The North Carolina League of Municipalities (NCLM) is initiating the recruitment process for an Advocacy Communications Strategist. The purpose of this position is to support the League of Municipalities and its members by promoting League legislative positions through development and implementation of a political communications strategy. This is accomplished by managing strategic communication, engaging with members of the local and statewide media, and expanding the League’s use of communication technologies to promote the League’s legislative goals and engage the membership in advocacy efforts. This position will also liaise with League members and affiliate groups as needed in order to promote the League’s efforts and provide political communications and media support to the League membership

Anyone who meets the requirements and is interested in being considered for this position should submit a resume and cover letter to jobs@nclm.org. Advocacy Communications Strategist SG 641: $67,962 – $108,738

Position details include: Manage strategic advocacy communications to promote the League’s legislative goals and engage the membership and its citizenry in advocacy efforts.

• Develop a proactive and comprehensive issues communication strategy for League, and political communications tactics for the League’s major legislative issues and initiatives

• Develop and write materials for use by League staff and members in their advocacy efforts on behalf of cities, including talking points, issue briefs, bill summaries, presentations, etc

• Manage the League’s Governmental Affairs web and social media presence(s) to engage members, legislators, media, and other legislative officials in the League’s key issues and initiatives

• Coordinate production of the League’s legislative communications, including weekly Bulletin and LINC’ed IN in and out of session, along with ad hoc communications and targeted communications related to specific League legislative issues and initiatives

• Respond fully and in a timely manner to requests from League members/staff and outside parties for information regarding League legislative activities

• Enhance the ‘branding’ of the League’s advocacy program through positive outreach and messaging to League members, legislators, legislative staff, and others

• Partner with Grassroots Coordinator to produce targeted messages for specific League members, legislative districts, etc.

• Work with Grassroots Coordinator to expand League’s advocacy program beyond elected and staff officials and reach directly to municipal residents/taxpayers/voters

• Coordinate with NCLM Communications and Member Relations Department to connect advocacy communications with overall League communications Engage with local and statewide members of the media to most effectively position city and town issues and initiatives, in addition to establishing League staff members and municipal officials as resources for members of the press.

• Develop relationships with members of the capitol press corps and other key press figures around the state in order to establish League as go-to resource for matters relating to cities and towns.

• Respond to inquiries from media members on legislative and advocacy matters and, when applicable, connect members of the media with members of League staff or representatives from League members who can serve as subject matter experts.

• Encourage favorable media coverage and editorial positions in key legislative districts through direct communication with media representatives.

• Write and edit advocacy related press releases and other communications targeted at members of the media. Coordinate with Communications and Member Relations Department as appropriate.

• Track media coverage of legislative matters pertinent to cities and towns and, when needed, manage any response on behalf of N.C.’s municipalities. Expand League’s use of communications technologies in order to most effectively communicate the League’s advocacy messaging to a wide audience.

• Determine what technologies and communications tools the Governmental Affairs team should use to disseminate its messages and implement the utilization of any new tools/technologies

• Develop the League’s multimedia presence to present communications on advocacy issues in podcasts, webinars, audio/video, and other technologies as needed

• Build relationships with League members, professional groups/associations, partner organizations, and others around the state and country to help expand the League’s communications capacity. Some travel is required for this position.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in political science, public policy, communications or other relevant subject area. Five years or more of professional communications experience. Knowledge of and experience with municipal issues highly desired. Experience in journalism, public relations, political campaigns, local government, and/or multimedia preferred. Knowledge of the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina state government, and/or local government preferred. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are crucial. Ability to exercise considerable tact, courtesy and discretion in frequent contact with public officials and municipal managers and others. Must be highly skilled in strategic thinking. Ability to assess situations, assemble coalitions and build support for ideas to influence behavior, and lead strategic advocacy initiatives. Also, candidate must effectively express complex ideas orally and in writing.

Skills/Certifications/License Required: Valid Class C Driver's License. This position reports to the Governmental Affairs Director and is located in Raleigh, NC.

Deadline: April 14, 2014