Senior Communications Manager, Tax Policy Center (Office of Communications)

About Urban Institute:
The Urban Institute is a research-to-impact institution founded on one simple idea: To improve lives and strengthen communities, we need practices and policies that work. From advancing well-being to fostering shared prosperity, leaders across sectors are working every day to create brighter futures for all people and communities. For more than 50 years, Urban has delivered evidence and solutions that drive meaningful change, and this remains our charge today.

Our Mission
To drive impact by equipping changemakers with evidence and solutions.

Our Values

Collaboration, Fairness Inclusivity, Independence, and Integrity

For more information on the Urban Institute, please visit https://www.urban.org.

About the Tax Policy Center (TPC)

The Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center (TPC) improves tax and fiscal policy decision-making through independent, timely, and accessible analysis. Using a microsimulation model comparable to those used by federal scorekeepers, we show how policies affect taxpayers, revenues, and the economy. Our results are used by stakeholders across the ideological spectrum and widely cited in the press. Beyond the model, TPC’s nationally recognized experts conduct research on emerging issues and provide technical assistance to policymakers at all levels of government.

The Opportunity:
The Senior Communications Manager will amplify TPC’s impact. They will lead an integrated communications strategy that translates rigorous research into actionable insights for policymakers, media, and the public. This position reports to the Senior Director of Strategic Communications with a dotted line to the Vice President for Tax Policy.

What You’ll Do:
Develop communications strategy

Lead development and execution of an integrated communications strategy for the Tax Policy Center to advance program goals and objectives

Lead visibility campaigns within the broader strategy to promote high-priority initiatives

Coordinate with Communications colleagues across digital, brand, and audience engagement, writing and editorial, and events

Anticipate reputational risks and prepare mitigation plans

Oversee digital content strategy for taxpolicycenter.org:

Ensure website content remains current with the news cycle and advances program goals and objectives

Drive outreach and promotion to increase engagement

Maintain processes for updates

Oversee social media strategy for TPC accounts (e.g., X, LinkedIn):

Guide TPC’s social media strategy and content

Partner with Urban’s marketing director to align on best practices

Lead media strategy

Direct all media outreach and engagement, including risk assessment and release timing

Draft and distribute materials to reporters; lead rapid response to position TPC experts in the news cycle

Monitor news for opportunities to create or repurpose content

Partner with government affairs on policymaker outreach

Arrange expert interviews, including fielding press calls, matching reporters with appropriate experts, leading occasional prep sessions and managing logistics

Partner with Urban’s media relations director to amplify major releases

Provide strategic guidance for publications, events, and digital content

Ensure TaxVox blog aligns with organizational editorial standards

Review blog proposals to help ensure ideas and content fit within the center’s goals and meet quality standards

Help shape communications requests (e.g., for new products and events) to align with goals and maximize impact

Guide cross-functional teams to deliver results on schedule

Build the communications capacity of researchers

Offer writing tips for public-facing content

Advise on messaging and talking points

Assess policy impact

Monitor web and media metrics to assess ROI on communications tactics and adjust as needed

Work with analytics manager to provide data for funder proposals and reports

Collaborate across teams to develop theories of change and capture impact stories

Who You Are:
The successful candidate will have:

Knowledge and skills usually associated with a bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, political science, public policy, or a related field

Five to seven years of communications or public affairs experience

Significant experience with/or demonstrated interest in tax and fiscal policy issues

Ability to interpret data and be able to translate complicated research for broad audiences

Leadership experience or significant contributions to the execution of the communications strategy for an organization, preferably with a focus on social and economic policy

Experience assessing reputational risks and managing public controversies

Proven ability to track policy news cycles closely and bring sound news judgment; existing media relationships are a plus

Experience managing a range of internal and external stakeholders and collaborations involving multiple perspectives

Flexibility, adaptability, and open-mindedness to change

Strong organizational skills and a track record leading teams to achieve objectives and measure success

Excellent writing and analytical skills

An entrepreneurial, collaborative, audience-focused, and metrics-driven approach

An aptitude for digital platforms and databases, which could include content management systems (Drupal), project management applications (AirTable), constituent relationship management (Salesforce), media monitoring (Meltwater/Cision), and/or other tools; show proficiency in MS Office, Word, and Excel

What You’ll Experience:
No matter your role with Urban, you will contribute to meaningful work that makes a difference for people and communities across the country. We are committed to working in a manner defined by our mission and values.

Urban’s greatest asset is our people.

The target salary range for this position is Min $90,800 – Max $157,100. Salary offered is commensurate with experience and considers internal comparisons. Salaries are just one component of Urban Institute’s total compensation package. Urban is committed to supporting our staff’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being through a robust benefits package for yourself, eligible dependents, and domestic partners. It includes generous paid time off, including nine federal holidays, medical (including prescription), dental and vision insurance, and transit benefits. Urban is unique in that we offer 403(b) retirement plan participation immediately after you’re hired and a generous employer contribution after six months of service and 500 hours, with immediate vesting. You’ll also have access to a health advocate, personal finance coaching, an Employee Assistance Program, and educational assistance for undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned. This posting is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements. Urban management reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

The Urban Institute is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender or gender identity, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, veteran status, pregnancy or family responsibilities, matriculation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected status under applicable law. The Urban Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you have a physical and/or mental disability and are interested in applying for employment and need special accommodations to use our website to apply for a position, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]. Reasonable accommodation requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

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