tuesday and Wednesday) per week, as well as the first Thursday of each month in our Washington, D.C. office.

Terms of Employment: Full-time; exempt; two-year term.

Bargaining Unit Status: This is a bargaining unit position.

Compensation: Salary for this position ranges from $58,655 to $63,000 per year; pay is based on a number of factors including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience and internal pay equity. Excellent benefits (including health insurance, vision and dental coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement, MERP, and DCAP) and generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday schedules.

Please submit your application here.

Make sure to upload a cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, please include a discussion of what draws you to this role and this work.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and welcomes diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages all qualified persons to apply regardless of race, color, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, credit information, pregnancy or parental status, family responsibilities, personal appearance, creed, military or veteran status, religion, ancestry or national origin, union activities, disability, or other status protected by applicable law.