Narrative Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Position Title: Senior Culture and Narrative Manager

Position Location: Candidates are welcome to apply from across the U.S. Those that are near the Popular Democracy office in DC may be asked to work from the office one or two days/week if necessary. Applicants outside of this area may be required to travel to the Popular Democracy office occasionally.

Popular Democracy is seeking a Senior Culture and Narrative Manager to join the Communications and Narrative Department. This is a full-time, exempt position.

About Popular Democracy

Popular Democracy works to promote equity, opportunity, and a dynamic democracy in partnership with innovative base-building organizations, organizing networks and alliances, and progressive unions across the country. We work with nearly 50 affiliates in over 30 states, including Puerto Rico and D.C. to build the strength and capacity of democratic organizations that envision and advance a pro-worker, pro-immigrant, racial and economic justice agenda. We are a rapidly-expanding, changing organization that partners with organizations across the country to build political power and win tangible victories that improve the lives of low-wage workers, immigrants, and communities of color.

About the Position

We are seeking a Senior Culture and Narrative Manager to identify strategic partnerships with artists, organizers and cultural influencers to create opportunities to build narrative power with targeted communities and constituencies. This position uses art, culture, popular education, storytelling, and distributed organizing strategies to influence how people see and understand the world around them, to immerse them in a shared vision for the future, and to inspire action. All Culture and Narrative efforts are expected to move in deep partnership with colleagues across the programmatic departments of Fightback, Organizing, and Communications & Narrative.

It is expected that the Senior Culture and Narrative Manager will travel and attend in-person trainings, meetings, events and actions with Popular Democracy affiliates and partners approximately twice a month.

We estimate that candidates will have about 10 years of relevant experience, but our review of candidates for this role will focus on whether they can fill the needs of the position, not years of experience.

The Senior Culture and Narrative Manager will report to the Director of Culture and Narrative.

Primary Responsibilities

The Senior Culture and Narrative Manager will:

• Develop and sustain positive relationships with artists, organizers and cultural influencers in our network and beyond, encouraging participation in and support for initiatives focused on building narrative power.
• Manage the production of virtual and in-person events. This includes coordinating with affiliates, securing venues and contractors, arranging travel, documenting the event, and other duties as needed and assigned.
• Develop and lead the implementation of narrative strategies that expand social and political imagination, thereby increasing our ability to shape public discourse, influence our society’s beliefs, behaviors and values, and build momentum for transformative change.
• Collaborate with organizers, artists, and partner organizations to create narrative interventions and experiences that challenge existing power structures and help create and immerse people in a shared vision for our future.
• Design and implement cultural campaigns and events that leverage storytelling, art, and media to inform, educate and foster collective action for social change.
• Leverage our momentum by developing and implementing distributed organizing strategies to grow reach and impact.
• Develop cultural organizing and narrative trainings and curricula for affiliates.
• Partner with artists and influencers to create, produce, and sell merchandise.
• Support fundraising and donor engagement efforts as assigned, including through events, selling merchandise, participating in relevant meetings with donors or donor forums, and other initiatives.
• Travel to affiliates and events as assigned.
• Other related duties as needed and assigned.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

• Strong, established relationships across the music industry and other cultural sectors, including musicians, cultural workers and influencers, muralists, visual artists, filmmakers, digital creators, and other creative leaders;
• Demonstrated experience in booking artists that align with Popular Democracy’s mission;
• A strong racial equity analysis and experience in communicating about Black, brown and working communities;
• Experience developing narrative strategy in cultural, political, and/or movement contexts;
• A familiarity with Popular Democracy or similar affiliate-based institutions in the community organizing sector;
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders across a large organization and network;
• Fluency in Spanish (strongly preferred, but not required);
• A demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice and a deep understanding of challenges facing low-wage workers, immigrant communities, communities of color, disabled people, LGBTQ+ folks, and people at the intersections of the above communities.

Hiring Process

Candidates should expect to participate in two rounds of group interviews and a job simulation exercise. Final candidates will be asked to provide references.

Salary and Benefits

This position is included in a collective bargaining unit represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild. Specific employment terms are subject to a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The salary for this category 3 position is determined by a salary calculation system that is set by the CBA and is not negotiable. The starting salary is $85,000 and can increase up to $95,000, depending on a variety of factors as described in the CBA.

We have a generous benefits package, including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 15 vacation days your first year, 12 sick days per year, additional PTO, including holidays, and contributions to individuals’ 401K plans.

Popular Democracy is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and actively recruits people of color, womxn, individuals with disabilities, and members of the LGBTIQAA+ community.