The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC), a 501(c)(4) organization, is the only progressive organization that works across the many policy, organizing and political organizations, with local, state and national players to analyze and support the ballot measure landscape.

History of the Ballot Initiative — ballot.org

Ballot initiatives are becoming an increasingly important and useful tool. Don't reinvent the wheel. See our resources for ballot-measure campaigns.

Director of Strategic Communications

BISC seeks an innovative, strategic, and curious individual to lead the organization’s communications strategy. This includes BISC’s messages to external audiences and stakeholders as well as ensuring the consistency of internal messaging with the BISC INC and Foundation boards. The Director of Strategic Communications will work closely with the Executive Director and executive leadership team to ensure BISC effectively communicates its mission, vision, and impact on the progressive community to achieve our 5-year strategic framework.

As a member of the executive leadership team, the Director of Strategic Communications advises and supports the Executive Director in decision making, provides leadership and mentorship to other staff when appropriate, and contributes to BISC’s values and racial equity work, helping to set the tone and culture of the organization. Working with the Executive Director, the Director of Strategic Communications leads the organization in the consistent use of BISC’s brand identity throughout the organization as well as through marketing and external documents created for all program areas.

The ideal candidate is an experienced and collaborative leader with a proven track record of success working with diverse stakeholders and a deep commitment to equity. Exceptionally strong writing skills are a must, along with the ability to both drive projects as well as to work effectively as part of a team.

BISC is a mission and values-driven organization that recruits and seeks to retain a staff committed to excellence by striving to provide a work environment that is flexible, fairly- compensated, respectful, and fun.

It is desired that the Director of Strategic Communications is a Washington, DC-based position, however remote work is possible. This position reports to the Executive Director, and supervises the Communications Coordinator.

Job Responsibilities:

Develops, executes, and monitors a comprehensive communications strategy to advance BISC’s mission and vision in alignment with our 5-year strategic framework and evaluates the results of communications strategies, adjusting as needed;
Crafts key messages and strategies that continue to advance the profile of BISC among its stakeholders, media, and the general public and develops all marketing materials;
Works closely with the Director of Strategic Initiatives to review and help draft and prepare any memos, case studies, and reports related to BISC’s research program;
Spearheads rapid response communications activities;
Fields requests for interviews and prepares messaging for organizational principals and serves as a spokesperson for the organization;
Cultivates and maintains relationships with the media;
Monitors trends and changes and proactively proposes ways that BISC can engage in public debate;
Develops roll-out plans for events and publications;
Works closely with the Executive Director and Development Director on developing funder communications;
Works closely with the Chief of Staff and Director of Operations and Finance to develop internal communications strategies;
Supervises and mentors the Communications Coordinator;
Works with the Communications Coordinator to develop BISC’s digital presence through our website, social media, and email communications
Works with the Communications Coordinator to write and edit materials including press releases, talking points, op-eds, speeches, reports, and ballot measure landscape memos;
Provides communications support to the Board of Directors for both BISC Inc. and BISC Foundation, including drafting talking points, op-eds, and taking the lead in drafting and executing board reports;
Maintains a sophisticated understanding of all of BISC’s work and the latest issues and how our work fits into and helps shape the progressive landscape; and
Leads program development for Road Ahead, BISC's annual convening, including responsibility for theme, facilitating agenda creation, identifying speakers and moderators, as well as managing all preparation and staff.

Qualifications:

Job requirements include, but are not limited to, the following:

Demonstrated Success: At least 7-10 years of experience working in progressive communications, public relations, and/or issue advocacy.
Results and evaluation driven: You show relentless commitment to meeting a high bar and a history of getting things done even in the face of obstacles. You are receptive to feedback and know that evaluating and re-adjusting is critical to long term learning.
Excellent writing skills: Strong technical and rhetorical writing skills as well as a demonstrated ability to write independently and under tight deadlines. You excel at storytelling – you must be able to communicate a vision and the organization’s impact on the progressive ecosystem and ballot measure landscape.
Effective interpersonal skills: Proven ability to communicate effectively with different personalities to move projects forward.
Strong time management skills: Proven ability to balance many projects at once and prioritize accordingly.
Team Player: Ability to work as a team member who will productively engage with others at varying levels of the organization and with partners.
Movement Focused: Demonstrated commitment to the progressive social and racial justice movement with an eye toward long-term power building and change-making.

Salary & Benefits

$100,000 - $120,000 per year
100% Medical insurance for family paid for by employer
Dental insurance
Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage
Paid vacation
Sick leave
Generous 401(k) plan with employer contribution

To apply: Submit cover letter, resume, and 3 references.

Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis until position is filled.

About BISC

Ballot-measure campaigns affect everything progressives fight for. Yet, for forty years, well-funded regressive and corporate interests have dominated ballot measures to the detriment of working families, public education, women, the LGBT community, communities of color, immigrants and the poor.

The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center is changing that. BISC strengthens democracy by building a national progressive strategy for ballot measures. In ten years, BISC envisions a future where progressives change the game and use ballot measures as a political and civic engagement tool for victory.

BISC recognizes that ballot measures are a permanent part of the process in the 24 initiative states and that well-crafted measures can be a force for good public policy, civic engagement and infrastructure building.

We strengthen the progressive movement by conducting innovative research, providing technical assistance, hosting convenings, facilitating collaboration, offering strategic advice, conducting campaign assessments and helping funders make the best decisions about allocation of scarce resources.

BISC helps progressives take back the initiative.

BISC’s Stance on Racial Equity

At the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, we work to transform our country into one that is equitable and just. In our work, we strive to challenge structural racism, and center the people most impacted. BISC works with commitment to racial equity inside our organization in our operations and management processes, and externally through our research, training and organizing work with ballot-measure campaigns, partners and funders.

EEO Policy

BISC follows an Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and employs personnel without regard to race, ethnic or religious background, descent or nationality, sexual orientation, gender (including pregnancy), gender identification, disability, marital status, age, height, weight, or military service. This policy applies to employment, internships, internal promotions, training, opportunities for advancement, terminations, relationships with vendors, use of contractors and consultants and in dealing with the general public.

How to Apply

https://bisc.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=15

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