Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO

Communications and Outreach Manager

Based in Washington, DC

 

The Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO is seeking a Communications & Outreach Manager to create powerful and strategic content for our website, email distributions, social media platforms, and communications, while at the same time helping to drive our organizing and outreach work. The ideal candidate will thrive in a political setting, have experience in membership-centered organizing, and have stellar skills in project management and follow-through. This is a full-time exempt position.

About the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO
The Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO is a coalition of affiliated unions representing workers in the District of Columbia, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Southern Maryland. Unions affiliated with the council represent workers in all industries, from service, hospitality, health, education, transportation, entertainment, construction, public and private sector. Our Council is composed of more than 150 union locals who together represent more than 150,000 workers. Together with our Affiliates we work to ensure all working people are treated fairly in safe and healthy working conditions, earn sustainable wages and benefits to attain a quality of life, and promote the ability of workers to collectively bargain and to have a powerful voice on the job and in their communities.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement an effective strategy for all external communications for an audience that includes union members, elected officials, reporters, and the public.
• Track news and updates from the Council’s 150 Affiliates through alerts, social media monitoring, and direct communication with Affiliate members and staff.
• Write and publish copy for the Council’s social media and the websites of both the Metropolitan Washington Council as well as the Community Services Agency. Create graphics for social media and websites, events, campaigns and other calls to action.
• Build and manage relationships with reporters and media outlets to facilitate communication of key narratives. Write press releases and plan press conferences, as needed. Respond rapidly to emerging news, as needed.
• Capture photos and videos at events like rallies, pickets, and actions to publish on social media in real time and share via email newsletter.
• Draft messaging, talking points, and speeches.
• Support the Council’s annual Evening with Labor gala, including supervising external vendors for graphic design, print production, photography and videography.
• Write and send regular email newsletters; work to build the list of subscribers.
• Build relationships with Affiliates and community allies that advance labor priorities, support Affiliates, and develop cooperation.
• Support and encourage affiliates’ organizing, member contact, and community outreach work, as appropriate and directed by the President.
• Help build, plan, and execute direct outreach/organizing and voter contact work for endorsed candidates through door-knocking, phone banking, texting, and other tactics, working with the Political and Legislative Director.

Requirements

• Minimum five (5) years of related work experience in communications, public relations or media with on-the-record experience.
• Demonstrated experience with organizing, outreach, and building relationships with allies and potential allies.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills. Demonstrated proofreading skills required.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with an ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines.
• Ability to adapt to new trends in media, communications, and organizing/mobilization.
• Strong personal skills, including a willingness to talk to various groups and individuals, and an ability to build and navigate intricate stakeholder relationships and work effectively within a team.
• Strong self motivation and project management skills to be able to work independently and to see multiple projects through from planning to execution.

Preferred Experience/Skills

• Demonstrated, substantive union, political, and/or community organizing, leadership, or activism experience is strongly preferred.
• Community and Proficiency in Canva, Action Network, Squarespace, Microsoft Office, and social media publishing.
• Experience with graphic design, layout, and photo and video editing.
• Bilingual English and Spanish.

Salary and Benefits

• Union representation: This is a full time position within a bargaining unit represented by Washington-Baltimore News Guild TNG-CWA, Local 32035.
• Benefits: The Metropolitan Washington Council offers a competitive benefits package including health care, vision, dental; paid sick leave and vacation; and a pension.
• Location: We are a hybrid workplace with some flexibility between work from home and work from our offices in downtown Washington, DC (after probationary period), though some in-person work will be required.

The Metropolitan Washington Council is committed to building a diverse team that draws on the strengths of people with a variety of identities, backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. People of color, indigenous people, LGBTQ+ people, and immigrants are particularly encouraged to apply.

How to Apply
Please send a cover letter and résumé to office@dclabor.org and indicate “Communications Manager” in the subject line. Résumés will be accepted until close of business on Friday, February 20th, 2026.