Deputy Communications Director

American Oversight is looking for an innovative and enthusiastic Deputy Communications Director to help lead a media relations strategy that amplifies our work advancing truth, accountability, and democracy. We’re a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog that uses targeted public records requests and litigation to uncover evidence of misconduct, abuse of power, or threats to democracy across the country.

This role works closely with the Communications Director to develop and advance a creative, high-impact communications strategy and operation. This position will serve as a member of the leadership team, responsible for advancing American Oversight’s mission by sharing the facts we uncover through compelling narratives, media savvy, and partner collaboration — while always upholding our reputation for accuracy and integrity and our dedication to strengthening democracy.

American Oversight uses its extensive experience in open records law to act where corruption and government power overlap, and communications are a critical element of our work. From the federal Freedom of Information Act to state transparency laws, we file carefully crafted records requests to extract information from the government, and if officials fail to respond as required by law, our team has the expertise to take them to court and enforce the public’s right to hold our leaders accountable. American Oversight has obtained and published more than one million pages of emails, memos, calendars, text messages, and other records. Through our public communications, we have used those records to ensure accountability, expose misconduct, and drive significant corrective action at all levels of government.

Job Responsibilities

Specific tasks will shift day by day with our work, but in a typical week, you will:

Help oversee the organization’s media relations work, including building and maintaining relationships with reporters and news outlets that cover American Oversight’s areas of work and sharing relevant findings with them.

Manage communications team members’ media relations work as assigned by the communications director.

Advise the communications director on the organization’s communications strategy, including analyzing audiences, objectives, and tactics and developing new ideas for how AO’s communications strategies can advance the organization’s goals.

In consultation with the organization’s leadership team and executive director, assess the capacity, resource needs, and alignment with organizational goals of an outreach plan for Spanish-language audiences.

Prepare American Oversight team members for media appearances and interviews, partnership meetings, and public statements. Serve as an on-the-record spokesperson for the organization as needed.

Write and edit a variety of types of content for American Oversight, including press releases, news posts, analyses of documents, updates on investigations, announcements of new lawsuits, or longer-form reports synthesizing information obtained through investigations.

Approve final external content for the organization as required, ensuring that all content meets the highest standards of quality as well as journalistic accuracy and integrity.

Engage in rapid response to current events, developments, and document releases in American Oversight’s records requests and litigation. This will occasionally include after-hours or weekend work in high-priority matters.

Stay up to date on the organization’s work, investigations, lawsuits, and findings to help ensure that web content is complete, accurate, and timely.

Maintain an active awareness of current events and the political landscape in which American Oversight operates to take advantage of communications opportunities that advance the organization’s mission and strategic objectives.

Qualifications

A minimum of five (5) years of relevant communications or media relations experience, including implementation of communications and press relations strategy.

Exceptional communication skills including the ability to write and edit others’ work for accuracy, clarity, and impact.

Experience supporting and preparing others for media engagement and public appearances.

Strong relationship-building skills and ability to serve as an external-facing ambassador.

Experience editing the work of others and conducting fact-checking, or experience writing for a publication with a fact-checking process.

Sound independent judgment to make critical decisions on organizational priorities and resource allocation.

A sophisticated understanding of the political, policy, and media landscape in which American Oversight operates, as well as an ability to quickly assess information for relevance and newsworthiness.

The highest degree of journalistic ethics and integrity.

Experience in staff supervision or direct management.

Cares about how government actions impact the lives of ordinary people and believes that transparency and an informed public are essential to government accountability

Preferred Qualifications

Experience leading bilingual (English and Spanish) media or outreach efforts

Spanish fluency

Additional Information

American Oversight is proudly an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse team. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they have every one of the qualifications listed. We are dedicated to finding the best candidate for the job. Our hiring process is centered on assessing candidates with diverse lived experiences. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our qualifications described. If you are unsure of whether you meet the qualifications of this position, or how this would be determined, please contact us to discuss your application.

The salary range for this position is $95,000 – $120,000 commensurate with experience and skills. A generous and comprehensive benefits package is provided.

American Oversight is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

American Oversight is a remote-first organization, and our employees can work from anywhere in the country. Our office in downtown Washington, DC is an optional workspace.

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by September 05, 2023, to ensure consideration of your application. When applying please include a cover letter that speaks to your interest in and experiences applicable to both our mission as well as the deputy communications director role and responsibilities. After September 05, 2023, we will be interviewing candidates and will continue to review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.