Senior Director of Messaging and Research

Progress Now is a nationwide network of 28 State Partner Affiliates that run year-round strategic campaigns to promote progressive ideas and values and win elections. Each affiliate is a communications, digital outreach, and media hub of full-time professionals who work with partner organizations to engage and mobilize diverse communities and activists through cutting-edge digital communications and innovative earned- and paid-media strategies.

A core part of the in-state and national progressive infrastructure, our state affiliates reach and move millions of voters through data-driven best practices, and organic and paid digital content built on decades of experience and research.

What You’ll Do:

Develop and manage a message and content testing plan to support affiliates and the Progress Now network’s organic content distribution, relying primarily on Grow Progress’s rapid test tool

Create and distribute messaging guidance and talking points for Progress Now affiliate staff based on available testing and research

Attend message and research briefings and ensure Progress Now national and affiliate staff are up to date on new findings

Maintain a current database of messaging one-pagers

Provide technical assistance and support to state affiliates on research needs

Promote and share research findings from Progress Now affiliates across our network and to partners

Translate research into creative direction—shaping the look, tone, and feel of content alongside designers and content producers

Work closely with your team to turn research-backed and tested messaging guidance into visual and video content that resonates with target audiences

Manage the messaging and research team, including content creators and designers

Strategist’s mind: You quickly grasp the subtleties of complex issues and identify patterns in challenges. You generate insightful, pragmatic, equitable, and sustainable solutions to tackle common challenges and produce positive change. You have a successful track record of taking a concept from idea to implementation.

Creative and adaptive: You bring fresh ideas, are thoughtful about how to engage audiences, and are able to work across teams to turn insights into meaningful ideas and approaches.

Excellent communication skills: You have a strong mastery and proven track record in communications strategy. You produce clear, compelling, and concise written communications and are able to do so quickly in rapid response situations. You have excellent verbal communication skills, present knowledge clearly and succinctly, and provide context while asking questions to understand others’ perspectives.

Entrepreneurial and resourceful: You overcome challenges and leverage resources to creatively solve problems. You propose solutions to issues without much guidance (but aren’t afraid to ask questions). You proactively ask for help, anticipate problems, and course-correct where needed. You operate with a team-first mentality to ensure projects reach goals without ego.

Inclusive leadership and management: You inspire, motivate, and support others to take action and meet goals. You delegate skillfully. You hold the team accountable and acknowledge growing edges (in self and others) while helping others grow. You use coaching, training, and feedback to develop others and support problem-solving.

Relationship builder: You bring enthusiasm for meeting and engaging with people, especially our national and affiliate staff. You empathize with the communities and partners we serve. You’re able to put people at ease, especially when there are lines of difference. You listen closely to understand needs or concerns and take steps based on that input. You get back to people promptly.

You take pride in providing clear, helpful information.

Commitment to racial equity and social justice: You recognize the role of race, income, age, immigration status, and other identities in shaping societal disparities, and you consistently amplify community voices to advocate for more equitable policy solutions. You recognize how your own identities show up in the work, and welcome, reflect…