Communications & External Affairs Manager

ROLE: Communications & External Affairs Manager 

LOCATION: Remote

POSITION TYPE: Exempt, Full-time

TRAVEL REQUIREMENT: 20%

START DATE: ASAP

REPORTS TO: National Director, External Affairs

ROLE OVERVIEW

Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) and its partner organizations, Education Reform Now (ERN) and Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA), are seeking a sharp, experienced and politically savvy communications professional to serve as a hybrid press/media and digital campaigns lead across a portfolio of priority states and campaigns. This role is built for a communicator who can move fluidly between pitching a reporter, drafting an op-ed, shaping a social campaign, and briefing a state partner — all in service of winning the policy and political debates that matter most to the families we serve.

Reporting to the National Director of External Affairs, the Communications & External Affairs Manager will help extend the organization's earned media footprint, own regional press strategy across priority states, and manage significant aspects of our digital and social campaigns. The ideal candidate brings strong writing chops, political instincts honed on campaigns, government or non-profit work; and a track record of building durable relationships with reporters, editors, and outside validators. This person will work in close partnership with the National Director to shape messaging, respond to a fast-moving political landscape, and ensure DFER, ERN, and ERNA punch above their weight in the regional press and digital ecosystems where we operate.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work for any employer in the United States and will be required to submit proof of eligibility. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Democrats for Education Reform welcomes applications from all, and strongly encourages women, people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, refugees, and LGBTQ people to apply for this position. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization and recruiting a team that reflects the diversity of the students we serve.

THE ORGANIZATION

Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) is a national political organization that supports elected Democrats and candidates for office who seek to expand policies and practices that work well for America’s students and confront those that do not. We prioritize students and families, especially low-income students and students of color who should be better served by our country’s public education system. 

DFER partner Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA) is an advocacy group that advances education reform measures through empowering community leaders to support our legislative and political advocacy work. ERNA keeps constant pressure on legislators to champion high-quality public education. 

DFER partner Education Reform Now (ERN) is a nonpartisan think tank that promotes increased resources and innovative reforms in K-12 public education, particularly for students of color and students from low-income families. 

WHAT WE DO 

Support Forward-Thinking Education Leaders — In an approach that is markedly different from our peers and partners in the field, DFER engages directly with candidates and elected officials to empower them to advocate for education policies that focus foremost on serving students. Our partner organization, Education Reform Now, does work that involves policy research, analysis and education that helps policy makers at all levels understand complex education issues and make informed decisions. 

Inform the Education Debate — Our coalition work reflects the breadth of our policy priorities. We work collaboratively with organizations and our community networks to create an education system that serves and is held accountable to all students and families.

Targeted Interventions and Rapid Response — DFER’s reach, from the most local district relationships to state and federal policymakers, enables us to respond quickly to the changing landscape and policy trends. Activities vary significantly from project to project and may include training, policy analysis, public engagement, electoral and issue advocacy, and policy guidance for elected officials and local advocates.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Regional Press & Media Relations

Draft press releases, statements and campaign communications tailored to regional audiences and reporters.

Develop social media strategy and content, and execute social strategy, including Instagram, Tik-Tok, Substack, Linked-In and X to expand the organization’s digital footprint.

Build, cultivate, and maintain trusted relationships with reporters, editors, columnists, and producers across priority regional markets — including local dailies, statehouse press corps, education trade press, and political press.

Serve as a regional spokesperson and press contact where appropriate

Monitor regional media narratives on education policy, politics, and DFER-adjacent issues; surface threats and opportunities to the National Director and recommend rapid-response strategy.

Digital & Social Campaign Management

Partner with the National Director and the Digital Manager to plan and execute digital campaigns that amplify DFER, ERN, and ERNA priorities across priority states.

Collaborate on day-to-day execution of regional social media content, including drafting copy, shaping creative briefs for our Graphic Designer & Digital Communications Manager, and ensuring content aligns with messaging strategy and entity-specific compliance requirements.

Help shape paid digital strategy (targeting, creative, copy, landing pages) for issue campaigns in priority states; collaborate with consultants and vendors as needed.

Track, analyze, and report on earned and digital performance across priority states; use insights to iterate on strategy and inform organizational decision-making.

Messaging & Political Strategy Support

Serve as a close thought partner to the National Director on messaging strategy, narrative development, and political positioning — especially as it translates into regional press and digital execution.

Stay fluent in the political landscape of priority states: governors and gubernatorial candidates, legislative leaders, key reporters, influential validators, and the organizations shaping the local education debate.

Contribute to rapid-response operations, including drafting statements and coordinating surrogate outreach on tight timelines.

Support broader External Affairs priorities as assigned, including coalition communications, principal-facing materials, and cross-entity campaigns.

Cross-Team Collaboration

Work closely with the Campaigns and Partnership teams to ensure press and digital execution is aligned with advocacy strategy in each priority state.

Partner with the Graphic Designer & Digital Communications Manager to translate regional strategy into on-brand, high-performing creative.

Coordinate with outside consultants as needed

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

While no candidate will possess every desired qualification, the ideal Communications & External Affairs Manager will bring many of the following experiences and characteristics:

Press & Media Relations Experience — 4+ years of experience in communications, press, or public affairs roles, including demonstrated success placing stories, managing reporter relationships, and serving as an on-the-record or background resource. Prior experience on a political campaign, in a statehouse or federal press shop, advocacy organization, or political press operation is strongly preferred.

Exceptional Writing — A sharp, versatile writer who can move quickly between a tight rapid-response statement or a social caption without losing voice or strategic discipline.

Political Acumen — A feel for the center-left political landscape and an instinct for how stories, messages, and narratives land with political audiences, reporters, and the public. Comfortable operating in environments where politics, policy, and press intersect.

Digital & Social Campaign Fluency — Hands-on experience planning and executing digital and social campaigns, including content strategy, platform-specific best practices (X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok where relevant), paid social, and performance analytics. Comfortable briefing designers and vendors and reviewing creative with a strategic eye.

Regional Relationship-Building — Existing relationships with reporters, political operatives, and advocacy leaders in one or more priority states is a strong plus; a demonstrated ability to build those relationships quickly from scratch is essential.

Education Policy Interest — Familiarity with K–12 education policy, school choice, charter schools, or related issues is preferred. A genuine commitment to educational equity and expanding opportunity for underserved families is non-negotiable.

Rapid-Response Mindset — Comfortable operating on short timelines, in politically dynamic environments, with sound judgment and discretion.

Collaborative Operator — Works well across teams, takes direction and feedback gracefully, and can also operate independently with minimal oversight when the situation calls for it.

Multi-Entity Awareness — Working knowledge of the compliance environment governing 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC activity — or a demonstrated willingness to learn it quickly and operate fluently within it.

COMPENSATION

The compensation band for this role is $80,000 - $100,000. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. DFER is proud to offer excellent benefits: health, vision, and dental coverage; cell phone and internet reimbursement; flexible spending plan; life insurance; short- and long-term disability insurance; 401K plan with a match; paid family leave; and paid time off (vacation, sick time, floating holidays, and all national holidays).

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