The Organization

The Commonwealth Foundation is Pennsylvania’s free-market think tank.  We craft free-market policies, convince Pennsylvanians of their benefits, and counter attacks on liberty.

CF’s growth plans require a Director of Strategic Communications who will serve as the internal point on our all-important organizational practice of “PHD,” which stands for Personalization, Humanization, and Dramatization—an acronym borrowed from a respected partner group.  CF believes strongly that we will only achieve our mission if we personalize, humanize, and dramatize the benefits of freedom-based policy reforms; clearly identify and target the key audience or audiences for each message we aim to deliver, and consciously endeavor to break stereotypes about those who love freedom and free markets and enhance positive perceptions where they exist.  The Director will report to the President & Chief Executive Officer.

The Director will preferably be located in Harrisburg or Philadelphia; other locations in Pennsylvania are possible.

Responsibilities

While all CF teammates have a mandate to “PHD” policy issues in the course of their daily work, the Director will carry special responsibility for ensuring it is done and for helping colleagues do it.  In particular, the Director will ensure that CF’s priorities are distilled into a format that is useful to members of the media and delivered to them consistently and personally.

The Director’s responsibilities will therefore include the following:

• Helping teammates develop and deepen their messaging and skill at PHD-ing (personalizing, humanizing, and dramatizing) policy issues.
• Cultivating personal relationships with members of the media from local, regional and national outlets, and assisting other staff members in doing so.
• Appearing in the media personally and securing media appearances for other staff and scholars.
• Coordinating the writing, editing, and timely release of press materials.
• Identifying ways to expand and exploit media opportunities, with a focus on garnering coverage that is favorable, oriented around CF’s primary policy priorities as defined by the President/CEO and Board of Directors, and targeted in geographic areas of focus.

The Director will be a member of CF’s management team, working closely with the Directors of Policy Analysis, Community Relations, Government Affairs, and Operations as well as the President/CEO and Vice President & Chief Operating Officer.  Therefore, the Director will also be responsible for the following:

• Actively building and managing relationships with colleagues in order to identify communication opportunities and foster collaboration and mutual support.
• Undertaking his or her day-to-day work with 100-percent accuracy and consummate professionalism, giving the impression that CF materials could have come from a Fortune 500 company.
• Playing a leadership role in stewarding the culture of the organization as a whole, as outlined in CF’s “Expectations Given Our Aspirations” document.
• Serving as an ambassador to investors, influencers, policymakers, and others as needed and as appropriate.

Characteristics of the Ideal Candidate 

The ideal candidate for the Director role will possess the following attributes:

• Five or more years of experience in an advocacy and/or sales role.  Experience in media, journalism, public relations, or related fields are of particular interest, but CF is open to any candidate who can demonstrate an ability to sell the ideas of freedom to target markets.
• Superb written and oral communication skills.
• Strong project management skills and ability to multi-task, set priorities, and follow through.
• A commitment to the principles of limited government, personal responsibility, and free enterprise.
• Personal honesty, integrity and commitment to the interests and goals of CF.
• A deep respect for deadlines and results.
• A personal and management style that is effective in working with a small staff environment in which one must both be a team player and bear individual responsibility for advancing the organization’s goals and objectives.

 How to Apply

Please send a cover letter (explaining your strong philosophical interest in the mission of CF), resume, salary history, and an original op-ed that personalizes, humanizes, and dramatizes the current debate over President Obama’s health care law to Claire Kittle at TalentMarket.org (claire@talentmarket.org).

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview.  We request no inquiries from candidates to the Commonwealth Foundation and no calls to Talent Market.