Vice President, Digital Communications

Reports to: Executive Vice President, Communications and Strategy

Staff reporting to position: Eight to 10 staff

Department: Communications

Position classification: Exempt, full time - Nonunion - Level 9

Compensation range: $140,000–$168,000 per annum

Work site: On-site (Washington, D.C., office)

Summary

American Progress is seeking a Vice President for Digital Communications to lead overall strategy and day-to-day execution across social, email, and digital campaigns for its key policy initiatives and events. This role will provide strategic vision and creative leadership to build on the organization’s Digital Communications team, bringing a creative mindset and data-driven, audience-focused expertise to guide the organization through this next chapter.

The Vice President will have a proven track record leading successful digital campaigns for policy- and advocacy-focused organizations, with the ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams and drive audience growth and impact through data-informed content strategy and rapid response digital campaigns. This role offers the opportunity to shape digital storytelling for a leading progressive policy think tank, connecting with diverse and growing audiences and driving meaningful change on the policy issues that matter most.

Responsibilities:

• Set the strategic vision for American Progress’ social and digital work, aligning team strategy with organizational goals to drive public awareness of and support for the organization’s policy priorities, events, and programs.
• Partner with policy teams to translate research, reports, and analysis into compelling digital narratives that extend the teams’ reach and influence.
• Shape and oversee integrated digital campaign strategy across social, email, and web, strengthening the organization’s ability to respond rapidly and effectively to breaking news and emerging opportunities.
• Guide the creative direction of the organization’s digital storytelling, identifying platform opportunities and emerging trends to keep American Progress’ presence current and effective.
• Establish a data-driven measurement framework, using audience insights and performance data to track impact, refine strategy, and ensure digital investments are targeted and measurable.
• Cultivate and lead an active creator and influencer relations program, developing partnerships with digital creators, allied organizations, and key sector voices to co-create and uplift content that expands reach into new, diverse audiences.
• Lead audience growth strategy and external partnerships with aligned organizations to expand reach and influence.
• Serve as the digital communications voice to executive leadership, delivering clear insight into performance, ROI, and strategic direction, while ensuring sound financial stewardship of the team’s budget.
• Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing team across social media, video, design, and copywriting.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements and qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in a digital field.
• At least 12 years of relevant experience in social media, email marketing, and digital strategy.
• Extensive track record of building and managing strategic digital partnerships, creator engagement initiatives, or coalition-based distribution networks that deliver measurable audience growth.
• Proven track record of leading digital media campaigns on political or policy issues.
• A robust, active network and rolodex of relationships across the digital creator space and allied organizations.
• Demonstrated experience building creator-engagement programs and executing collaborative, partner-led distribution campaigns to drive narrative impact.
• Substantial experience managing, mentoring, and leading a team of digital and creative staff. Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with executive leadership and board members.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple lines of effort on different deadlines.
• Strong verbal and written communication and storytelling skills, with sound editorial and ethical judgment.
• Strong creative judgment, with the ability to assess and guide visual content.
• Fluency with digital analytics—pulling reports, analyzing, sharing, and interpreting data across common channels and platforms.
• Familiarity with Google Analytics, Meltwater, native platform-specific analytics (e.g., Facebook, X, Instagram), Sprout Social, and HubSpot, or similar tools.

American Progress offers full and competitive benefits packages. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.