What to know

As an Associate, you will assist the Strategic Communications team and serve as a partner to key clients, understanding their challenges, and collaborating with diverse internal teams of strategists, designers, developers, and more to develop thoughtful solutions and plans. You’ll work on impactful projects across the country surrounding issues that make headlines, and help turn progressive ideas into excellent news stories.

The ideal candidate is a writer, storyteller, and developing leader interested in how the intersection of public affairs and public relations can help solve some of the most pressing challenges of our time. You will draft materials for clients and reporters, pitch media, develop relationships with clients, and collaborate with staff. This candidate is a strong individual contributor but also ready to expand Blue State’s capabilities with the strategic communications team.

The Company

Blue State is a purpose-driven agency. We partner with leading causes, brands, and campaigns and create real change. From Google and UNICEF to Amnesty International and Oxfam, we transform how brands and causes raise money, influence policy, build platforms, and grow communities of supporters. Led by the most creative and analytical minds from the political, nonprofit, and brand worlds, Blue State is a part of WPP Digital and has 150+ employees in the US and London.

A day in the life

• Execute strategies across integrated campaigns that leverage public affairs, media and digital tactics to reach key audiences and achieve client goals
• Write and edit persuasive external and internal documents such as pitches, press releases, op-eds, fact sheets, talking points, editorial board memos and communications plans
• Help develop and advance the communications strategy for multiple high-profile client accounts
• Manage client communications daily
• Develop and cultivate press relationships, pitching and meeting with reporters regularly

The team

We are a passionate group of people who are both thinkers and doers. We bring a people-first, data-driven mindset to all of our work. Ultimately, we’re about real impact for real people, partnering with brands, nonprofits, and political organizations to drive progress.

For us, this isn’t just work. Everything we do is connected to something we care about and we’re seeking an individual willing to work tirelessly to create positive change in the world.

What we offer

• Unlimited time-off (inclusive of sick, personal, and vacation days)
• $1,000 annually in professional development funds
• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Inclusive family planning coverage, including fertility, surrogacy, and adoption benefits
• Flexible and health savings accounts
• 401K & employer match
• Generous paid holiday schedule
• 12-week fully-paid parental leave for all parents-to-be
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Remote work flexibility

We approach in-office working with a hybrid model. On-site presence is welcome for US staff who are within commuting distance of the NY or DC office. Managers retain discretion to require in-person attendance for folks on their discipline or client teams as necessary, including for those whose roles require them to be in person. To enter our US offices or attend Blue State events, staff and visitors must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including with a booster shot when eligible. Exceptions for protected grounds will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

The salary range for this position is $60,000 - $69,000; compensation will be commensurate with experience.

Some things we're looking for

• 1-2+ years communications/journalism/campaign experience
• Showing continued development in written and oral communication skills -- willing to explore and learn to explain the reasons behind a particular strategic or creative approach, and guide clients through difficult decision points
• Learning to demonstrate good judgment and discretion
• Attention to detail, and a skilled multi-tasker
• Experience pitching media
• Skilled at writing, and cultivating relationships
• Familiarity with social media platforms and social media marketing
• Strong collaborator who is willing to fight for good ideas, but always a team player
• Humble in victory, constructive in defeat
• Self-starter, driven, focused, eager, excited to think on feet
• Works best with a plan, but comfortable working with ambiguity

At Blue State, diversity is a necessity, not a nice-to-have. We encourage those from underrepresented communities — women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, those with disabilities and people at all the intersections in between — to apply. Even if you don’t think your current skill set checks every box, but this role seems to align with your strengths, we want to hear from you.