Director, Communications (Government Performance) in Washington

The Communications department supports leaders at all levels of the institution to promote project and campaign efforts, inform key audiences, and protect and advance Pew’s reputation. The department provides a comprehensive range of communications services for all programmatic and administrative units and Trusts-operated projects. Our in-house expertise includes strategy and message development; editorial; design and creative services; media event planning; digital and video production; and social media strategy and production. The department oversees all communications policies, guidelines, and processes to ensure production of the highest quality work and effectively steward Pew's resources.

Within the Communications department, the program communications team provides strategic counsel and leads the development of integrated communications strategies that advance Pew’s varied research, policy, and advocacy goals across programmatic portfolios. They collaborate with colleagues in program areas and within communications teams to ensure consistent messaging, manage media relations, and support thematic content production and targeted outreach efforts that influence public understanding and government decision-making.

Are you passionate about using strategic research and advocacy communications to advance domestic policy that improves public health, advances biomedical discovery, modernizes the court system, and provides greater opportunity for economic advancement for the American people? If so, this is the right opportunity for you.

In this role, you will:

• Drive communications strategy for the government performance portfolio, translating evidence-based research into compelling insights that inform policy and support advocacy efforts.
• Manage staff and multiple projects, providing clear direction, setting priorities, and maintaining high standards to drive effective, mission-aligned communications.
• Draw on strong interpersonal and organizational skills and writing and editing abilities to assist on crosscutting content, projects, and events.

This position reports to the senior director, communications, is based in Pew’s Washington, DC office, and participates in Pew’s hybrid work program with core days in the office and the flexibility to telework the remaining days. Staff also enjoy four telework “flex weeks” per year.

Responsibilities

Communications Leadership

• Serve as part of the senior leadership team of communications staff supporting the government performance portfolio, assisting the senior director with management and development of a high-performing, cohesive, and smoothly functioning staff.
• Provide strategic and tactical counsel in difficult situations that may arise to protect organizational reputation and ability to achieve program goals.
• Support senior program leadership with internal and external communication needs, ranging from reporting to the executive office and the board, to public speaking and stakeholder engagement, including media interviews.
• Directly supervise a team of communications professionals and consultants as business case requires.
• Perform other duties or special projects as needed.

Communications Strategy

• Provide senior leadership to program communications teams and strategic communications counsel to key staff to create and execute comprehensive, integrated communications strategies that advance Pew’s research, analysis and policy objectives.
• Oversee communications for U.S. government performance policy initiatives, with the goal of influencing critical government decisions and informing the public.
• Guide the integration of consistent messaging and prioritization of outreach within projects and across the government performance portfolio, at the local, state and federal level and with programs that intersect with Pew’s U.S. work.
• Drive integrated strategic communications planning across the team to ensure that priorities, narratives, and campaigns are aligned from concept through execution, with clear shared objectives, audience focus, and coordinated delivery across internal and external channels.
• Manage crisis communications and issues management with the senior director ensuring rapid, transparent and effective response.
• Direct development of contracts and consultants when needed, to ensure highest degree of quality-of-service delivery and standards for the unit.

Media Relations

• Cultivate and develop strategic media relationships. Translate complicated policy issues into messages that resonate with media and policymakers.
• Direct the creation, development and implementation of effective media strategies that contribute to a well-defined public presence for Pew projects.
• Generate effective media coverage in new and creative ways including nontraditional media outlets and influencers; respond to oppositional or inaccurate media coverage; manage overall reputation among relevant policy, research, and advocacy communities.
• Monitor media coverage and adjust communications strategies as appropriate to accomplish campaign and program goals.
• Work with the senior director and communications staff to create proactive media opportunities for senior leadership and experts, providing guidance for effectively delivering the organization’s message.

Collaboration

• Strengthen collaboration across program communications, editorial, digital, creative, and institutional communications teams.
• Work with analytics, insights and digital leads to translate performance data into actionable learning for the portfolio.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; graduate degree in public affairs, public policy, or journalism a plus.
• Generally, a minimum of ten years of experience in successful policy-oriented campaigns, advocacy, and strategic communications. Staff, project, and/or consultant management experience is required.
• Demonstrated experience working across issue areas and with remote staff.
• Experience supervising staff, including managing performance management processes and providing career development advice and counsel preferred. Management experience in a multi-site, matrixed environment is also preferred.
• Must be flexible, creative, and assume high accountability for all areas of responsibility. Must demonstrate strong collaborative spirit and leadership ability.
• Demonstrated success in earning attention from reporters, editors, and a growing range of digital content producers, with deep knowledge of the evolving media environment and how audiences consume information.
• Excellent oral and writing skills to effectively communicate within and outside the organization.
• Experience thinking strategically, juggling multiple priorities, being extremely well-organized, managing time effectively and identifying resources for projects.
• Demonstrated ability to meet multiple deadlines by maintaining a high level of organization. Experience developing and moving projects forward with independence and autonomy.
• Strong interpersonal skills; able to develop and manage productive relationships with program managers, consultants and others involved in developing or implementing communications for Pew. Excellent listening skills.
• Experience collaborating with staff and colleagues at all levels.
• Seasoned judgment, effective decision-making, and the ability to explain strategic recommendations and be responsive, clear, and firm with colleagues.
• Proven experience in taking projects from conception to successful launch. Entrepreneurial spirit, with an understanding of health, science, and economic mobility organizations and coalition/partners collaboration. Campaign experience is desirable.

Travel

Some travel required.

Work Authorization

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

Salary Range

United States Pay Range: $162,600 - $181,800. The salary range represents a reasonable estimate of the annual salary based on Pew’s commitment to provide equitable and market-competitive pay. The actual salary offered will take into consideration many factors including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills and experience, internal pay equity, and business need.

Total Rewards

We offer a competitive salary and benefit program, including: comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using health savings and flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; and work/life benefits to maintain a good balance.

Pew is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, or any other protected characteristics.

Summary

Location: Washington, DC (901 E) Type: Full time