Strategic Communications Fellow
2025-2026 Strategic Communications Fellow (Washington, DC)
Job Description
If you are interested in helping improve the educational outcomes of students while expanding your skills in supporting communication products, promoting community engagement, and developing outreach strategies for a state-level government agency, then you may be the ideal person to join the D.C. State Board of Education (State Board) team.
The State Board was established on June 12, 2007, consists of nine elected members, and is responsible for advising the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) on educational matters, including state standards and state policies—including those governing special, academic, vocational, charter and other schools, state objectives, and state regulations proposed by the Mayor or OSSE. The State Board has approval authority for many important educational issues as well.
We are in search of an extremely organized and passionate Strategic Communications Fellow to provide operational and logistical support for communication outreach and advocacy programs events. The Strategic Communications Fellow will be invited to participate in professional development opportunities, as well as produce a culminating project towards the end of their fellowship.
Responsibilities include the following:
- Report to the Public Information Officer and collaborate with different State Board teams to publish social media posts, agency blog entries, press releases, and other public-facing items
- Support the creation of visual/graphic content for State Board initiatives and events
- Assist with photos and live tweeting during meetings and events (including evening meetings on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month)
- Help monitor social media platforms (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube) and media requests
- Assists with updates to the State Board website, including headline rotation, adding new content, and removing outdated information
- Support with implementing public outreach strategies and activities to encourage communication between residents and relevant education stakeholders
- Provide input on content campaigns/efforts for social media sites (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
- Take lead on a culminating project that supports the work of the State Board
- Provide any additional support to the State Board members and staff as needed
The Strategic Communications Fellow will have the following skills, interests, and experience:
- Strong graphic production skills in various graphic design software (e.g., Canva)
- Web and social media savvy, with a keen awareness of event promotion
- Assertive, detail-oriented, and extremely organized
- Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and social media
- Holds intellectual curiosity, strong problem-solving abilities, and openness to professional development
- Interest and prior experience in media, content creation, and digital communications
- Previous experience in a leadership role is preferred
- Graduate students are encouraged to apply
Compensation and Time Commitment
Fellows are paid $20 per hour and are expected to work 25–30 hours per week. The Strategic Communications Fellowship is scheduled to last from June 2025 through June 2026 (about one year). Hours are flexible, and in-person attendance in the office and at a few evening meetings per month will be expected.
To Apply
If you are interested in this position, please send Darren Fleischer (at Darren.fleischer@dc.gov) a resume and cover letter explaining why you want to work for the State Board. Please include “SBOE Strategic Communications Fellow 2025-2026” in the subject line of your email. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The deadline to apply for the fellowship is Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The State Board is an equal-opportunity employer, and we strongly encourage applications from diverse candidates.