Communications Advisor (House Republican Caucus)

Job Description

This is an at-will and partisan position who leads the personal communication efforts for a portfolio of Republican legislators. The Communications Advisor provides strategic counsel and media scheduling, while also drafting all correspondence with the media and setting up interviews. The individual must be able to work closely with national and local media to generate coverage of important issues and respond to inquiries on a variety of topics, including occasionally on the record. Experience working directly with local and national press is preferred. Candidates should also be comfortable working with legislators and staff and able to coordinate with other members of the caucus communications department. The position requires in-person work Monday-Friday, with occasional remote work as directed by the Minority Chief of Staff or Republican Leader and will require work on some nights and weekends. Due to the nature of the position, a high level of confidentiality is required.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Acts as a point of contact for media outlets interested in Republican representatives
• Works with member office staff to handle all media interview inquiries and press conference attendance for the members
• Provides counsel to the members with all public comments
• Provides ideas and/or scripts for social media videos
• Provides initial drafts of all speeches, message points, press releases, opinion editorials, and other public comments
• Monitors news coverage of the members and provides strategic advice
• Assists with constituent correspondence, internal messages, or personal communication as needed
• Plans news conferences and other earned media opportunities
• Pitches media outlets at the local and state level to advance the message of the day
• Designs long-term messaging plans and calendars for the members to follow
• Performs other duties as assigned

Required Education and Experience

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Experience in AP-style writing is preferred
• Three or more years of communications, legislative, or other relevant experience preferred
• Must possess strong research, writing, analysis, and oral presentation skills
• Must be comfortable functioning in a high-pressure and fast-paced environment
• Experience working with different personalities and a multitude of issues is required
• Must be familiar with House rules, policies, and guidelines
• Must have an understanding of legislative districts and state political processes
• Familiarity handling a demanding schedule and organizing large amounts of information preferred

Alternate Education and Experience

Additional Requirements and Information

Contact Information: Please send resume and cover letter to:

Michigan House of Representatives
Human Resources
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
Or via email to: HumanResources@house.mi.gov

Judiciary employment benefits include everything from health insurance to retirement income and can be worth 25% to 50% of salary depending on wages and benefits.
This page briefly explains some benefits provided.

Leave Time

Full-time employees receive between 15 and 35 vacation days per year. Employees also receive 13 sick days per year. Employees may also qualify for up to 12 weeks of paid or unpaid leave for certain family or medical situations.

Holidays

State employees receive 13 scheduled holidays each year, including New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day, just to name a few. State employees also receive Election Day off every other year.

Alternative Work Schedules

Flexible work schedules and telecommuting options are available for some jobs.

Insurance and Other Benefits

Eligible employees can choose from a variety of health insurance plans, including a PPO, HMOs, and a High Deductible Health Plan with HSA (effective January 1, 2021). Other coverage includes vision, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance, as well as tax-deferred Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for health, prescription, dental and vision eligible expenses, dependent care expenses, and Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefits (QTFB). Employees also have the option to purchase additional life, accidental death, and long-term care insurance, auto/home insurance, identify theft protection, and legal services.


Deferred Compensation

Employees may invest income in a tax-deferred retirement investment program. The state offers two optional deferred compensation plans, the 457 and 401(k). Employees decide the amount deducted from their paychecks.

Retirement

Employees receive a minimum 4% state contribution toward their retirement fund. If an employee elects to contribute more, the state will match up to 3%. The Office of Retirement Services administers two different retirement plans for State of Michigan employees: Defined Benefit (DB) and Defined Contribution (DC). New hires can also receive up to a 2% employer match into a Personal Healthcare Fund and a lump-sum credit to a tax-deferred account if eligible. More information is available at the Office of Retirement Services.