Senior Communications Specialist

This position is a senior-level staffer in the editorial unit of the fast-paced Communications Department. Under the direction of the Assistant Director, Editorial. The incumbent will be a messaging expert who works across units to synthesize polling and other data into talking points and messaging documents to guide various AFSCME campaigns. The incumbent will work with and advance the AFSCME brand story, will be adept at social content writing and video scripting, and will help conceptualize and produce member-focused videos. The incumbent would write blog posts, emails, social media posts.

Duties:

• Creates campaign-style messaging to propel AFSCME campaigns.
• Writes messaging guidance and prepares content for digital, political and organizing campaigns.
• Produces a variety of daily and long-form written content for various platforms such as the AFSCME Now blog, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, etc.
• Writes scripts for paid marketing videos to advance the union’s priorities and campaigns.
• Works with the video unit to write scripts and produce organizing and campaign videos.
• Drafts emails for internal and external audiences.
• Distills social listening content for effective messaging to push the union’s priorities.
• Helps write and edit the Communication Department’s quarterly International Executive Board report, and convention publications.
• Conducts meetings and interviews with AFSCME members to produce blogs and videos.
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

Requirements:

Education and Experience

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a major or extensive course work in journalism or a substantive liberal-arts field and a minimum of five (5) years of related publications, public affairs or communications work experience or any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the following knowledge and skills:

Skills Requirements

• Knowledge of communications and media operations and in producing advocacy journalism.
• Well-honed ability to shape messages, produce campaign-style communications, write polished social media copy, news-style articles and blogs, emails, video scripts, and reports.
• Ability to distill data, especially to use for complex research projects; the ability to plan and translate complex information into clear prose for a variety of platforms.
• Up-to-date knowledge of the labor movement, politics and related special interests.
• Ability to work under and meet tight deadlines, juggle several assignments, pay close attention to detail and accuracy.
• Advanced copyediting and proofreading skills are desired.
• Ability to communicate in Spanish, written and spoken is desired.

Travel & Work hours 

• Travel and extended work hours, including weekends may be required.
• A valid driver’s license is required.