Consultant: Michigan Nonpartisan Election Observation – Communications Manager
About The Carter Center
The Carter Center is guided by a fundamental commitment to promoting human rights, alleviating human suffering, enhancing freedom and democracy, and improving health conditions. The Center seeks a highly qualified, motivated, and energetic consultant to serve as Communications Manager for the Center’s nonpartisan election observation efforts in Michigan.
The Democracy Program works globally to support and strengthen participatory democracy, consistent with human rights. Beginning in 2020, The Carter Center began efforts to support good election administration in the United States, including expanding nonpartisan observation, bolstering dispute resolution, tracking disinformation and dangerous speech, contributing to electoral reform and accessibility, and promoting principles for trusted elections.
Employment Details
- Level of effort: Up to 22 days per month
- Start date: As soon as possible
- Location: Michigan (U.S.); travel throughout Michigan may be required; work in the Grand Rapids/Ann Arbor area and remote work are also expected
- Pay: Commensurate with experience
- Length of assignment: July – November 2026
Scope of Work and Responsibilities
Working under the supervision of a Democracy Program associate director and Communications Program associate director, and in close coordination with the Atlanta-based project team, the consultant will:
Communications Strategy and Media Monitoring
- Serve as the primary communications focal point for the Michigan election observation team and liaison with The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation on communications-related matters;
- In collaboration with The Carter Center’s communication team, track news, public information, and media coverage related to Michigan’s political and electoral environment, including election administration, observation activities, and major public narratives;
- Prepare and circulate timely news summaries, media clips, and internal updates for project leadership and team members, as appropriate.
External Communications and Visibility
- Develop, manage, and update communications products related to the Michigan observation effort, including fact sheets, briefers, slide decks, talking points, newsletters, website text, and other public-facing materials;
- Help communicate the purpose, methodology, and impact of the observation effort to external audiences in a clear and accessible way;
- Identify opportunities to strengthen project visibility and support communications around key milestones, events, and public outputs.
Media Relations and Press Support
- In coordination with Atlanta-based communications staff, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation staff, and project leadership, support media relations for the Michigan observation effort;
- Arrange interviews, press engagements, and outreach for project leadership and designated spokespeople; staff and prep spokespeople for interviews including through the preparation of talking points and key messages
- Manage media requests, maintain records of media contacts and interactions, and prepare press materials, media kits, and background documents;
- Support the planning and execution of press conferences, media briefings, and other communications-related events, as needed.
- Develop rapid response communication protocols and materials, including proactive media monitoring, pre-approved messaging frameworks to reduce reaction time, internal/external coordination mechanisms and the formulation of rapid response teams as needed
Internal Communications and Team Support
- Ensure project staff and consultants are kept informed of relevant developments, communications priorities, and public-facing messaging;
- Maintain consistent internal messaging and information-sharing across the Michigan- and Atlanta-based teams;
- Coordinate with project staff to ensure communications products accurately reflect observation activities, methodology, and findings, and contribute to briefing materials as appropriate.
Reporting and Written Products
- Contribute to regular written updates on media coverage, public messaging, and communications activities;
- Draft, edit, and review public statements, press releases, newsletters, project reports, and other written materials for clarity, consistency, tone, and alignment with project messaging;
- Support preparation of communications-related sections of reports and final products, and complete other tasks as requested to support the good functioning of the project.
Qualifications
- Relevant experience in communications, media relations, journalism, public affairs, strategic communications, nonprofit communications, and/or democracy or election-related programming;
- Demonstrated experience drafting, editing, and managing high-quality written communications products for varied audiences;
- Strong ability to monitor and synthesize news, media coverage, and public information in a fast-moving environment;
- Experience supporting press relations, interview coordination, media outreach, and/or public-facing events;
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex topics clearly and professionally;
- Experience supporting both external communications and internal communications processes is strongly preferred;
- Familiarity with U.S. elections is strongly preferred; ability to quickly learn Michigan-specific election procedures and the goals of the observation effort is required;
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and comfort using web, social media, newsletter, and presentation platforms as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting election observation, election administration, civic engagement, or democracy-related programming;
- Familiarity with Michigan’s media environment and election landscape;
- Experience producing newsletters, press materials, presentations, or digital communications products;
- Experience managing website or social media updates in a professional setting;
- Knowledge of accessibility and plain-language considerations in public communications.
How to apply
Please submit an application at the following link, including your CV and contact information: https://thecartercenter.formstack.com/forms/michigan_consultancy_application
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only applicants selected for an interview or additional consideration will be notified.