Policy Communications Director

Washington, DC
Full Time
Communications & PR
Experienced
Save lives, from the workplace to anyplace.

The National Safety Council is America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate.  We focus on eliminating the leading causes of preventable injuries and deaths.  Through leadership, research, education, and advocacy, NSC focuses on areas where most unintentional injuries and deaths occur. 

We are currently looking for a Policy Communication Director to join us in our mission to save lives and prevent injuries.

Position Highlights:
The Policy Communication Director is a key member of the Communications team at NSC, reporting directly to the Chief Communications Officer. This role is based in our Washington, DC office and is integrated into the daily work of the government affairs team. Collaborating with colleagues overseeing media relations, executive communications, social media, creative services, and other channels, the Director leverages these functions to amplify NSC voice and influence through a government affairs perspective. Central to the role is the development and implementation of the public policy communications strategy.

What You’ll Do:
  • Policy Thought Leadership
    • Event & Thought Leadership Support: Work with both internal and external subject matter experts and public policy experts to develop messaging strategies that convey NSC expertise and thought leadership. Assist in preparing NSC leaders and subject matter experts for public-policy-related events, panels, and media engagements with talking points, briefs, and scripts.
    • Executive Communications: Work closely with the Senior Manager, Executive Communications, to amplify leadership voices through keynotes, panels, op-eds, fireside chats, and thought leadership opportunities.
    • Messaging & Materials: Develop key messaging, collateral, and communications materials on workplace safety, roadway safety, and worker wellbeing, ensuring they are engaging and accessible to a variety of audiences.
    • Policy Statements: Work closely with teams throughout NSC, especially and almost exclusively government affairs, on policy statements and public-facing messaging and, as necessary, with testimony and formal statements for government audiences.
  • Media Relations:
    • Media Relations: Secure valuable, impactful earned media by cultivating relationships with DC and national and trade media, and executing media strategies that secure high-profile coverage on safety policy, and federal and state agency activity.
    • Rapid Response Communications: Produce press releases and statements in real-time and move quickly to disseminate the position of NSC when fast-moving stories break, similarly coordinating a response to media inquiries in a rapid-fire fashion.
    • Current Topics and Trends: Provide daily news summary distribution, ensuring the NSC leadership is up-to-date with developments in key policy areas.
    • Press conferences: Collaborate with comms team and partners including congressional and federal agency staff to host press conferences and policy-related events.
    • Social Media Coordination: Collaborate with the social media lead to develop and place content that supports organizational policy priorities and amplifies NSC messaging.
  • Content Development:
    • Collateral Materials: Work with the graphic design team to develop key collateral and messaging materials targeted for elected and appointed officials and partnering agencies, including USDOL, HHS, and USDOT, on workplace and roadway safety and worker wellbeing topics, and other stakeholders.
    • Content Development & Writing: Draft and edit press releases, op-eds, statements, speech content, talking points, fact sheets, one-pagers, and other public-facing materials, ensuring clarity, consistency, and accuracy.
    • Rapid Response Communications: Draft timely statements and materials in response to major safety developments and breaking news.
    • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with colleagues across the organization to ensure consistency in public-facing communications and messaging.
    • Website & Content Management: Create content and update NSC website to ensure content is aligned with public policy and advocacy goals. Develop opportunities for digital advocacy engagement.
We’re Looking for Someone with: 
  • 10+ years of experience in strategic communications, public affairs, or public policy-related communications.
  • Fluency in how Capitol Hill and federal agencies work day-to-day, preferably through experience in a communications position on Capitol Hill or in a policy role.
  • Experience working on communication strategies for public policy initiatives.
  • Passion for safety and advocacy-driven communications work.
  • Outstanding writing and editing skills, with a strong attention to detail, capable of producing and refining content with precision and final approval confidence.
  • Strong project management abilities and ability to meet tight deadlines.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
  • Collaborative, proactive, and adaptable team player, with the ability to work across teams and coordinate and align messaging.
  • Ability to synthesize complex topics into clear, engaging messaging.
  • This is a DC-based position with considerable WFH flexibility.
  • Salary range: $120,000 to $130,000
Reasons You’ll Love it here: 
NSC cares about the safety, health, and overall well-being of our employees.  We offer competitive benefits, resources, and tools to promote a work-life balance that supports employees during all phases of life.  We offer the following:
  • At least 20 PTO days accrued 1st year and 11 paid holidays
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans
  • Flex spending accounts for medical and dependent care
  • 403(b) & Roth 403(b)  with employer match up to 6%
  • Reimbursable training
  • Student loan pay down
  • Dress for your day

Our hiring process is designed to give you the opportunity to shine at each step.  It starts with an assessment where you really showcase your drive for the role. From there, candidates selected for the first interview will discuss their skills and how they fit with our team. If you're a match, the second interview takes a deeper dive into your background and how you can contribute to our goals. After that, we'll make our final decision and let you know the outcome. This is our usual process, and we're excited to get to know you along the way!

NSC is an equal opportunity employer.

 
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