Communications Associate

Reports to: Communications Director

Location: Hybrid: Washington, D.C.

Status: Full-time, Salaried, Non-Exempt

About Groundwork

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.

Groundwork seeks a Communications Associate to support Groundwork’s core communications team, focusing on helping to execute Groundwork’s media and digital engagement efforts. This position will assist the communications team in areas including media relations, social media, and digital campaigns and activities.

The Communications Associate will provide support for advancing a progressive economic policy agenda and promoting the profile of Groundwork’s leading economic experts, and will help develop and track our media coverage and messaging. They will help advance the progressive narrative on the economy by working within the Groundwork team to manage communications team databases, and draft and distribute content and products through our social media channels, website, videos and through the press.

As Groundwork’s Communications Associate you will…

• Provide support for Communications team efforts, including maintaining tasklists, tracking progress on weekly outputs and special projects, and assisting with content creation for Groundwork’s core communication channels.
• Maintain press lists and track and compile daily media clips.
• Draft media relations materials, including press releases, media advisories, op-eds, pitch materials, media briefings, and talking points.
• Help plan and manage press and press-related events, including calls, conferences, and briefings.
• Help with pitching stories and responding to press inquiries.
• Provide research and administrative support to the communications team as well as other Groundwork staff as needed.
• Help identify opportunities—and develop materials in coordination with other relevant staffers—to promote and publicize organizational initiatives, activities, reports, and content including by monitoring the news cycle and identifying relevant stories or trends that align with our work.
• Maintain internal communications calendars, libraries, and directories.
• As needed, assist the Associate Director of Digital Communication with drafting and posting content on Groundwork’s social channels and website.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

About you

• You have experience working in communications, media, or related fields.
• You have an interest in advancing a compelling, progressive message about the economy.
• You have excellent writing skills and are adept at drafting short and long-form copy.
• You are a political news junkie with a keen interest in the media landscape and how Groundwork’s economic worldview might fit into it.
• You are detail-oriented and organized, and have a proven ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• You’re a pro at multitasking and working under tight deadlines in a dynamic, rapid-response environment.
• You’re a creative and innovative team player 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 all Americans.

In addition, it would be a bonus if…

• You’re familiar with the progressive economic policymaking community.
• You have experience pitching reporters.
• You have worked and thrived in a rapid response environment.
• You have experience using media monitoring tools like Cision.
• You have experience executing digital strategies, including email marketing/audience management systems, social media, paid advertising.
• You have basic graphic design skills and can offer support in creating digital and social media content.

The salary range for this position is $57,000 - $67,000. We offer a generous benefits package,

including five weeks of vacation and personal 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%, 12 weeks of paid parental leave with an option to take an additional 4 weeks unpaid, health club and cell-phone reimbursements, among other benefits.

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the Nonprofit Professional Employees

Union and is covered under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

How to apply

To begin the application process, please provide a cover letter, your resume, and a strong, 1-2 page writing sample (for example, a press release, short social media guidance, op-ed, blog post, etc.).

Please note that we may not be able to send a response directly to everyone who applies. This announcement will remain posted until the position is filled.

Thank you for your interest.

Hiring Statement:

Groundwork is a project of New Venture Fund (NVF), a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. NVF 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. NVF’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.

E-Verify Statement:

NVF participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9

information to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Job candidates and

employees authorized to work may not be discriminated against on the basis of national origin

or citizenship status.