Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Middlesex County Democratic Organization (MCDO) seeks an innovative and dynamic communications coordinator to provide MCDO, its municipal races, and Democratic elected officials communications support to amplify campaign messaging. This role will be critical in building trust with Democratic voters, the local profiles of Democratic leaders, and our Democratic Chairman.

The communications coordinator will be part of the campaign strategy team that will lead all aspects of MCDO’s communications work and coordinate directly with municipal, county, and legislative campaigns. The coordinator will be charged with developing and implementing an overall integrated communications strategy consisting of traditional and digital media pillars with paid and earned media components. The communications coordinator will be responsible for developing relationships in municipalities, tracking online and print narratives to identify opportunities for MCDO to intervene and engage, and best strategic practices for our teams to stay on message and build our narratives. 

The communications coordinator will work closely with the Executive Director and MCDO consultants. The coordinator may be required to supervise junior staff and manage consultants as their work pertains to communications.  

The ideal candidate has experience with communications (social media, online or print media) with a desire to get more Democrats elected to office. 

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW:

The Middlesex County Democratic Organization (MCDO) represents a diverse and progressive organization governed by the elected Democratic County Committee Members who are accountable to the registered Democratic voters in the 25 towns across Middlesex County. The MCDO works closely with the New Jersey Democratic State Committee (NJDSC) and elects ten members from Middlesex County to the NJ State Committee. The MCDO’s mission is to support local municipal campaigns, and elect strong candidates at the local, county, state, and federal levels through voter education, voter registration, and coordinated Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts initiatives year-round. The duties of each of the two elected County Committee Members in each voting district are to represent the interest of voters, increase civic participation within their district and work to elect MCDO endorsed candidates. Those County Committee Members also elect a County Chair every two years, who then appoints the Executive Board Members.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support our campaign work, 

• Provide municipalities and elected partners with strategic guidance, counsel, and tactics that will strengthen the impact of current policies, 

• Work collaboratively with campaign staff and consultants to create detailed communications plans and help execute the plan including media outreach, drafting materials, creating graphics, etc., 

• Provide rapid response support at key moments, 

• Identify opportunities to amplify messaging in and out of campaign cycles, 

• Develop an earned media plan to ensure successful local campaigns, 

• Leverage state moments to draw attention to issue priorities and work in our municipalities, 

• Participate in opinion or message research projects; 

• Advise on overall communications capacity needs and identify additional capacity (with outside vendors) as needed, 

• Work collaboratively with MCDO’s existing consultants and allies.

The communications coordinator will work closely with all Democratic elected officials within Middlesex County and will report to the MCDO Executive Director. This position is full-time and considered exempt for overtime purposes. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least two years of communications experience (does not need to be political or campaign-related)

• Keen understanding of campaign and political communications

• Capacity to project manage programs and meet competing deadlines and needs

• Excellent writing skills and attention to detail 

• Self-motivated, flexible, and able to work both independently and with a team

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ambitious work environment

• Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills

• Familiarity with technology and excitement about using it to innovate

• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Suite and Gsuite