Senior Manager, Storytelling and Campaigns

Organization

The Partnership for Public Service is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to building a better government and a stronger democracy. Central to this mission is our work to connect the government with those it serves by protecting it from harm and reimagining the way it works on behalf of the public.  

Building on our over 25 years of experience, we:

• Prepare civil servants to navigate an increasingly complex government environment
• Educate and engage the public about the value of government and how eroding its capacity hurts communities nationwide
• Collaborate with a range of stakeholders to advance bold reforms that seek to make our government institutions more effective, responsive and accountable to the American people
• Equip and advise government leaders at the federal, state and local levels to develop critical skills for effective public service

Our staff, diverse in experience and perspective, is mission-driven, creative, collaborative, optimistic and inclusive. Our work is strategic, fast-paced and guided by our values:

• Passion for public service and our work toward more effective government
• People who promote a culture of learning, leadership, collaboration, inclusion and respect
• Persistence to drive change, take strategic risks and deliver results
• Promise to be trustworthy, nonpartisan and fiscally responsible 

We hire smart and friendly people who are great at what they do and good to one another in the process.

Position Overview

The Senior Manager, Storytelling and Campaigns, will lead a portfolio of work aimed at mobilizing communities, shifting narratives and driving measurable changes. As the only nonprofit dedicated to building a better government and a stronger democracy, this position will play a central role in advancing the Partnership’s efforts to improve the public’s understanding of the federal government and the federal civil service and to engage them in opportunities to advance real, positive change in government. 

Through this position, the Partnership seeks to inform, educate and mobilize the public in five priority states: Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, Texas and Washington. Reporting to the Storytelling and Campaigns Director and working collaboratively with a highly matrixed team, the Senior Manager will develop and lead the narrative change approach and campaign strategy to build public support for the organization’s reform agenda. This role will also oversee a team developing original storytelling content to engage the public and strengthen our efforts to build relationships with and secure content placements in local journalism outlets.

The role requires a capacity for collaboration and complex relationship-building and strong interest in the challenges, purpose and future of our federal government. The ideal candidate is a strategic and creative thinker with a proven ability to use narrative storytelling to focus target audiences’ attention on nuanced messages and to develop and execute public awareness campaigns that influence public opinion, motivate action and shift perceptions. 

This position will work as part of an interdisciplinary communications and public engagement team, which is responsible for all aspects of the organization’s communication strategy. The team manages the Partnership’s brand, messaging and editorial content, generates media and publicity for the organization and its activities, develops digital media strategies, produces award-winning publications, manages events and markets the Partnership’s programs.

Essential Functions/Primary Responsibilities

• Develop multi-channel campaign strategy to build public support for the reform ideas in Government for New Era, working across the communications team and in concert with the policy team.
• Build and drive transformative advocacy campaign strategies aimed at educating the American public and persuading them to act, including overseeing the creation of multiplatform campaign content for target audiences and stakeholders.
• Integrate campaign strategies with our existing and growing partnerships with content creators, working alongside the Senior Manager, Digital Communications, and with our external stakeholder and trusted messenger efforts.
• Serve as day-to-day editor for our original storytelling and journalism work, including short- and long-form written reporting as well as video products.
• Approve all short-form original content before publication.
• Oversee our efforts to expand our footprint with local journalism outlets, including pitching original content and story angles, developing reporter field guides and hosting informational sessions for local reporters.
• Enhance strategy to increase visibility of our Federal Harms Tracker products, including identifying and assigning content updates to keep the products fresh.
• Use data to assess performance of campaigns and content, adapting strategies as necessary to respond to changing conditions.
• Collaborate across the communications and public engagement teams to execute on campaigns and public-facing messaging.
• Guide a dynamic team in developing their storytelling and campaign-building skills.

Key Competencies

• Excellent strategic communications skills.
• Strong campaign planning and implementation skills, with the ability to set goals, develop messaging, assess risks and integrate organizing with communications.
• Well-honed leadership skills, including setting priorities, establishing deadlines, developing talent and planning work.
• Superior written and verbal communications skills and attention to detail.
• Creativity and a passion for building new things.
• Skilled relationship-builder and organizer who can connect diverse stakeholders, collaborate across teams and translate advocacy priorities into meaningful public action.
• Awareness of the latest communications trends.
• Ability to interpret data to inform decision-making.
• Commitment to the Partnership’s mission and values.
• Flexible and collaborative with an ability to work well across different teams and departments and excel in a matrix management environment.

Required Education and Experience

• Minimum of 7-9 years’ work experience within the social impact, democracy and/or political space.
• Experience successfully developing, leading and implementing communications, issue or narrative strategy campaigns, with a proven track record of increasing engagement, moving public opinion and generating action.
• Experience using research and public opinion polling to inform messaging and campaigns.
• Experience using storytelling and narrative change strategies to influence targeted audiences.
• Experience leading teams and developing talent.
• Knowledge of alternative media and content creator landscape is beneficial.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, political science or similar field, or equivalent work or military experience.

Reporting and Supervision
This position reports to the Director, Storytelling and Campaigns, will directly supervise the Manager, Communications and Public Engagement and the Manager, Storytelling and Campaigns, and will oversee a team of three staff and multiple interns.

Work Environment 

This job operates in a hybrid (remote + office) environment in Washington, DC. The successful candidate must be a permanent resident in the Washington, DC, Maryland or Virginia area. The person in this role is expected to work in the office, on average, three days per week – with Wednesday as the required day in-office. This position requires consistent use of office equipment such as computer, telephone, printer/scanner and MS Office.     

In assessing employee performance at the Partnership, we consider collaboration, results, and demonstration of our values. 

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time, exempt position with regular work hours Monday-Friday. Occasional evening or weekend activities may be required. Please note that the Partnership allows flexibility in work schedules.

Travel

If travel occurs, it is usually during the business day. Very little out of the area and/or overnight travel will be required.   

Salary and Benefits

The starting salary range for this position is $95,000 - $125,000. The Partnership offers a compensation package that includes a competitive salary; medical, dental and vision coverage; life insurance; long- and short-term disability insurance; a 401(k) program with a 4 percent employer match; opportunities for training and development; commuter benefits; 15 days of annual leave per year, 10 days of sick leave per year, plus all federal holidays and the day after Thanksgiving off; and use of an on-site exercise facility. 

EEO Statement

The Partnership adheres to all federal, state, and local employment laws. Partnership for Public Service is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, caste, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, veteran status, disability; or on any other basis prohibited by law.