Communications Director

Job Overview

The Oregon House Speaker’s Office seeks an experienced communications professional to serve as Communications Director. The individual will lead the Office’s efforts to communicate the priorities of the Oregon House externally and internally, including legislative and budget priorities.

• Strategic Communications Planning – Collaborate with the Speaker and Chief of Staff to develop a communications plan for the legislative session and interim.
• External Communications – Craft external messaging, talking points, press releases, media Q&A sessions, speeches, opinion pieces, and other materials for the Speaker and engage other legislators in related communications.
• Media Relations – Create press strategies, manage outreach to the media, develop relationships with reporters, and respond to inquiries.
• Content Production – Produce timely, compelling content that tells policy stories across multiple channels, translating complex policy goals into accessible language.
• Internal Communications – Work with the Speaker, Chief of Staff, and staff to keep the Capitol community updated on key developments.
• Social Media – Manage and optimize the Speaker’s online presence, create and publish content for social media platforms to foster transparency and engagement.

• Knowledge of basic journalism principles, basic graphic design, Oregon’s political landscape, the legislative process, and current news events.
• Ability to create clear, well‑written content that reflects the Speaker’s voice; write for diverse audiences across ideological divides.
• Ability to condense complex policy information into everyday language and navigate a variety of outreach channels, learning new software as needed.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment while staying organized.
• Ability to collaborate with communications staff in other leadership offices and exercise independent professional judgment with confidentiality.

• Bachelor’s degree and 7 to 9 years of experience in communications, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong writing skills, experience with emerging communications media, and a track record of working with the press.

The Oregon State Legislature is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to workforce diversity. The Office is an affirmative action employer and encourages all qualified applicants to apply.