Creative Associate

About

The States Project (TSP) connects the importance of state legislatures to every aspect of our lives and brings together communities to help build a healthy, sustainable, and prosperous future for all.

Our electoral work focuses on winning governing  majorities in the states by making state legislative campaigns more effective and better-funded. Our policy work provides nonpartisan tools and resources that connect a diverse community of state lawmakers committed to improving lives for the people they serve.   We do it because we believe that state legislatures are the strongest force for change in this country.

We encourage you to find out more about the organizations’ values here.

LOCATION: National. Remote, with 5-10% expected travel.

DEADLINE TO APPLY:  February 2, 2024

The Opportunity:

The States Project seeks a talented Creative Associate to create compelling content across a variety of formats to engage the organizations’ audiences. Straddling both the Growth and Content teams, this position will play a key role in ensuring that the organizations’ most compelling messages are refined, optimized and kept up-to-date for our most critical audiences. 

Our ideal candidate is a talented communicator and designer who is detail-oriented, receptive to feedback, and not afraid to roll up their sleeves in order to get things done. They will be key in continuing to build out The States Projects’s visual identity, ensuring that every piece of published content strengthens our branding.  

We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at The States Project. Women, people of color, trans/genderqueer people, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are especially encouraged to apply. 

Position Details:

This is a full-time, exempt at-will position. The team currently operates remotely, with occasional in-person team retreats, etc. Some travel will be required. Additional evening and weekend hours are occasionally required to fulfill the duties of this position. 

TSP is committed to the safety of our employees and requires proof of up-to-date vaccination status for all employees unless a religious, medical, or disability accommodation is granted. If you have any questions about our safety protocols, please contact us.

• This position will report to the Senior Director of Content and work closely across all teams to develop and deliver stories that need to be told. Principal accountabilities will include but not be limited to:

• Field incoming graphic design requests from across The States Project’s teams. 
• Build The States Project’s visual brand with creative and compelling design that adheres to our brand guidelines.
• Design branded templates for assets like email and slide presentations that can be used across teams.
• Create and edit branded TSP video content as needed. 
• Work closely with the Growth team to develop and update core fundraising collateral.

• Compile data across our email, website, and social media platforms weekly.
• Assist with prepping data for team-wide discussions and strategy sessions. 
• Proactively identify problems and opportunities within the Content and Growth teams’ existing data tracking process and independently create new, comprehensive solutions or adjust existing tools and processes as needed.
• Track and share real-time data during rapid response moments to inform ongoing content decisions.
• Identify content opportunities by tracking state-level headlines across news outlets and social media.
• Draft content to regularly update The States Project’s website and social media platforms.
• Support the development of Giving Circles’ communications strategy, by serving as the main drafter of Giving Circles content, including public-facing events.
• Use the data available to offer insights, ideas, and best practices to optimize content developed for Giving Circles’ audiences. 
• Develop and manage a process to ensure that Growth audience managers can easily access the latest versions of TSP collateral and that public-facing messaging is updated across all platforms.

• Work with the team to ensure values are reflected in everything we do.
• Recommend and support organizational improvements related to values, leadership, management, communication, culture, norms, systems, and processes.
• All team members are expected to participate in DEI planning and programming.
• Serve on various internal committees as requested (e.g. Care Comm).

• Passion for and alignment with our mission, vision, and theory of change
• Commitment to and ability to represent TSP’s organizational values 
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
• Capable of independently managing time and tasks associated with a fast-paced organization
• Professionalism of the highest caliber and a positive attitude
• No job too small mindset
• Proven ability to work independently while functioning as part of a team
• Self-starter with a drive to make things happen: proven track record of excellence in a political or campaign role and high standards for success
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Highly collaborative approach
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Capable of independently managing time and tasks associated with a fast-paced organization
• Creative designer with a track record of keeping an organization’s visual brand fresh while adhering to brand guidelines.
• Strong organizational skills
• Excited to design and maintain systems to keep all trains on track
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment while handling sensitive and confidential information

• Desired Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Design or a related field. 
• Strong experience using Adobe Creative Suite and Google Suite
• Must have excellent communication and data-driven storytelling skills
• Must have deep understanding of effectively translating political and policy information to be digestible for all
• Strong design skills as evidenced by a portfolio
• Leadership and team management experience
• High emotional intelligence and customer service orientation

• Preferred Qualifications:
• At least two years experience working in a creative associate/graphic designer capacity, preferably within a political organization.

Benefits:

The position offers a competitive benefits package. Benefits currently offered include 75% paid coverage of medical, dental, and vision for individuals and dependents, basic life insurance, an employee assistance program, unlimited PTO, 401(k) matching, annual professional development, wellness, and work-from-home stipends and paid family leave. 

Compensation:

The salary for this position is $72,000 - $80,000 per year*.  Salary offers are made based on the market rate and the candidate’s demonstrated level of proficiency, experience, and credentials.

*The pay rate or range noted for this position is in compliance with NYC's Pay Transparency Act and other state and local laws. 

TSP does not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  TSP values diversity and strongly encourages women, individuals with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities, religious beliefs, and military backgrounds to apply.

TSP complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact People & Culture at Logan Booker at Logan@statesproject.org. 

What You Can Expect During the Recruitment and Hiring Process:

All applicants will submit a resume, cover letter, and three design samples. Selected applicants will be moved forward to a phone screen. The next steps will include interviews with leadership.