Required Experience:
Qualifications:
At least 5 years of direct communications experience strongly preferred (policy, politics, advocacy, journalism, government, or related);
Demonstrated success in earned media, including pitching, placement, and managing relationships with reporters, producers, and editorial boards;
Excellent writing, editing, and message-development skills, with the ability to translate complex policy issues into clear, persuasive communications;
Experience and proficiency in managing digital communications (social media, email, and web) and understanding the modern media environment;
Strong team leadership and project management ability, including setting priorities, meeting deadlines, and operating with sound judgment in fast-moving situations; and
Ability to advocate for ROC principles and recommendations with professionalism, discretion, and effectiveness.
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Duties / Expectations:
Communications Director, Right On Crime
Texas Public Policy Foundation
901 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701
Full-time
Skills
Do you have experience in Writing press releases?
Full job description
Right On Crime is looking to fill a Communications Director vacancy with someone up to the task of advancing effective criminal justice policy communications, and poised to assume the role as the leading conservative communications strategist around conservative criminal justice reform.
About Right On Crime & TPPF:
Right on Crime is a national campaign of the Texas Public Policy Foundation promoting conservative solutions for reducing crime, restoring victims, reforming offenders, while lowering taxpayer costs. The movement was born in Texas in 2007, and in recent years has since expanded to Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.
ROC has the support of more than 90 prominent conservative leaders who have endorsed the principles of conservative criminal justice reform. These leaders include former Governors Rick Perry, Jeb Bush, and Bill Haslam, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Concerned Women for America President Penny Nance, former U.S. Senator Jim DeMint, former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, and former United States Attorneys General Ed Meese and Alberto Gonzales.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit research-based think tank in Austin, Texas. Established in 1989, TPPF promotes conservative principles and develops free-market approaches to public policy challenges affecting Texans and all Americans. To achieve its mission, TPPF analyzes complex issues, creates legislative policy solutions, and advocates for those solutions at the Texas Legislature, Congress, and other public forums.
Life at Right On Crime & TPPF:
The Foundation offers a unique opportunity to be part of an organization that shapes the future of Texas & beyond through innovative thought leadership. At TPPF, you will have the opportunity to be part of an engaged team whose mission is to create a freer future for all Texans and Americans. We look for individuals who are passionate about advancing conservative public policy and embody servant leadership. With a strong belief in personal responsibility, we trust our people and want to empower them to make the right decisions for the right reasons - this is why it is crucial we bring the right people on board. We value our team and work to cultivate a culture of hard work, entrepreneurship, intellectual curiosity, and collaboration. As a team, we support one another and strive to create an environment in which our team members are inspired to excel, motivated to innovate, and empowered to be servant leaders for the cause of liberty.
The Role:
The Communications Director for ROC will serve as the communications lead for the organization, responsible for managing ROC’s communications team and executing a communications strategy that advances ROC’s mission and policy priorities. Ultimately, ROC anticipates that this role will position itself as the leading conservative communications voice on conservative criminal justice reform—translating policy into persuasive public narratives, building the ROC brand nationally and in key states, and strengthening ROC’s influence among lawmakers, stakeholders, coalition partners, and media.
This requires an ability to lead both traditional and new media efforts: earning and shaping coverage, driving rapid response, preparing and positioning ROC spokespeople, and building a consistent digital presence that expands reach, grows engagement, and supports policy wins.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
Developing and executing ROC’s communications strategy across traditional and new media to advance policy priorities and strengthen the ROC brand;
Managing, coaching, and developing the ROC communications team, including assigning priorities, building repeatable workflows, and maintaining high standards of quality and responsiveness;
Serving as the lead for earned media strategy, including pitching reporters, building and maintaining media relationships, and securing interviews, placements, and coverage;
Drafting and editing press releases, media statements, op-eds, commentaries, talking points, media advisories, newsletters, and other written communications;
Leading rapid response and issue communications, including monitoring relevant news cycles, preparing timely statements, and coordinating internal approvals under tight deadlines;
Preparing ROC leadership and policy experts for media appearances and public communications, including message development, briefing memos, Q&A documents, and interview prep;
Overseeing ROC’s digital presence (social media, email, web, and emerging channels) and creating a content strategy that grows audience reach and engagement;
Coordinating communications support for legislative priorities, policy campaigns, and coalition initiatives, including toolkits, partner messaging, and coordinated announcements;
Conceptualizing and organizing communications plans for policy events/activities designed to educate policymakers, stakeholders, the media, and the general public; and
Using analytics and reporting to track communications performance and refine strategy over time.
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