The North Carolina League of Municipalities (NCLM) is initiating the recruitment process for an Advocacy Communications Associate. This position is part of the Public and Government Affairs Team with responsibility to support the League of Municipalities and its members by promoting League legislative positions through the implementation of political communications strategies. 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 https://home2.eease.adp.com/recruit/?id=19037402

Advocacy Communications Associate SG 639: $53,228 - $85,185

Position details include:

Generate strategic advocacy communications to promote the League’s legislative goals and engage the membership and its citizenry in advocacy efforts.

• Support the League’s communication strategy and 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

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

• Contribute to 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

• Contribute to the development and implementation of any League media or promotional campaigns 

• Work with municipal public information officers to amplify statewide city advocacy messaging in local communities.

• 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

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 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 press releases and other communications targeted at members of the media.

• 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.

• Utilize modern technologies to disseminate advocacy messages and effectively target specific audiences. 

• Develop content for League multimedia advocacy communications 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

• Serve as ad hoc liaison to various external and internal groups as needed

• Present information on legislation and League advocacy efforts to League members, affiliate organizations, and other interested parties, as appropriate  

• Attend conferences of League affiliates and other relevant organizations, as financially feasible

• Coordinate with Human Resources to assist in recruitment of interns to assist with advocacy efforts and supervise and evaluate their work.

Some travel is required for this position.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in political science, public policy or other relevant subject area. Three or more years experience in journalism, public relations, political campaigns, local government, grassroots or other multimedia positions. Knowledge of the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina state government, and/or local government preferred. Experience working with non-profit, membership-based organizations is ideal. 

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 Director of Public Affairs and is located in Raleigh, NC.

Deadline: January 13, 2016