Description of Work

Communications Director – Office of the Senate Democratic Leader

The North Carolina General Assembly’s Office of the Senate Democratic Leader is seeking a Communications Director. The person selected for this position will create and edit written content for a wide variety of formats—print, digital, and spoken—which support the overall strategy and direction of the Senate Democratic Leader. A high level of organization, accountability, initiative, strong written and verbal communication, problem solving, and interpersonal skills is required. The Communications Director is responsible for developing and executing a communications strategy on behalf of the Senate Democratic Leader. The role requires production of all internal and external communications for the office and serves as a liaison between the members and the media, the Senate Democratic Caucus, and the Senate Democratic Leader. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Chief of Staff of the Democratic Leader and is continually evaluated for overall program effectiveness.

Examples of Duties:

Work in this position requires critical thinking, discretion, and mature judgment.

Transform complex legislation, public policy, and legal documents into easy-to-understand communications materials.
Lead the development and implementation of effective communications plans, such as target audience strategy, media relations and tracking, collateral material development, comment response programs, event planning, contact databases, and reporting.
Draft social media content, press releases, talking points, FAQs, newsletters, op-eds, speeches, letters, letters-to-the-editor, and other written deliverables on a wide scope of issues.
Respond to press inquiries on tight deadlines while multi-tasking on other projects.
Prepare Senate Democratic Leader and other senators for media interviews and press conferences and provide general communications advice.
Work with the Caucus Leadership.
Attend and/or monitor Senate floor sessions and committee meetings as directed by the Chief of Staff.
Serve as a representative of the Senate Democratic Leader and Caucus, occasionally speaking to civic organizations, business groups, and other state agencies to promote and explain the legislative positions of the Senate Democratic Caucus.
Independently identify opportunities to advance a message or agenda.
Perform the duties listed above and other duties as assigned with a high degree of skill, attention to detail, and independence.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies

Honesty.
Strong character and the ability to make ethically, morally-sound decisions.
Self-starter who can work independently, organize and analyze information or materials, and prioritize various tasks.
Thorough knowledge of journalistic principles and techniques for disseminating information to the public through a variety of media platforms.
Thorough knowledge of methods of planning, writing, and editing publications.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with representatives of the media and the general public.
Ability to assess the potential impact of internal/external communication efforts, provide feedback or solutions for necessary adjustments, and share opinions that may conflict with others or question the status quo.
Ability to learn and adapt quickly, think strategically and creatively, and multi-task in an extremely fast-paced environment.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality, handle politically sensitive information, and commit to professional and personal excellence.
Ability to communicate with a variety of personalities in a courteous and professional manner.
Flexibility to work some nights and weekends, as needed, while the Senate is in session.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Desired Qualifications:

The ideal candidate for the Senate Democratic Communications Director position will have the following:

Outstanding writing skills and the ability to draft detailed and concise memos and speeches.
Previous experience in public relations in a government setting or have provided public relations support to executive officials.
Capability to provide professional and strategic communicative advice to the Democratic Leader, the leadership team of the Senate Democratic Caucus, and other members, as appropriate.
Collaborative approach and a team mentality.

Required Education and Experience:

A Bachelor or Master’s degree, preferably in Journalism or Communications; and,
Two years’ experience in communications, public relations, or publicity work; or,
An equivalent combination of training and experience.

Supplemental and Contact Information

*NC General Assembly positions are NOT SUBJECT to G.S. 126 - State Human Resources Act *

Instructions:

To apply for the Communications Director position, complete the online NC General Assembly application on the NC General Assembly Career Website: careers.ncleg.gov.

Please submit the following three items with your completed online application:

Detailed Cover Letter that must address:
- All the applicant requirements and competences listed above.
- Employment and/or educational experience relevant to the position.
- Reasons for wanting to join the Office of the Senate Democratic Leader.
Résumé (up to two pages in length).
List of three academic or professional references (include name, address, contact phone number, and relationship to the applicant).

Contact Information:

For additional information about the Communications Director position, please contact: Fred Aikens 919-733-5752 or Fred.Aikens@ncleg.gov

Please Note: To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must list the information on the online application. Any licenses or certificates must be included in the appropriate section of the application packet. Application packets will not be considered complete if any of the three items are not submitted with the application.

*Due to the expectancy of a high volume of applications, we will be unable to provide information regarding the status of your application.*