Associate, Communications

The Data Quality Campaign (DQC) is one of the country’s leading education advocacy organizations, with a 15-year track record of success and a growing, talented staff headquartered in Washington, DC. DQC is a nonprofit policy and advocacy organization leading the effort to bring every part of the education community together to empower educators, families, and policymakers with quality information to make decisions that ensure that students excel. To realize this vision, DQC works toward three goals:

1. Increase public understanding of the value of data in supporting the student journey through the P–20W pipeline (early education, K–12, postsecondary and workforce).

2. Build the capacity of policy and education leaders to develop trust with communities to ensure data is used.

3. Ensure that state leaders use the policy levers available to them across P–20W to make data work for students and communities.

If you care passionately about changing the role of data in education so that every student is not only counted, but counts, DQC is the place for you. DQC values the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and opinions that each team member brings to this work—and seeks to add individuals who continue to expand our thinking, push our boundaries, and commit to bringing their whole selves and experiences to our team. We offer competitive salaries, benefits, and opportunities for career growth.

Note: DQC’s staff is headquartered in Washington, DC, and is currently working remotely. We will give preference to applicants who reside in the DC area, but are open to qualified candidates located outside of DC.

Position Summary

DQC associates are ambitious, energized by their colleagues, and passionate about DQC’s mission. They work with colleagues across the organization to achieve DQC’s goals. The Communications Associate role is grounded in the DQC values of listening and applying what we learn to our work, and staying grounded in what is happening now in states, districts, schools, and classrooms, while always looking ahead. This position is an opportunity for someone early in their career, who is passionate about education advocacy, to grow as a communicator. The Communications Associate will:

• Contribute to the development and execution of communications strategies—with a focus on digital communications—that highlight stories of effective data use and empower the field to use data to support student success.

• Support the dissemination of DQC resources.

• Cultivate and maintain DQC partner relationships.

• Act as a thoughtful, contributing member of our team who learns and grows professionally over time.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Frame and communicate key issues related to data use policy and practice at district, state, federal, and national levels.

• Connect current events and issues to relevant DQC content and devise ways to ensure DQC’s voice is part of appropriate conversations online.

• Seek strategic opportunities for collaboration and partnership with other organizations.

• Help create and implement digital and social media strategies with the purpose of growing DQC’s online presence.

• Assist planning and execution of digital media efforts across DQC issue areas, including generating social media and email content.

• Conceive and execute ways to graphically represent DQC’s content—with a focus on content appropriate for web and social media platforms.

• Develop communications materials, including digital content for all of DQC’s platforms, blog posts and other related background documents.

• Manage DQC’s website and email distribution lists.

Requirements & Qualifications

Education and experience:

• DQC values both education and work experiences that demonstrate the ability to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this position.

• Ideal candidates have a minimum of six years of experience, which can include a combination of postsecondary education, internships and professional, full-time work experience. (For example, six years of experience could include the completion of an associate’s degree, two six-month internships and three years of full-time work experience.)

• In your cover letter, explain how your combination of education and work experience (including internships) demonstrates your ability to develop knowledge that empowers the field. Specific examples (especially those above and beyond what is included on your resume) are encouraged.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Excellent oral communications, writing, and editing skills with strong attention to detail.

• Demonstrated ability to convey ideas and positions to diverse groups—externally to technical and nontechnical audiences at various levels (e.g., partners, states, federal government) and internally with peers—both orally and in writing.

• Commitment to successfully supporting external communications—with an emphasis on digital and social media.

• Knowledge of Photoshop, Canva or other platform and ability to create shareable graphics, or strong desire to learn.

• Knowledge of Wordpress, or strong desire to learn.

• A reputation for being entrepreneurial, partnership‐oriented, energetic, positive, and focused.

• Capacity to work under pressure in a rapidly changing environment.

• Ability to travel occasionally for the organization. (Note: DQC staff are not currently travelling due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.

Compensation

• Starting salary commensurate with qualifications. Excellent benefits and work environment.

Reports to

• Director, Policy and Research Strategy

How to apply

• Please send resume, cover letter, writing sample, and list of three references (with email addresses) to associate@dataqualitycampaign.org.

• Please indicate “Associate, Communications” in the subject line.

• Priority will be given to applications received by March 12, 2021.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

The Data Quality Campaign (DQC) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, gender expression or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

DQC is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an email to employment@dataqualitycampaign.org and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.