Press Secretary, Economic Speakers Bureau

Reports to: Director, Economic Speakers Bureau

Location: Washington, D.C. 

Status: Full-time; Exempt

About Groundwork and the Economic Speakers Bureau

Launched in 2018, the Groundwork Collaborative is driven by the idea that We Are The Economy: when all of us are doing well, that is when our economy thrives. We fight for progressive economic policy and narrative change that builds accountable public power, breaks up concentrations of private power, and affirmatively centers people too long left out of prosperity. Groundwork’s unique structure – part strategic communications, part think tank, and part issue advocacy organization – allows us to drive narrative and policy change with credibility, expertise, and impact. 

Groundwork recently launched a new initiative – the Economic Speakers Bureau (ESB) – as part of Groundwork’s effort to transform media narratives about the economy to reflect and focus on the lived experiences of working Americans. The ESB will bring together a diverse national network of strong, compelling voices on the economy and equip them to deliver a progressive economic message to the public, providing a more accurate and comprehensive perspective on pressing economic issues through the lens of working people. By developing and deploying a coordinated, trained network of expert speakers, the ESB seeks to shift day-to-day coverage of the economy and advance media narratives grounded in an understanding that the strength of our economy should be judged by the economic well-being and trajectory of workers and families, not by the stock market or corporate profits. 

Groundwork seeks an experienced Press Secretary for the Economic Speakers Bureau to help shape and execute the Bureau’s media outreach strategy. The Press Secretary will build and maintain relationships with senior producers and correspondents as well as Bureau members, and serve as the primary liaison between the Bureau and the media. The Press Secretary will identify opportunities forBureau members to be featured in economic media coverage, and will lead efforts to pitch, place, and prepare members for interviews and segments.

As the Press Secretary of the Economic Speakers Bureau you will…

• Serve as the senior media strategist for the Bureau, developing and deploying strategies to connect Bureau members with impactful media opportunities that can help shape the national narrative on economic policy issues.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior producers, editors, on-air hosts and correspondents, and print and digital journalists.
• Help provide spokesperson training to Bureau members to speak confidently and effectively on an array of pressing economic issues.
• Track the political and economic media landscape to help identify earned media opportunities for Bureau members.
• Pitch Bureau members as relevant spokespeople, panel participants, and sources to major media outlets. 
• Assist the Director and staff in preparing Bureau members for media and public appearances and providing wraparound support.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

About you

• You are a seasoned media relations and communications operative with experience in generating high-level media coverage.
• You have strong relationships across the national media landscape with broadcast bookers and producers, correspondents, editors, and writers.
• You are a news junkie who consumes an array of diverse news media on a daily basis;
• You have a deep background or expertise in economic policy issues.
• You are a pro at multitasking and thrive when managing multiple, interconnected work streams.
• You are familiar with the progressive economic policy, think tank, and advocacy community in Washington and the Hill.
• You value the role of communications and understand how smart messaging and winning campaigns go hand-in-hand.
• You have an entrepreneurial spirit and are comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment.
• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• You are detail oriented and organized.
• You have a proven ability to work collaboratively as part of a team. 
• You’re committed to a just, inclusive, and robust economy that delivers opportunity and dignity to all.

In addition, it would be a bonus if…

• You have served as a Press Secretary or Communications Manager role in an organization, campaign, congressional or political office.
• You have a keen awareness of the news cycles and political/legislative calendars and how a progressive economic worldview and members of the Economic Speakers Bureau might fit into them.

The salary range for the Press Secretary position starts at $96,000, commensurate with experience. 

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in 401k retirement plan and are eligible for a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match on 401k contributions. Employees are also eligible for pre-tax transportation benefits. Employees will receive 120 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually. Employees will also receive 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Employees are eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment.

We are a hybrid workplace, with two days a week in the office (located in Washington, D.C.) and three days remote, as well as the occasional need to work in person for events and special projects. 

Groundwork is a unionized workplace and is represented by the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU). This position is in the bargaining unit and is covered under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

How to apply

To begin the application process, please submit your resume and a cover letter through our career portal. 

Please note that we may not be able to send a response directly to everyone who applies. This announcement will remain posted until the position is filled. 

Thank you for your interest.

New Venture Fund Careers

Groundwork Collaborative is a project of the New Venture Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. The New Venture Fund is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding, and enables each of us to realize our potential. The New Venture Fund’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

To center the safety and well-being of its employees, New Venture Fund requires that any employee who is required to conduct in-person activities for their job must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 within four weeks of their start date. This position may require candidates to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Accommodations may be sought and approved in accordance with the law by contacting human resources at hr@newventurefund.org.

Salary : $96,000 - $0