Press Secretary

Job Description:

Indiana House Democratic Caucus Press Secretaries work under the supervision (and directly report to) of the Indiana House Democratic Caucus Communications Director. Press secretaries are responsible for the external communications of members and the wider caucus. Daily responsibilities vary; however, field of work include, but are not limited to digital media, social media and traditional (press) media.

Job Responsibilities: 

IHDC Member Communications:

Each Press Secretary will be assigned a caseload of caucus members and will be responsible for meeting the communications needs of those members, including:

• Management of media requests by serving as the direct media contact, writing press releases and handling media relations for each assigned member;
• Preparation of members for all media interviews, legislative forums and other public appearances;
• Responsible for all written communications, including aforementioned press releases, statements and opinion pieces for each assigned member;
• Generate written social media and website content for each assigned member;
• Attend events in and around the Statehouse to photograph/film/tweet about assigned member participation;
• Assist Legislative Policy Director and Chief of Staff in suggesting potential legislation to individual members to further communication goals;
• Strategize communications and messaging plans for individual members.
• Support members when they have technology and social media issues/questions.

IHDC Caucus Communications:

In addition to responsibilities outlined above for assigned members, Press Secretaries are also expected to assist with the following caucus functions:

• Support IHDC web interface & other staff engaging online efforts.
• Assist with social media management for IHDC accounts and coordinate appropriately between members, Communications Director, and other relevant staff.
• Collaborate with Communications Director to develop the overall communications strategy for the caucus.
• Draft talking point documents with input from policy and legal offices to assist with member understanding of legislative topics and maintain coordinated caucus messaging.
• Assist in management of IHDC social accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and any other platform deemed appropriate by the Communications Director)
• Monitor members/media/interest groups on social media platforms.
• Develop graphics/infographics for use on social media and for other digital media platforms.
• Monitor/manage comments and public interaction on social media.
• Develop and post social media content – videos, graphics, stats, curate articles, etc.
• Attend events in and around the Statehouse to photograph/film/tweet about IHDC participation.
• Watch committees/session to live tweet and gather information for social posts.
• Assist Director of Publications with branding for print communications (certificates, letterhead, handouts ect…).
• Cultivate and maintain professional relationships with the press corps – local or statehouse – to build mutually beneficial partnerships to promote the caucus and its members.

Other:

Other tasks that may be required as a member of the communications team:

• Relaying communications information to Legislative Assistants and other IHDC staff members;
• Other duties as assigned by the Communications Director, Chief of Staff or House Democratic Leader.

Job Requirements: 

• The IHDC Communications Office is largely a paperless operation. Familiarity and ability to continue learning Microsoft and Adobe systems along with other cloud-based services and workshare platforms is essential.
• Ability to work independently, effectively, and efficiently is necessary, alongside the ability to work with a larger team.
• Strong research skills, analytical skills, communications skills and problem-solving abilities.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills are essential.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including typing skills.
• Skills in crafting impactful and creative messaging for elected Democrats is preferred, along with the ability to continue learning.
• Ability to support the goals of the elected members they work for even if their personal beliefs on a specific issue are not aligned.

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time.

• Must have the ability to constantly operate a computer and – at times – do so while monitoring legislative activities or executing communications tasks.
• Position requires regular communication with other staff members. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Must have the ability to quickly move back and forth between several office locations in a historic building with flexible accessibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines.
• Must be able to lift up to 30 lbs.

How to apply:

Interested applicants should apply online.