Communications Director

Position Title: Communications Director

Position Location: Candidates are welcome to apply from across the U.S. Those that are near a CPD office in DC or Brooklyn may be asked to work from a CPD/A office one or two days/week if necessary. Applicants outside of those areas may be required to travel to a CPD/A office occasionally.

The Center for Popular Democracy/CPD Action is seeking three Communications Directors. This is a full-time, exempt position.  

About CPD + CPDA:

The Center for Popular Democracy and CPD Action (together, CPD/A) work to promote equity, opportunity, and a dynamic democracy in partnership with innovative base-building organizations, organizing networks and alliances, and progressive unions across the country. We work with nearly 50 affiliates in over 30 states and Puerto Rico to build the strength and capacity of democratic organizations that envision and advance a pro-worker, pro-immigrant, racial and economic justice agenda. We are 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: 

We are seeking three mission-driven Communications Directorsto help lead the work of CPD/A’s Communications Department. The goal of our Communications Department is to approach communications and storytelling in a deeply holistic way by developing multichannel strategies designed to expand social and political imagination, move people into action, and build public will for transformative change. 

Each Communications Director will lead a talented team of digital organizing and creative content professionals and will work closely with a media relations firm for press needs. Each will own a portfolio of issue and/or project areas and work hand-in-hand with other CPD/A departments and affiliates to ensure communications strategies are aligned with the goals of the campaign or project and our organizational mission at large. 

Communications Directors will be expected to travel and attend in-person meetings and events, including staff and team retreats, when necessary. 

We estimate that candidates will have about 15 years of relevant experience, but our review of candidates for this role will focus on whether they can fill the needs of the position, not years of experience. 

Each Communications Director will report to the Chief of Communications.

Primary Responsibilities:

Each Communications Director will: 

• Spearhead the development and execution of innovative communications campaigns that deepen our target audiences’ understanding of our issues and move them to action.
• Identify, develop and oversee the execution of popular education and audience engagement strategies that advance campaign and project objectives.
• Gather compelling storytelling assets by leveraging CPD/A’s network of organizers, activists and grantees.
• Ensure CPD/A has strong and credible spokespeople by training executive directors, members and staff across its network on delivering messages and adequately training and preparing speakers before speaking engagements and interviews with press. 
• Establish and cultivate strategic relationships with communications and marketing professionals from a variety of organizations.
• Work with other Communications Directors to develop a clear methodology for setting goals and evaluating and reporting on outcomes and to apply learnings to future communications strategies and approaches. 
• Collaborate with other Communications Directors to manage the organization’s communications calendar. 
•  Manage the daily workflow of their teams, provide constructive and timely performance feedback, and play a role in mentoring staff across the communications department. 

The Ideal Candidate Will Have: 

• 3-5 years in a leadership and/or management role with demonstrated success in leading collaborative projects.
• Demonstrated ability to craft messages and produce clear, compelling communications materials that tackle complex issues for wide audiences. 
• Demonstrated success in driving media relations strategies to get coverage in print, radio, television, and podcasts, including pitching and landing stories. 
• Experience managing and executing communications strategies across several channels, including press, websites, video, social media, and emerging media platforms, and an understanding of communications and marketing trends. 
• Impeccable cross-cultural sensitivity, diplomacy, interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and relationships with diverse stakeholders and audiences. 
• A creative, open, and innovative mind energetically searching for new solutions.
• Ability to anticipate needs and plan accordingly, problem-solve, coordinate complex activities, prioritize multiple demands, and meet deadlines with high attention to detail, accuracy and quality. 
• Strong, self-directed work ethic.
• Demonstrated organizational and project management skills.
• A management approach that is positive and collaborative, driven by values, accountability, teamwork, and creativity. 
• Written and spoken proficiency in Spanish is a plus. 
• Deep relationships with Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and other-constituency-specific press is a plus. 
• A demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice and a deep understanding of challenges facing low-wage workers, immigrant communities, communities of color, disabled people, LGBTQ+ folks, and people at the intersections of the above communities.

Hiring Process:

In your cover letter you submit as part of your application, please outline why you are interested in this role, why you want to work at CPD/A, and why you are applying for this role at this time.

Candidates should expect to participate in two rounds of group interviews and a job simulation exercise. Final candidates will be asked to provide references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through August 31, 2024.