Deputy Communications Director

MoveOn.org Political Action is gearing up for a big new year. We'll push for a progressive economic vision, get serious about winning the war of ideas, and block Republican attacks on our communities. As part of that effort, we are seeking a Deputy Communications Director to shape and execute strategy on our advocacy campaigns and the elections of 2012.

We're looking for someone who's got great judgment, who's quick on his/her feet and ready to seize the opportunities that the news cycle provides. Someone who can imagine and execute creative, bold strategies to get our message out, and who's excited about the promise of online democracy and giving MoveOn's members a voice. The Deputy Communications Director will use innovative paid and earned media strategies to build power for a progressive America, bring people into politics, win big issue fights, and keep the White House in 2012.

We welcome applicants with business backgrounds as well as non-profit and politics.

Responsibilities:

• Manage media outreach to advance MoveOn's national advocacy campaigns on issues such as the economy, tax fairness, defending health care reform, and reducing corporate influence of our government.
• Execute rapid responses to attacks and opportunities—defending our brand and injecting our members' voices into important debates.
• Manage requests from key media and serve when needed as a spokesperson and face for the organization.
• Help elevate the voices of MoveOn members as spokespeople whenever possible to demonstrate what grassroots action looks like.
• Help protect and promote MoveOn's brand—making sure that "MoveOn" stands for democracy, people-powered politics, and a new pragmatic populist progressivism.
• Live in the news cycle—monitoring risks and opportunities and coming up with ideas for cutting-edge media campaigns.
• Build relationships with reporters and new media (blogs, etc.) and use them to get the word out about MoveOn campaigns.
• Work as a team with MoveOn's communications consultants, creative director and campaigners to execute creative strategies in our communications.
• Supporting field media opertions to empower councils and members to maximize press coverage in local markets.

Required skills:

• Excellent writing skills—writing both for press and for popular audiences. Your writing should be sharp, personable, and memorable.
• Strong judgment on what kinds of tactics and campaigns will attract local and national press attention. You can tell a genius, out-of-the-box gimmick from something that's just crazy.
• Good marketing sense. You're great at coming up with messages, slogans, and tactics that draw attention to policy points.
• Calm in a crisis, with great instincts. When the RNC's attacking, you're cool as a cucumber and focused on what needs to be done.
• Experience using media for advocacy. You know how to power map a target, launch effective campaigns and win the debate.
• Detail-oriented project management. You're experienced at triage and can handle a lot going on at once.
• Strong self-starter, entrepreneurial.
• Willing to do what it takes to make a project come off. Low ego, high output.
• Hard worker, can do flexible hours and manage your time independently. You know that saving the world doesn't always happen between 9 and 5.
• Comfortable with a virtual office. You can work with colleagues from Paris to Portland.

Preferred (but not required) skills:

• Team player. You're good with people, and good at supporting your team.
• Experience with online politics and technology. You know what a good online campaign looks like.
• Articulate and persuasive talker. You've acted as a spokesperson before and know how to place a sound bite.
• Experience in organizing. You know how to work with volunteers to make change happen.

Location: New York City or Washington, D.C.

Salary: Salary is highly competitive and benefits include health and dental insurance and four weeks vacation.

To Apply: Click here to submit your application, resume and a thoughtful cover letter outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position. In the cover letter, include three professional references with phone and email. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. MoveOn.org Civic Action and MoveOn.org Political Action are equal opportunity employers.