Arena Careers

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Director of Communications (SDC) is a key leadership role within the Communications and Advancement Department of the League of Women Voters of the US (LWVUS), reporting directly to the Chief Communications & Advancement Officer (CCAO). This position is responsible for the day-to-day execution of the League’s integrated communications strategy and supervises a dynamic team that includes media relations, marketing, and digital communications staff. As a mission-critical role supporting the League’s ability to operate nimbly in a fast-paced, high-stakes political environment, the SDC is expected to bring clarity, urgency, and precision to all aspects of messaging and public engagement.

A strategic thinker with strong project management skills, the SDC ensures that communications are well-crafted, delivered on time, and aligned with the League’s goals of empowering voters and defending democracy. This role requires a deep understanding of narrative strategy and the ability to translate complex political developments into clear, compelling messages for a variety of audiences at various levels—including public, press, members, partners, and donors. This person will work directly with their fundraising counterpart to ensure messaging alignment with all audiences across multiple channels.

The SDC serves as the operational backbone of the Communications team, driving coordination across departments, managing up to the CCAO with proactive insight, while providing consistent direction and accountability to communications staff. The ideal candidate thrives in a collaborative environment, works well under pressure, and has experience navigating both reactive and proactive communications needs with political acumen and a movement-builder mindset. This person must be a ready and able thought partner for the CCAO to innovate and grow the League’s visibility, relevance, and strength. A commitment to democracy is a must.

The salary range for this position is $155,000-$165,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Lead and drive the day-to-day execution of the League’s integrated communication and strategy across multiple platforms and audiences, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, consistency in the League’s voice, adaptability to the shifting political landscape, and rapid response to unfolding events

· Supervise and lead the execution of the League’s digital communications strategy, including web, social media, and digital advertising to expand reach and engagement, mobilize the public, and drive measurable outcomes

· Work closely with the CCAO and communications team to ensure consistent branding across all platforms, materials, and communications products

· Project manage high-priority communication initiatives, ensuring products or services are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with narrative goals and campaign strategy

· Oversee and contribute to the organization’s daily press outreach, editing press releases, statements, talking points, and op-eds to ensure clarity, tone, and message discipline

· Collaborate with Activation and Justice and Civic Learning and Impact teams to develop and implement tailored communications plans that advance specific advocacy, voter engagement, and educational efforts

· Support the development team with strategic messaging for written and digital donor materials to ensure content alignment to further fundraising goals

· Identify rapid response opportunities to national political developments and disinformation trends daily and lead the Communications team in rapid response implementation with urgency, clarity, and strategic framing

· Lead crisis communications execution, coordinating closely with CCAO, program teams, and executive leadership to protect the League’s brand and voice under pressure.

· Serve as key point of contact for coalition communications partners, aligning external messaging and identifying best approaches to amplifying collective calls to action.

· Work with the communications staff of other organizations to align partner opportunities for visibility, including media outreach

· Manage relationships with outside media consultants, ensuring strategic alignment and high-quality deliverables

· Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS:

· Bachelor’s degree in public relations or a related field.

· Experience working in a political environment at the federal or state level.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

· Minimum of 10 years of experience in the field of communications or public relations; prefer non-profit, advocacy work, or membership organization

· Deep understanding of how to craft and deploy narratives in a fast-moving, political, high-stakes environment

· Proven ability to translate complex political issues, threats to democracy, and organizational priorities into clear, compelling messages for multiple audiences

· Ability to work quickly under pressure, meet deadlines, and adapt to a fast paced and changing environment

· Ability to work independently and manage individual projects, but also function well as a team player and collaborator

· Competence in managing both internal staff and external consultants while fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture.

· Strong writing, editing, public speaking, and presenting skills required

· Excellent organizational discipline with attention to timelines, feedback loops, and rapid response systems

· Familiarity with website and email programs; preference for Drupal, Engaging Networks, and Groups

· Familiarity with developing, executing, and tracking paid digital advertising campaigns with outcomes focused on reaching specific audiences

· Experience managing a budget

· Knowledge of or willingness to quickly learn the League’s core voting rights issues and urgent issues portfolios.

· Commitment to the League’s mission, as well as our nonpartisan and diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, and a passion for voting rights

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The person in this position is primarily sedentary and needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access office machinery. The person must also be available to travel to offices and events. Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, computer, and computer printer.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is generally indoors and rarely exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate-to-low.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
The League of Women Voters of the United States is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace based on equal opportunity. The League is committed to hiring staff that reflects this country's full range of racial, ethnic, cultural, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic identity, a workplace where true diversity is fostered, and different perspectives are valued and freely exchanged. We encourage women, minorities, and individuals from traditionally underrepresented communities to apply.

This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.