[Hiring] Communications & External Affairs Manager @Education Reform Now Advocacy

Role Description

Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) and its partner organizations, Education Reform Now (ERN) and Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA), are seeking a sharp, experienced and politically savvy communications professional to serve as a hybrid press/media and digital campaigns lead across a portfolio of priority states and campaigns. This role is built for a communicator who can move fluidly between pitching a reporter, drafting an op-ed, shaping a social campaign, and briefing a state partner — all in service of winning the policy and political debates that matter most to the families we serve.

Reporting to the National Director of External Affairs, the Communications & External Affairs Manager will help extend the organization's earned media footprint, own regional press strategy across priority states, and manage significant aspects of our digital and social campaigns. The ideal candidate brings strong writing chops, political instincts honed on campaigns, government or non-profit work; and a track record of building durable relationships with reporters, editors, and outside validators. This person will work in close partnership with the National Director to shape messaging, respond to a fast-moving political landscape, and ensure DFER, ERN, and ERNA punch above their weight in the regional press and digital ecosystems where we operate.

Key Responsibilities

• Regional Press & Media Relations
  • Draft press releases, statements and campaign communications tailored to regional audiences and reporters.
  • Develop social media strategy and content, and execute social strategy, including Instagram, Tik-Tok, Substack, Linked-In and X to expand the organization’s digital footprint.
  • Build, cultivate, and maintain trusted relationships with reporters, editors, columnists, and producers across priority regional markets.
  • Serve as a regional spokesperson and press contact where appropriate.
  • Monitor regional media narratives on education policy, politics, and DFER-adjacent issues; surface threats and opportunities to the National Director and recommend rapid-response strategy.
• Digital & Social Campaign Management
  • Partner with the National Director and the Digital Manager to plan and execute digital campaigns that amplify DFER, ERN, and ERNA priorities across priority states.
  • Collaborate on day-to-day execution of regional social media content, including drafting copy, shaping creative briefs for our Graphic Designer & Digital Communications Manager, and ensuring content aligns with messaging strategy and entity-specific compliance requirements.
  • Help shape paid digital strategy (targeting, creative, copy, landing pages) for issue campaigns in priority states; collaborate with consultants and vendors as needed.
  • Track, analyze, and report on earned and digital performance across priority states; use insights to iterate on strategy and inform organizational decision-making.
• Messaging & Political Strategy Support
  • Serve as a close thought partner to the National Director on messaging strategy, narrative development, and political positioning.
  • Stay fluent in the political landscape of priority states: governors and gubernatorial candidates, legislative leaders, key reporters, influential validators, and the organizations shaping the local education debate.
  • Contribute to rapid-response operations, including drafting statements and coordinating surrogate outreach on tight timelines.
  • Support broader External Affairs priorities as assigned, including coalition communications, principal-facing materials, and cross-entity campaigns.
• Cross-Team Collaboration
  • Work closely with the Campaigns and Partnership teams to ensure press and digital execution is aligned with advocacy strategy in each priority state.
  • Partner with the Graphic Designer & Digital Communications Manager to translate regional strategy into on-brand, high-performing creative.
  • Coordinate with outside consultants as needed.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in communications, press, or public affairs roles.
• Exceptional writing skills; a sharp, versatile writer.
• Political acumen with a feel for the center-left political landscape.
• Hands-on experience planning and executing digital and social campaigns.
• Existing relationships with reporters, political operatives, and advocacy leaders in one or more priority states.
• Familiarity with K–12 education policy, school choice, charter schools, or related issues is preferred.
• Comfortable operating on short timelines in politically dynamic environments.
• Ability to work well across teams and operate independently when necessary.
• Working knowledge of the compliance environment governing 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC activity.

Compensation

The compensation band for this role is $80,000 - $100,000. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. DFER is proud to offer excellent benefits:

• Health, vision, and dental coverage
• Cell phone and internet reimbursement
• Flexible spending plan
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• 401K plan with a match
• Paid family leave
• Paid time off (vacation, sick time, floating holidays, and all national holidays)