Communications Director

Position Summary

The D.C. Policy Center seeks a strategic, highly organized, and creative Communications Director to lead the organization's communications strategy and ensure that our research informs policy conversations in the District of Columbia and beyond. Reporting to the Executive Director, this position serves as the bridge between research, communications, and policy engagement, helping shape how the Center's work reaches policymakers, journalists, funders, and the public.

The Communications Director will develop and execute communications strategies for research initiatives, oversee the Center's website and publications, monitor emerging policy developments, coordinate the organization's public engagement around legislation, hearings, and policy debates, and support Board engagement. The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking with strong project management skills and has demonstrated experience editing policy publications and producing high-quality communications materials.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic communications

• Develop and implement the organization's communications strategy to maximize the visibility, reach, and policy impact of the D.C. Policy Center's work.
• Design communications plans for major research reports, policy initiatives, events, and public announcements.
• Identify opportunities to elevate the Center's research through media, digital communications, newsletters, social media, speaking engagements, and partnerships.
• Monitor communications performance and recommend strategies to expand audience engagement and influence.

Research communications

• Partner with policy researchers throughout the research process to develop communications campaigns for publications and events.
• Translate complex policy analysis into clear, accessible messaging for policymakers, journalists, funders, and the public.
• Coordinate publication schedules to ensure communications activities align with research milestones and organizational priorities.
• Work with researchers to develop executive summaries, fact sheets, graphics, presentations, and other communications materials.

Policy monitoring and public engagement

• Monitor local and national policy developments relevant to the Center's research priorities, including legislation, regulatory changes, committee hearings, budget proposals, and emerging policy debates.
• Track opportunities for the D.C. Policy Center to contribute research and expertise to legislative and administrative processes.
• Coordinate the preparation, editing, production, and submission of testimony, public comments, briefing materials, and other policy communications.
• Maintain an organizational calendar of key policy events, hearings, publication opportunities, and external engagement deadlines.
• Work closely with policy staff to ensure the Center's research is timely, responsive, and positioned to inform current policy discussions.

Website management

• Maintain and continuously improve the D.C. Policy Center website, including coordination with website and hosting vendors.
• Publish and update reports, blog posts, testimony, event pages, and other website content.
• Ensure website content is accurate, accessible, visually engaging, and optimized for search engines.
• Monitor website performance and recommend improvements to user experience and content organization.

Publications and design

• Lead the production and typesetting of research reports, briefs, testimony, presentations, and other publications.
• Format publications for both digital and print distribution using Adobe Creative Cloud, including Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Acrobat.
• Ensure all publications maintain consistent branding, typography, and visual quality.
• Coordinate with researchers to prepare charts, tables, figures, maps, and graphics for publication.

Editorial and brand management

• Maintain consistent organizational branding across all communications channels.
• Edit publications for clarity, accuracy, consistency, grammar, and style.
• Develop and maintain editorial guidelines, publication templates, and communications standards.

Board communications and governance support

• Prepare and maintain board book templates and coordinate the production and distribution of board materials.
• Work with the Executive Director and senior staff to compile reports, presentations, agendas, and supporting materials for Board and committee meetings.
• Maintain accurate meeting minutes and records of Board actions.
• Manage the Board document library, ensuring materials are organized, current, and easily accessible.
• Support the Executive Director in preparing presentations and other materials for Board retreats, strategic planning sessions, and special meetings.
• Assist with the preparation of the Policy Center’s Annual Report.

Qualifications

We strongly encourage you to apply if you believe you are a great fit for the role, even if you don't meet every single requirement.

• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public affairs, journalism, policy, or a related field.
• Experience supporting researchers in communicating technical findings accurately and effectively.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing strategic communications plans.
• Strong understanding of public policy processes and the ability to monitor and synthesize legislative and policy developments.
• Experience coordinating communications around legislative hearings, policy reports, public events, or advocacy campaigns.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly InDesign, Illustrator, and Acrobat.
• Experience producing professional publications for both digital and print distribution, as well as social media content.
• Demonstrated ability to transform quantitative analysis into clear, engaging graphics and interactive visualizations (using Tableau, Flourish, or similar platforms) for policy and public audiences.
• Experience managing websites using content management systems, including WordPress, and familiarity with web publishing best practices.
• Familiarity with email marketing platforms, including Mailchimp, and customer relationship management systems, such as Salesforce, is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of digital analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) and the ability to use audience data to inform communications strategy.
• Familiarity with the District of Columbia policy environment and local government is highly desirable.

Desired assets

• Strategic thinker with strong political awareness and sound judgment.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to identify emerging policy opportunities and anticipate communications needs.
• Strong collaborator who enjoys working across research, communications, and external affairs.
• Comfortable managing multiple complex projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to rigorous, nonpartisan research and evidence-based policymaking.

Telework Policy

• This is a hybrid position that requires in-person work.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $85,000-$95,000. Salary is commensurate with experience. Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance; a retirement plan (after a qualification period) with an employer match; and paid leave.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter outlining your interest in the role and relevant experience to View email address on click.appcast.io. The priority application date for this position is August 03, 2026.

About the D.C. Policy Center

The D.C. Policy Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) think tank focusing on local policy issues in the District of Columbia and the surrounding region. Through data-driven and action-oriented policy research, the D.C. Policy Center’s mission is to bring together policymakers, employers, industry leaders, community advocates, and other stakeholders to advance comprehensive policies that support a strong and growing local economy for all District residents.

The D.C. Policy Center is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status, or any other protected status under federal or District law.