The Texas Democratic Party is seeking a Communications Director to manage the overall communications strategy, maintain and grow relationships with the local, state and national press, and work alongside Democratic candidates and allies to hold Republicans accountable while promoting our Democratic priorities and vision for the state.
The Communications Director is a senior member of the staff and will work closely with our leadership team, including Party Leadership, and the Chair, to set strategic communications goals and raise the profile of the Texas Democratic Party and our candidates. The Communications Director will be expected to contribute to several office-wide projects including large-scale fundraisers, elections, the Convention, and other party gatherings. Additionally, the Communications Director will act as spokesperson for the Texas Democratic Party when appropriate, and work closely with other departments to keep all messaging and branding clear, concise, and consistent with the party’s mission.
This full-time position will report directly to the Executive Director and will be an in-office position based in Austin, Texas.
Core Job Duties and Responsibilities:
Developing and implementing overarching communications strategy and plans for the State Party;
Managing the Communications team and supporting and mentoring other staff in communications efforts;
Ensuring message continuity across all areas of communications programs across departments, particularly digital;
Developing and maintaining relationships with leaders amongst national, state and local Party allies and the media;
Building and executing an aggressive statewide surrogate program and scaling our efforts within local media across the state;
Acting as an official spokesperson for the State Party and preparing the Chair and other principals for media opportunities;
Writing and editing external communications, including talking points, speeches, scripts, press releases, and op-eds;
Working with Democratic leaders, elected officials and legislative caucuses to leverage press opportunities and reinforce the Democratic Party’s narrative and priorities;
Maintaining and updating media lists;
Monitoring and tracking local and national press for relevant stories and developments;
Developing and deploying rapid responses to breaking news; and
Perform other related duties as requested by the senior leadership.
Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications or related field from an accredited university with a minimum of 5 years work experience, with 1-2 years as a senior-level communications employee on a political campaign, in public relations, and/or issue advocacy;
Previous experience with managing teams of 4 or more people;
Experience working on a statewide coordinated campaign, including with national committees and frontline races;
Familiarity with AP style writing;
Excellent people, written and verbal communications skills;
Strong time management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously under strict deadlines;
Strong on-the-record expertise, as well as experience with campaign operations and political communications;
Experience with booking and preparing principals for state and national TV shows and interviews;
Must be comfortable with doing on-camera interviews on a variety of topics;
Adept at reviewing crafting plans from polling data;
Flexible work schedule;
Responsive and positive team player who enjoys the versatility and constant new challenges;
Proficient in Google Docs, media-monitoring software, Facebook, Twitter and other social media tools;
A strong commitment to Democratic values; and
Spanish fluency is a plus.
Required tools:
Working laptop
Mobile phone
Reliable personal transportation
Start Date: As soon as possible
Employment Type: Permanent, full-time, and will include some nights and weekends.
Reports To: Executive Director
Location: This is a full-time, in-person position based in Austin, TX. This role will require occasional statewide travel.
Salary and Benefits:$85,000. The Texas Democratic Party offers medical, vision, and dental insurance. Employee’s insurance premiums are paid fully by TDP.
How to apply:
Please click here to submit a resume and cover letter.
Diversity: The Texas Democratic Party is an equal-opportunity employer. Consistent with the Texas Democratic Party’s commitment to including groups historically underrepresented in the Texas Democratic Party’s affairs, by virtue of race/ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, we strongly encourage members of underrepresented groups to seek jobs within the Texas Democratic Party.