Chief Communications Officer

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Location: On-site in Washington, D.C. hybrid – 3 days in office

Staff reporting to this position: Communications and Development Manager; Senior Advisor

Salary Range: $185,000 to $225,000

About This Role:

At no moment in recent history has the U.S.-Israel relationship been more consequential within Democratic politics. Democratic Majority for Israel is at the center of that conversation, and we are seeking an experienced communications leader who can ensure the organization’s voice is strategic, disciplined, timely, and impactful across political, media, digital, and stakeholder audiences.

The Chief Communications Officer is a member of DMFI’s senior leadership team and is responsible for leading the organization’s overall communications strategy in support of DMFI’s mission to advance the values of the Democratic Party and its pro-Israel position.

The CCO oversees all external communications efforts, including media relations, rapid response, executive communications, digital strategy, messaging development, and communications operations. This role serves as a key strategic advisor to the CEO and Board Chair and operates in a fast-paced political environment that requires strong judgment, responsiveness, and leadership under pressure.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Communications

• Lead the development and execution of integrated communications strategies that advance DMFI’s political, advocacy, policy, fundraising, and organizational priorities.
• Establish and oversee organization-wide messaging priorities, communications workflows, and external communications strategy.
• Protect and strengthen the DMFI brand, ensuring consistency in messaging, tone, positioning, and visual identity across all platforms and audiences.
• Serve as a senior strategic advisor to the CEO and Board Chair on communications, political messaging, reputational matters, and sensitive external issues.
• Oversee preparation and strategic direction for executive communications, including speeches, remarks, talking points, briefing materials, public statements, and stakeholder messaging.
• Provide communications updates and strategic guidance to the Board of Directors as needed.

Rapid Response & Political Communications

• Lead DMFI’s rapid response operation across political, legislative, media, and geopolitical developments impacting the organization and its mission.
• Monitor emerging news, political narratives, media coverage, and external attacks requiring organizational response or engagement.
• Develop and deploy rapid-response messaging, press statements, talking points, digital content, and stakeholder guidance under tight deadlines and evolving circumstances.
• Coordinate closely with political, policy, development, and external partners to ensure timely, aligned, and effective messaging.
• Serve as a senior communications lead especially during high-pressure political and media moments, including (but not limited to) evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays when major developments require engagement.

Media Relations & Public Affairs

• Serve as an on-the-record spokesperson and primary liaison to reporters and media outlets.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with political, national, Jewish community, and issue-focused media.
• Shape media narratives, proactively pitch stories, and respond effectively to inaccurate or misleading coverage.
• Prepare senior leadership and surrogates for media appearances, interviews, and public engagement opportunities.
• Oversee the planning and execution of paid media and advocacy communications campaigns.

Digital Communications

• Oversee DMFI’s digital communications strategy, including social media, email communications, web content, and audience engagement efforts.
• Guide digital messaging and content strategy in coordination with internal staff and external consultants.
• Oversee the planning and execution of paid media and advocacy communications campaigns.

Management

• Lead and manage communications staff and consultants while fostering a collaborative, high-performing communications operation.
• Set department priorities, oversee communications execution, and ensure alignment across organizational teams and external partners.

Overall Availability

• DMFI operates in the political and advocacy space where swift responsiveness is key to meet the demands of the dynamic and unpredictable nature of our work as well as business goals of DMFI, particularly as it relates to all aspects of our communications work. The Chief Communications Officer is expected to be at the heart of these efforts and, as such, work outside of normal business hours (including nights, weekends, and holidays) may be necessary and expected.

What We’re Looking For

• A Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5-10 years of high level communications experience as part of a campaign, political party organization, advocacy group, or progressive nonprofit
• Significant experience operating in rapid-response and high-intensity political communications environments.
• Ability to respond rapidly and decisively given the dynamic and unpredictable nature of our work as well as business goals of DMFI.
• Demonstrated success leading communications strategy for elected officials, advocacy organizations, political campaigns, or mission-driven organizations.
• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills, including the ability to manage messaging across press, digital, executive, and stakeholder audiences.
• Strong political instincts and sound judgment under pressure.
• Experience managing media relations, communications teams, consultants, and external stakeholders.
• Familiarity with the U.S.-Israel policy and political landscape and the dynamics of Democratic politics.
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-moving environment.
• Comfort operating in a role that occasionally requires responsiveness outside traditional business hours during major political or news developments.

About Democratic Majority for Israel

We are proud Democrats who believe a vital component of the Democratic Party’s vision and values has been the commitment to a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, rooted in shared values and common interests. Democratic Majority for Israel works to maintain and strengthen support for the U.S.-Israel alliance by providing resources to elected officials, candidates, and the public, while advocating for our progressive values as proud pro-Israel Democrats.