Director of Communications

Reports to: Deputy Director & Chief of Communications 

Location: Washington, DC

Status: Full time; exempt

Location:  In D.C. office 2 days a week, remote 3 days a week

Position Summary

Launched in 2018, the Groundwork Collaborative is driven by the idea that We Are The Economy: when all of us are doing well, that is when our economy thrives. We fight for progressive economic policy and narrative change that builds accountable public power, breaks up concentrations of private power, and affirmatively centers people too long left out of prosperity. We understand that taken together, these actions will lead to a stronger and more resilient economy.  

Groundwork’s unique structure – part strategic communications, part think tank, and part issue advocacy organization – allows us to drive narrative and policy change with credibility, expertise, and impact. We work across four core audiences – the media, policymakers, economic experts, and grasstops leaders – and use targeted policy campaigns and timely research and messaging to advance a truly inclusive economic worldview. 

We’re savvy, strategic thinkers who know how to spot an opportunity to advance our worldview and influence national economic policy debates, identify new audiences for Groundwork’s resources, and support and amplify the great work our partners are already doing so we’re all better aligned to achieve our common goals. We’re fearless in our approach to narrative change and are focused more on how to make the right economic messages popular tomorrow than we are on the poll-tested messages of today.

Groundwork is searching for a Director of Communications who will lead, develop and execute Groundwork’s overall communications strategy. This position will manage and advise a team that includes a digital manager, press secretary, and outside consultants. The Director of Communications will promote the work and thought leadership of leading progressives on the economy including Groundwork’s Executive Director, chief economist, members of the Policy & Research teams, and members of its Economic Speaker’s Bureau. The Director of Communications will work with the Groundwork team to develop and distribute our message through earned and paid media, social media, and partner/allied organizations in service of socializing Groundwork's people-centric economic worldview. We are looking for someone who is both a creative and strategic thinker and an incisive communicator. 

As the Director of Communications you will…

• Develop and execute strategic communications for issue campaigns that advance our worldview. 
• Manage and develop a best in class communications team that can be nimble and strategic.
• Create, execute, and manage an overall communications strategy for Groundwork in collaboration with the organization’s Deputy Director and senior management team.
• Work creatively, using all the communications tools at our disposal, including earned and paid media, digital engagement, and editorial content to advance Groundwork's narrative of the economy.
• Identify opportunities—and develop materials with other relevant team members—to promote and publicize organizational initiatives, campaigns, activities, reports, and content, including those with partners.
• Write and edit Groundwork report summaries, op-eds, press releases, statements, interview briefings, talking points, messaging and more.
• Develop and assist other members of the Groundwork team in developing productive working relationships with members of the press covering economic issues.
• Evaluate existing Groundwork communications infrastructure and further develop where necessary.
• Supervise press, editorial, and digital content creation and dissemination.
• Supervise and execute communications-related Groundwork programming and events.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

About you

• You are a strategic thinker who has extensive experience in developing and executing a communications plan.
• You are an excellent writer and editor, and have high standards for quality control.
• You know how to weave in Groundwork’s narrative change work to ensure that a shared worldview comes through across different voices.
• You have an interest in progressive messaging on the economy and strong fluency in economic policy; you are able to translate complex ideas into easily digestible ones.
• You have experience managing and developing a team, and enjoy mentoring early career staff members.
• You have experience running communications for successful issues campaigns.
• You have a keen awareness of the news cycle and how Groundwork’s progressive economic worldview might fit into it,
• You are proactive and savvy about breaking through in a cacophonic media landscape, and you are able to anticipate when we can get ahead of the news cycle.
• You’re a pro at multi-tasking and working under tight deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• You are interested in, or have experience with digital strategy.
• You have experience with big releases and/or launches, including new campaigns and policy research, and earning exclusive media coverage.
• You’re creative and innovative, willing to try new approaches to solving old problems.
• You’re committed to a just, inclusive, and robust economy that delivers opportunity and dignity to people, with a particular attention to dismantling structural barriers including racism, sexism, xenophobia, ableism, and others.

In addition, it would be a bonus if…

• You’re familiar with the progressive economic policymaking community.
• You have existing relationships with reporters and media figures, especially those covering the economy and politics.  

The salary range for this position is $145,000 - $160,000, commensurate with experience. We offer a generous benefits package, including three weeks of vacation, health leave, two week-long office closures, additional time off for floating and federal holidays, zero-premium health insurance, a generous HRA, a retirement match of up to 6%, up to 16 weeks parental leave, health club and cell-phone reimbursements, among other benefits.

How to apply

To begin the application process, please submit your materials through our web portal. 

This announcement will remain posted until the position is filled. 

Thank you for your interest.

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New Venture Fund Careers

Groundwork Collaborative is a project of the New Venture Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. The New Venture Fund is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding, and enables each of us to realize our potential. The New Venture Fund’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.