Common Ground USA: Call for Consultants (Texas)

The project management team for the Resilient States Project is seeking consultants to support our programming in Texas. Consultants will support strategic program communications, including the development and execution of a communications campaign to reduce political polarization. 

Context

Common Ground USA 

Informed by lessons learned as the world’s largest and oldest peacebuilding organization, Common Ground-USA (CG-USA) represents Search for Common Ground's most significant investment in fostering a peaceful America, where collective problem-solving and inclusive belonging are prioritized for everyone. We envision an America where we engage in collaboration across differences to address our greatest challenges, and where we can all belong and thrive. At CG-USA, we believe that most Americans want to overcome the divisions we face in our society. We see disagreement as an opportunity to transform conflict into cooperation on our daily and most pernicious problems. All of our work is rooted in an evidence base where we strengthen the five vital signs of peace: safety, social cohesion, institutional legitimacy, personal agency, and resourcing peace.

The Project 

The Resilient States Project is a collaboration between CG-USA and  Over Zero – that convenes and empowers broad-based  networks of diverse leaders to build resilience and mitigate risks for division and political violence in Arizona, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Our networks unite diverse leaders across various sectors, ideologies, and locations. These networks work to transform division and conflict within their states, including tailored, strategic actions such as public statements, creative messaging, and public events that unify communities. 

• Developing an effective, statewide communications/messaging campaign in Texas that reduces political polarization and risks for political conflict. 
• Provide communications tools, including a messaging toolkit for partners that includes assets like talking points and social media content.   

• An initial consultancy plan that details key outputs and budget;
• A developed and tested campaign message (may include formal message testing); 
• Key strategic messaging tools and assets for use by partners. This should include key campaign assets such as:  talking points (for use in op-eds, media interviews and public appearances), social media collateral and a suggested messaging schedule; 
• A final status report detailing outcomes listed above, associated lessons learned and recommendations.

• More than 5 years of experience in a combination of the following areas are required:
• Deep working knowledge and relationships with community leaders and civil society organizations within the state;
• Demonstrated ability to connect with a broad network of actors;
• Strong knowledge of social media platforms, experience in social media outreach, political communications and democracy
• Experience working in communications, journalism, media and graphic designing or a related field;
• Writing and editing competency.

• Demonstrated experience designing and deploying messaging campaigns in Texas
• Background in political science, community organizing, community work, or related fields.

• Comprehensive and systematic inquiry: Consultant should make the most of the existing information and full range of stakeholders available at the time of the review. Consultant should conduct systematic, data-based inquiries. They should communicate their methods and approaches accurately and in sufficient detail to allow others to understand, interpret and critique their work. They should make clear the limitations of the review and its results.
• Competence: Consultant should possess the abilities and skills and experience appropriate to undertake the tasks proposed and should practice within the limits of their professional training and competence.
• Honesty and integrity: Consultant should be transparent with the contractor/constituent about: any conflict of interest, any change made in the negotiated project plan and the reasons why those changes were made, any risk that certain procedures or activities produce misleading review information.
• Respect: Consultant should respect the security, dignity and self-worth of respondents, program participants. Consultant has the responsibility to be sensitive to and respect differences amongst participants in culture, religion, gender, disability, age and ethnicity.

• Consultants should include a proposal for review. Consultant proposals will be selected for:
• Relevance of their expression of interests as it relates to the applicant’s ability to meet the goal, objectives, and research questions for the assessment;
• Qualifications; and
• Proposed budget in relation to proposed methodology and deliverables.

Applications

To apply, interested candidates (individuals or teams) are requested to submit the following two documents:

Curriculum vitae.

Expression of intent outlining the following: (1) any relevant research and analysis experience; (2) relevant networks, community connections, and other key relationships in target state(s) that can be leveraged for this process; (3) a budget and/or proposed pay rate; and (4) any other relevant experience as applicable to these terms of reference.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.