THE ROLE:
NextGen is seeking a Vice President of Communications to join our HQ team as a department head and a member of the senior staff team. The VP of Communications is responsible for building and executing NextGen’s organizational brand and voice, overseeing message strategy, and managing a team that engages in press outreach and social media.
The VP of Comms will lead the team as we aim to educate and mobilize young Americans and demonstrate their political power in 2025 and beyond. The VP of Comms will also be a key helper in crafting principal communications for NextGen’s president and executive director, donor messaging in collaboration with the Development team, political and advocacy messaging with the partnerships/political team, and voter contact messaging alongside the programmatic staff.
If we had to break down the Vice President, Communications job, it might look like this:
- 10% press: Pitching national reporters on NextGen stories, doing brand management with elites, sharing stats/facts/figures about young voters with opinion-makers, speaking on the record about NextGen America’s efforts, ensuring communications and programmatic efforts are aligned, etc.
- 50% management: Growing and developing the communications department, with all the accompanying budgetary, personnel, and administrative responsibilities. The department includes the state and national press, messaging and research, social media, and paid media, including a social media influencer program.
- 30% strategic planning and development: Developing plans for NextGen communications programs, initiatives and campaigns, and collaborating across the organization to implement and execute those efforts.
- 10% messaging and research: Guiding NextGen in message testing, narrative development, and learning how to effectively reach and communicate with young people. Priority will be placed on data-driven analysis of what messages resonate most with young voters.
This role reports to the Chief of Staff.
The ideal candidate has a passion for politics and progressive social change. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage people of diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.
This is a fully remote position with no location requirement. We encourage candidates from all locations within the United States to apply.
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Remote Position: Yes
Union Position: No
Travel Requirements: 10-15%
End Date: N/A
WHAT YOU’LL ACHIEVE:
- Develop and implement organization-wide communications plans that strengthen NextGen’s brand, voice, and identity across key stakeholder audiences, including target voter populations, donors, and political elites.
- Create strategies that will allow the Executive Director and board leadership to cultivate and enhance relationships with high-level external audiences, including the media, elected officials, and key influencers.
- Concept, convene and facilitate events, calls, and training highlighting the role of young voters in the progressive coalition with key partners, elite stakeholders, and press.
- Oversee, or execute as needed, the development of NextGen’s communications deliverables, including:
- The development of all print and branded materials
- Social media strategy and content development
- Earned media strategy and, as needed, act as a key “on-the-record” spokesperson for the organization.
- Recruit and manage a communications team to support the development and execution of the communications strategy, including staff focused on message development, political press outreach, social media, and paid media.
- Manage a communications budget.
- Coordinate external and internal communication materials with respective departments to ensure consistency.
- Manage the communications team and oversees the expansion of that team ahead of the 2025 elections.
- Approve the organization’s external materials including digital ads, graphics, organic videos, voter guides, literature, and mail pieces.
- Reports to Chief of Staff; directly manages director-level communications staff.
- Other relevant responsibilities as needed.
ABOUT YOU:
- At least two election cycles experience managing a communications team in a campaign or advocacy environment.
- Experience working with program teams on developing voter-facing messaging required.
- Experience pitching reporters, booking TV appearances, and working with partner organizations on shared communications strategies is a must; openness to working with earned media outlets with outlets focused on people of color, young folks, and other communities often overlooked or ignored by more traditional media sources.
- A deep understanding of social media strategy, including experience growing established social media accounts.
- Demonstrated background in project management and working across an organization to develop and execute projects and campaigns.
- A deep understanding of the current political media landscape is essential and pre-existing relationships with national political press is strongly desired.
- Experience working with polling, focus groups, or other message research is strongly recommended.
- Familiarity with digital paid media strategies is a bonus, but not required.
- Comfortable working remotely in a highly collaborative distributed workforce setting.
SALARY INFORMATION:
The base salary range for this position is $132,000 -$158,000. The final base salary will be determined by various factors, including individual qualifications and internal parity, which will be objectively assessed during the interview process.
BENEFITS:
Our comprehensive benefits package plays an essential part in how we recognize you for your critical contribution toward our organization’s mission.
Taking Care of Your Future:
- Medical, dental and vision insurance: 100% coverage for you and for your dependents
- Short-term disability, long-term disability and life insurance
- 401(k) plan - we’ll match 100% up to 4% of your salary
Setting You Up for Success:
- Up to $150 per month to use toward your cell phone and internet costs
- $100 per month to use toward your personal health and wellness goals
- Flexible spending account for dependent care
- Professional development opportunities to help you achieve your best self
Prioritizing Your Work/Life Balance:
- Generous PTO and leave policies
- 18 paid organization-wide holidays
ABOUT NEXTGEN AMERICA:
NextGen America is the leading national organization for engaging young people through voter education, registration and mobilization. We invite 18-to-29 year olds — the largest and most diverse generation in American history — into our democracy to ensure our government works for them and to find new solutions to the dire challenges facing our society and the world.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage people of diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. We value and are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as an organization--in theory and in practice, and our culture reflects that value and commitment. We are committed to furthering issues like climate change, health care, and immigration from a progressive perspective, and we seek to engage the public in these areas as well as others. We also recognize the urgency of confronting institutional racism and inequity within our political system and strive to make positive changes within our system as a result.
