Communications & External Affairs Manager

ROLE: Communications & External Affairs Manager LOCATION: Remote POSITION TYPE: Exempt, Full-time TRAVEL REQUIREMENT: 20% START DATE: ASAP REPORTS TO: National Director, External Affairs ROLE OVERVIEW Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) and its partner organizations, Education Reform Now (ERN) and Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA), are seeking a sharp, experienced and politically savvy communications professional to serve as a hybrid press/media and digital campaigns lead across a portfolio of priority states and campaigns. This role is built for a communicator who can move fluidly between pitching a reporter, drafting an op-ed, shaping a social campaign, and briefing a state partner — all in service of winning the policy and political debates that matter most to the families we serve. Reporting to the National Director of External Affairs, the Communications & External Affairs Manager will help extend the organization's earned media footprint, own regional press strategy across priority states, and manage significant aspects of our digital and social campaigns. The ideal candidate brings strong writing chops, political instincts honed on campaigns, government or non-profit work; and a track record of building durable relationships with reporters, editors, and outside validators. This person will work in close partnership with the National Director to shape messaging, respond to a fast-moving political landscape, and ensure DFER, ERN, and ERNA punch above their weight

Responsibilities

• Extend the organization's earned media footprint
• Own regional press strategy across priority states
• Manage significant aspects of digital and social campaigns
• Pitch reporters
• Draft op-eds
• Shape social campaigns
• Brief state partners
• Help shape messaging
• Respond to a fast-moving political landscape

Requirements

• Strong writing skills
• Political instincts honed on campaigns, government or non-profit work
• Track record of building durable relationships with reporters, editors, and outside validators