Communications Director

The Economic Policy Institute (EPI), the nation’s leading progressive economic think tank, is seeking a Communications director who is dynamic, articulate, collaborative, collegial, creative, and committed to advancing policies that improve the lives of working people. The communications director guides a talented communications department staff responsible for helping our widely respected experts educate policymakers, advocates, the media, and the public about ways to solve some of the country’s toughest economic problems. This is a great opportunity for someone eager to play a role in tackling income inequality, stagnant wages, racial and gender pay gaps, and power imbalances in the workplace.

Responsibilities:

• Lead EPI’s external communications and dissemination strategy (media relations, digital publishing, dynamic web content, social media, digital engagement, emails, and events), ensuring that working people have a voice in the public debate on EPI’s priority issues and that EPI, its scholars, and its research shape that debate.
• Oversee communications team members (and consultants when appropriate), implementing EPI’s external communications, evaluating processes and results in order to maximize impact while safeguarding EPI’s reputation as the go-to source for high-quality research on kitchen-table economic issues.
• Engage the communications team in designing and deploying new communications tools and relationships to reach new audiences at the national, state, and local levels while increasing the engagement of current audiences.
• Report to the president of EPI and participate in the determination of organizational goals and projects as a member of EPI’s senior management team, keeping the communications team informed and involved.
• Serve as a strategic partner and internal consultant to research, development, and government relations staff, providing them with products that help them meet their goals while ensuring unified, consistent, and effective messaging aligned with organizational priorities.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 10 years of public affairs and related experience, preferably in a mission-driven environment.
• Knowledge and expertise in communications, journalism, media relations, digital strategy, social media, print and digital publishing, editing, and email marketing.
• Strong foundation in politics and economic/social/labor policy.
• Experience using web platforms for public relations, social media, and content management.
• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communications skills.
• Exceptional management skills to direct a creative communications team and strong organizational, budgeting, contract negotiation, and staff development skills.
• Facility with handling multiple long- and short-term projects, and the capacity to change focus based on organizational needs.
• Capacity to build trust, confidence, and consensus around priorities within the department, across departments, and with partner organizations.
• Ability to travel as necessary.
• Ability to be flexible with schedule, working evenings or on weekends as needed to meet tight deadlines. (However, EPI values work-life balance, and staff are discouraged from working long or irregular hours on a routine basis).

To apply: Please send a cover letter articulating your interest in this particular job, along with a resume to Communications-jobs@epi.org, with the subject “Communications Director.” Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Pay for this position is commensurate with experience. EPI offers a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package, including generous paid time off as well as retirement contributions, medical, vision, dental, short- and long-term disability, and life insurance.

EPI is a unionized workplace. The communications director is not in the union but manages some union staff members.

EPI is an Equal Opportunity employer fully dedicated to achieving a diverse staff. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, or other categories protected by law.

Policy Associate

The Economic Policy Institute (EPI), the nation’s leading progressive economic think tank, is seeking a Policy Associate. Candidates must be committed to advancing policies that improve the lives of working people. The Policy Associate will be responsible for assisting the Director of Policy and the Director of Government Affairs in managing EPI’s legislative and policy initiatives. EPI’s policy work aims to build a more just economy, including efforts to raise wages and promote worker power. The Policy Associate will serve as a liaison between EPI and Capitol Hill, and will coordinate with key strategic partners including other think tanks, advocacy organizations, labor organizations and state and local grassroots networks.

Key Responsibilities:

1. In consultation with the Director of Policy and the Director of Advocacy, serve as a liaison between EPI and Members of Congress and their staff:
   1. Ensure that policymakers are aware of and utilize EPI research products and policy recommendations
   2. Support EPI research and policy staff in responding to technical assistance requests.
   3. Assist the Policy team in engaging and involving EPI in congressional issue conferences, hearings, briefings, and legislative actions.
   4. Track Congressional and coalition outreach activities and report on these efforts.
2. Coordinate projects between the EPI research, policy, and communications departments.
   1. Assist in developing Congressional outreach strategy, policy initiatives, and coalition activities.
   2. Collaborate with EPI’s Communication’s team to ensure that materials are accessible to advocates and policymakers as well as grassroots constituencies.
3. Analyze legislation. Prepare fact sheets, memoranda, and other policy products including Congressional correspondence and regulatory filings.
4. Represent EPI in outreach activities including key partnerships focused on policy advocacy.

Requirements:

• Public policy or law degree preferred, with a minimum of 2 years of experience in government affairs, policy, or organizing/engagement work. Legislative experience strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of federal legislative and regulatory processes , and a foundation in economic, social, and labor policy.
• Political experience and proven ability to develop and maintain relationships with a variety of constituencies.
• Ability to research policies and analyze legislation. Experience conducting legal research preferred.
• Strong writing, editing, and verbal communications.
• Ability to work under tight time deadlines.
• Ideally, comfort with public speaking.
• Capacity to build trust, confidence, and consensus around priorities within the department, across departments, and with partner organizations.

Salary/Benefits:

• EPI is a unionized workplace. This position is in the barganing unit.
• Pay for this position is commensurate with experience. The salary range for this position, dependent on experience, is $70,000-$80,000 annually, plus benefits.
• EPI offers an excellent benefits package, including generous paid time off, as well as retirement contributions, medical, vision, dental, short- and long-term disability, and life insurance.
• EPI is an Equal Opportunity employer fully dedicated to achieving a diverse staff. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, or other categories protected by law.

To apply: Please send a cover letter articulating your interest in this particular job, along with a resume to policy-jobs@epi.org, with the subject “Policy Associate.” Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.