Salary: $76,656.00 - $132,852.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Exempt
Job Number:
Department: House of Representatives
Opening Date: 09/30/2026
Closing Date: 10/11/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Washington State House of Representatives

Exempt Recruitment Announcement
Communications Specialist, House Democratic Caucus
OPENS:

September 30, 2026

CLOSES:

October 11, 2026

REPORTS TO:

Communications Director

LOCATION:

Thurston County -- Olympia, Washington

SALARY:

$76,656 - $132,852 annually
State law requires us to post the full salary range; however, individual salary is determined based on experience and internal alignment. Most applicants will start near the beginning of the salary range.
This position is represented by the Washington Public Employees Association.

Our ideal candidate has a driving passion for the work, brings humility to their job and interactions, and understands how their actions affect others. They see the needs and objectives of others and take them into account while achieving their objectives, and they adapt their approach and expectations accordingly. Our ideal candidate is resilient and respectful when confronted with others that are not open or collaborative, even when stressed or tired. They are nimble and adaptive when faced with resistance and can have courageous conversations when needed
Duties
Position Profile:

Caucus communications specialists are experienced communications professionals who help members of the House Democratic Caucus communicate with constituents, the media, interested parties, and the general public about the policies considered and passed by the Legislature. This caucus communications specialist position has an emphasized workload in writing newsletter content as the team's lead writer, drafting remarks and talking points, opinion pieces for publication, and more. As part of a communications "team" that serves a subset of House Democratic Caucus members, the position will also provide back up for social media content and audio/video communications products. Cross-training on software/platforms required for the position will be provided. The position is full-time, year-round, and exempt from civil service laws. This position is represented by a union.

Caucus communications specialists bring a resolute personal and professional commitment to understanding racial equity, social justice principles, and institutional racism, with an ability to apply this knowledge to their daily work. They are creative problem solvers with a focus on ensuring equitable outcomes for all Washington residents. Successful candidates will be able to contribute as an active member of a diverse, highly collaborative team, and also be able to work independently. They will have the flexibility to adapt to a frequently changing work schedule, particularly during legislative session. They will be able to learn new issues, applications, and platforms easily and be comfortable asking questions and seeking help when needed.

How You'll Be Expected to Contribute:

• Work with caucus members and staff to plan and create district-specific communication strategies for mass media and constituent outreach
• Work within a small team to develop, design, and format visually engaging materials for web, print, electronic, and social media platform distribution
• Work with issue-area policy experts (caucus and non-partisan) to effectively communicate complex policies using simple, easy-to-understand methods
• Write press statements, talking points, editorial pieces, video scripts, newsletters, speeches, digital media copy, etc.
• Assist in producing audio and video clips, maintaining member websites, and exploring new media opportunities
• Organize media events within member districts and on the Capitol campus
• Help maintain the caucus webpages and social media accounts
• Serve as a primary contact for legislative reporters, facilitate media requests, and provide background information as needed

Qualifications
The Successful Candidate Will Meet These Qualifications:

• A minimum of three years' relevant experience.
• Demonstrate ability to communicate clearly and concisely to a variety of audiences in a variety of mediums using plain language
• Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative process OR ability to learn and apply legislative policies and procedures on the job
• Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality
• Strong writing, editing, and messaging skills (familiarity with AP Style a plus)
• Experience managing workload, prioritizing tasks, and creating and delivering products on time
• Ability to remain flexible and able to adapt to a wide variety of situations and circumstances
• Experience working collaboratively and efficiently and interacting with others who have diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, religious views, cultural backgrounds, socio-economic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, and disability status
• Willingness to actively participate in and support ongoing equity work undertaken by the House Democratic Caucus staff

Additional Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience with modern communication technology tools (Microsoft Office products such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, Teams)
• Experience with Granicus/GovDelivery or other email management and delivery systems
• Experience using WordPress, or other web content management systems
• Experience working in graphic design, video production and filming, and/or social media management are also valuable skills that contribute to products and services delivered to the House Democratic Caucus
• Relevant work experience in federal, state or local government, communications, journalism, public relations or related field

Note: Diverse backgrounds in education and experience could be successful in this role and will be considered. Applicants with any combination of experience, training and education who demonstrate the ability to perform the work will be considered
Supplemental Information
Conditions of Employment/Working Conditions:
This position requires an onsite/in-person presence during the legislative session and frequently requires more than 40 hours of work per week, which may include evening, weekends, and holidays during legislative sessions. Interim schedules allow for more flexibility. This position is currently approved for in-state telework during the interim with an expectation to have an onsite-in-person presence when requested.

Benefits:

Employee benefits include vacation and sick leave; paid state holidays; health, life, and other optional insurance; retirement; social security; and military leave.

How to Apply:
Intrigued? If so, please submit the below items combined in one document:
(1) a letter of interest specifically addressing the qualifications;
(2) a current resume describing in detail your experience and education;
(3) examples of communications products from the applicant's work or volunteer portfolio (can be a link to an online portfolio or gallery); and
(4) a minimum of three professional references with contact information (e.g., address, e-mail address, and phone number).

Send application materials by 11:59 p.m. on October 11, 2026 and direct any questions to: .