Schiarizzi for Congress: Communications Director

LOCATION

SALARY

COMPANY

DEPARTMENT

EMPLOYMENT TYPE

JOB DESCRIPTION

About the Race

Virginia's 7th District is one of the most competitive open-seat congressional races in the country. Joe Schiarizzi is an inventor, small business owner, and affordable housing activist who's running because working families are being priced out of their communities while politicians stay beholden to corporate donors. As your representative, he'll fight to declare a national housing emergency, address the climate crisis, and hold the Trump regime accountable.

What Will You Do?

Joe is hiring a full-time Communications Director to lead and execute all Communications strategies starting ASAP through the August 4, 2026 primary election and, when we win, through the November 3, 2026 General Election. This position is based in Fairfax/Arlington,VA.

Responsibilities:

• Build and execute the campaign’s communications strategy, both short-term message calendar and long-term narrative arc

• Own all press relations: pitch reporters, manage on-the-record interactions, and serve as the campaign’s day-to-day point of contact for media across Northern Virginia, Richmond suburbs, and Rural Virginia.

• Drive rapid response: monitor opponents, breaking news, and the political environment; turn around statements, releases, and quotes on tight deadlines

• Approve every external communication that goes out under the candidate’s name

• Draft and edit press releases, op-eds, candidate remarks, surrogate talking points, and statements

• Prep the candidate for interviews, debates, forums, and earned media events

• Build and maintain relationships with reporters, editors, and producers across local, regional, and national outlets

• Track opponent press hits and message movement; maintain the campaign’s media catalog and consistency throughout various campaign assets/mediums

• Produce short-form video content for social media: comfortable operating a camera, directing the candidate on quick shoots, and doing basic editing (Reels, TikToks, YouTube Shorts); able to turn raw footage into a punchy 60-second cut without waiting on a post-production queue

• Set and hit measurable goals for earned media coverage that drive narratives and lift name ID

• Coordinate closely with the Campaign Manager, Field Director, and Digital team to keep message discipline across every channel

Who You Are:

• 2+ cycles of communications experience, including at least one senior comms role (Communications Director, Press Secretary, or Senior Comms Advisor) on a congressional, statewide, or high-stakes campaign

• Sharp, fast writer who can turn a quote, statement, or release in 30 minutes when the news cycle demands it; strong instincts on rapid response — when to engage, when to ignore, and how to land a punch

• Comfortable as a content producer: can pick up a phone or camera, direct a quick candidate shoot, and edit short-form video for social without needing a full production team

• Familiar with the Virginia media landscape or able to get up to speed fast; experience in NoVA, Richmond, or Shenandoah markets a plus

• Highly organized, collaborative, and able to manage multiple deadlines alongside a Campaign Manager, candidate, and senior staff

• Willing to work long hours, nights, and weekends through the cycle

• Passionate about progressive politics and electing Democrats in competitive primaries

Job Details

• Reports to Campaign Manager, desk at Campaign HQ

• Salary: $5k-8k/month, commensurate with experience

How to Apply

Email your resume, a writing sample, and 2-3 references to [email protected] with the subject line “Schiarizzi for Congress Communications Director Application - YOUR NAME”

Deadline: Friday May 1, 2026